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Chosen Paths #1
Into the Light
*****#1 Bestseller in Amazon Inspirational Romance*****
"As long as you continue to travel through life in this darkness, you will never know how beautiful your light truly shines when you let yourself love and be loved. Trust me when I say, it's a breathtaking sight to see. You burn as bright as the sun."
When Aubrey Miller begins her education at Titan University, she is no longer the beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl of her youth. In fact, she's no longer even Aubrey Miller.
Overcome with guilt and unable to cope with the loss of her beloved family, she has long since buried eight-year old Aubrey along with them and transformed herself into Raven Miller. Now with jet-black hair, multiple sets of eccentric contact lenses, and several facial piercings, she's veiled herself in complete darkness as a form of protection for herself, as well as others.
As she enters her first year of college, her goal is simple: Earn a degree with the least amount of social interaction as possible. What she never anticipates is the formation of very unlikely relationships with two people who will change her life in ways she never believed possible: Quinn Matthews, the overtly cheerful pageant queen, and Kaeleb McMadden, a childhood friend who never really let her go.
Over the years, as their connections intertwine and strengthen, a seemingly indestructible bond is formed between the three. And eventually, the ties of friendship and discovery of first love begin to coax her from her darkened path as they slowly bring Aubrey back to life.
But when faced with the possibility of yet another death, one from which she may never recover, Aubrey finds herself lost again, burying herself deeper than ever before beneath the familiar abyss of her fears.
Spanning the course of four years, this is the story of a young woman's plight to finally reemerge, finding strength within unbreakable bonds as she delivers herself from her own manufactured darkness and safely back . . .
Into the Light.
****WARNING - Due to the graphic nature of some scenes, this book is not recommended for those who are particularly sensitive to the death of a child and/or suicide and is intended for mature audiences only. Contains adult language and themes.****
"As long as you continue to travel through life in this darkness, you will never know how beautiful your light truly shines when you let yourself love and be loved. Trust me when I say, it's a breathtaking sight to see. You burn as bright as the sun."
When Aubrey Miller begins her education at Titan University, she is no longer the beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl of her youth. In fact, she's no longer even Aubrey Miller.
Overcome with guilt and unable to cope with the loss of her beloved family, she has long since buried eight-year old Aubrey along with them and transformed herself into Raven Miller. Now with jet-black hair, multiple sets of eccentric contact lenses, and several facial piercings, she's veiled herself in complete darkness as a form of protection for herself, as well as others.
As she enters her first year of college, her goal is simple: Earn a degree with the least amount of social interaction as possible. What she never anticipates is the formation of very unlikely relationships with two people who will change her life in ways she never believed possible: Quinn Matthews, the overtly cheerful pageant queen, and Kaeleb McMadden, a childhood friend who never really let her go.
Over the years, as their connections intertwine and strengthen, a seemingly indestructible bond is formed between the three. And eventually, the ties of friendship and discovery of first love begin to coax her from her darkened path as they slowly bring Aubrey back to life.
But when faced with the possibility of yet another death, one from which she may never recover, Aubrey finds herself lost again, burying herself deeper than ever before beneath the familiar abyss of her fears.
Spanning the course of four years, this is the story of a young woman's plight to finally reemerge, finding strength within unbreakable bonds as she delivers herself from her own manufactured darkness and safely back . . .
Into the Light.
****WARNING - Due to the graphic nature of some scenes, this book is not recommended for those who are particularly sensitive to the death of a child and/or suicide and is intended for mature audiences only. Contains adult language and themes.****
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2014
About the author
L.B. Simmons
9 books1,485 followersAfter graduating from Texas A&M University, L.B. Simmons did what any biomedical science major could do. She entered the workforce as a full-time chemist. Years later, never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined herself a USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance author as well.
What began as a memoir for her children, ended up being her first self-published book, Running on Empty. Initially it was written to chronicle their actions, their phrases, and their silly arguments so that when they were older, they would always have those memories. The memoir soon began to take on a life of its own, morphing into the story of a single mother with three little girls finding love when she least expected it. Soon after, her girls were given reoccurring roles in the remainder of what became the Mending Hearts series.
That's how her journey as an author began, and she hopes to God it never ends.
L.B. Simmons doesn’t just write books. With each new work, she attempts to compose journeys of love and self-discovery so she may impart life lessons to readers. Several novels later, she’s tackled suicide, depression, bullying, eating disorders, as well as physical and sexual abuse, all the while weaving elements of humor into the storylines in effort to balance the difficult topics. Often described as roller coaster rides, her novels are known for eliciting a wide range of emotions in each story she tells.
What began as a memoir for her children, ended up being her first self-published book, Running on Empty. Initially it was written to chronicle their actions, their phrases, and their silly arguments so that when they were older, they would always have those memories. The memoir soon began to take on a life of its own, morphing into the story of a single mother with three little girls finding love when she least expected it. Soon after, her girls were given reoccurring roles in the remainder of what became the Mending Hearts series.
That's how her journey as an author began, and she hopes to God it never ends.
L.B. Simmons doesn’t just write books. With each new work, she attempts to compose journeys of love and self-discovery so she may impart life lessons to readers. Several novels later, she’s tackled suicide, depression, bullying, eating disorders, as well as physical and sexual abuse, all the while weaving elements of humor into the storylines in effort to balance the difficult topics. Often described as roller coaster rides, her novels are known for eliciting a wide range of emotions in each story she tells.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 841 reviews
May 3, 2014
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!
I loved every single word of this beautifully written, profound, and powerfully uplifting story. LB Simmons has written a stunning novel that explores the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the healing power of love, and the strength in finding a way to believe yourself in even the darkest of times. This is the kind of story that will grab your heart and never let it go.
A must-read for everyone!!
Every once in a while, you come across a book that truly speaks to your heart, that keeps you up til the wee hours of the morning because you just can't put it down, that fills your heart with every possible emotion, and that you want to read as fast as you can to find out what happens next but also don't want the story to end... for me, this was one of those books. I was hooked from the moment I read the prologue. It just drew me right in and after only one page, I'd already fallen in love with the story, had a smile on my face, and couldn't wait to find out about the resurrection of Aubrey Miller.
"The simplicity of living astounds me.
But it's the terror of death that devours me."
The story is told to us by Aubrey Miller, a young woman who has been surrounded by death her entire life. Everyone she’s allowed herself to love dies in an untimely fashion, and she becomes convinced that she is somehow responsible. This belief consumes her, and she decides to do the only thing she can -- she withdraws from the world entirely. She puts up walls to keep people away, to keep them safe. By hiding her blond hair underneath layers of dye, concealing her shining blue eyes behind contacts, and covering her face with piercings, she assumed the persona of Raven Miller, a closed-off, unapproachable young woman with no apparent interest in relationships or friendships. A mask, she hopes, that will deter people from ever getting too close to her. But somewhere, locked deep inside, a part of her still craves connection and desperately hopes that one day she’ll be able to love again.
We begin the book on her first day of college where she meets the two people who would change her life forever -- her exhuberant roommate, Quinn, and an unexpected childhood friend who had always held a piece of her heart and had never truly let her go... Kaeleb. Over the course of the next four years, they formed unbreakable bonds of love and friendship. And as these bonds strengthened, we began to see slowly see the mask that was Raven fade away, and the light that was Aubrey begin to shine again.
"I'll help you get lost any time, Sunshine. The only deal is you have to promise to come back. I never want to lose you again."
I have to start off by saying that the writing just blew me away!! But this book is not just beautifully written, it's carefully crafted. Each sentence has a greater meaning within the whole of the story and each moment brings something of value to the overall journey.
Despite the fact that there were several moments where I had to reach for the tissues, there were countless times when I found myself laughing out loud (the whole "swear jar" thing was pure gold!!), or cheering Aubrey on, or swooning over Kaeleb, or chuckling at their banter. I'd like to really highlight the fact that despite there being painful parts that made my heart ache, this is not a sad, depressing, dark story at all. In fact, I would consider this to be a very uplifting story that carries a beautiful message about learning to appreciate life to it's fullest and not being afraid to love.
The romance in this story is absolutely gorgeous and deeply heart warming. Kaeleb and Aubrey's childhood friendship had bonded them closely and when they reconnected, it was like the bond was still there even though Aubrey had hidden so much of herself away. And while this story is so much more than a romance, their love is a central theme and a crucial part of her healing. I loved the way he saw right through every wall she built to keep the world out. He saw right into the heart of the girl he'd never truly let go of and was determined to bring her back to life.
"You've always been my sunshine. Ever since we were kids. I know you're still in there, Bree. And I will find you."
This book had everything in the perfect balance and I think there's something in this story that every single person will be able to appreciate. Aubrey's journey was a powerful emotional experience. Through her eyes, I lived through her pain, I experienced her hope, and I felt her healing.
When I finished the last page I sat there with happy tears streaming down my face, hugging my book and letting the full weight of the story sink into my heart. Aubrey had been through many difficult and painful experiences, but each triumph was another step out of her own personal darkness and into the light. And the message you're left with really makes you sit back and think about your life.
"That's my purpose. What's yours?"
In the same vein as The Sea of Tranquility and Hopeless, this story will have you laughing one moment and wiping tears the next as these endearing characters take you on a heart warming, deeply emotional journey filled with romance, drama, and humour. Truly, this book had it all.
Rating: 5 STARS!! Standalone, New Adult contemporary romance.
Here's my casting....
Raven/Aubrey
Kaeleb
Quinn <-- she's the best friend (this is NOT a love triangle)
****************************
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March 26, 2016
4.25 stars!
Aubrey Miller- or Raven as she prefers meets Quinn her first day of college. Never does she imagine someone like Quinn will become her best friend, but she does. Then Kaeleb comes into the picture. Kaeleb is the person who gets her out of her shell and really gets her to become her true self. Things aren’t easy for any of these three. The obstacles that surround them make things hard. This book documents Aubrey’s four years of college. The ups, the downs, the struggles and the revelations.
I liked this author's writing style a lot. I think this book had potential to be a 5 star favorite for me (and I’m sure it is to many people) but there were a few small things through the middle that irked me enough to take my rating down to a 4. Still, I think this book is one that needs to be read. It’s a fantastic story that left me with tears rolling down my cheeks and the biggest smile on my face by the end! The ending was pretty damn epic!
For all my emotional readers who like to feel while reading, I highly recommend! I love a book that has humor, friendship and romance while still giving me all the feels!
“Beautiful people tend to be ugly, ugly people tend to be beautiful, storms tend to brew below a person’s cool, calm exterior, and tremendously happy people tend to be overcompensating for their own grief. Nothing is ever really what it seems.”There was a lot I loved about this book. A LOT. I love that it made me think, made me feel, and I loved the growth that all three of the main characters showed. Their love and friendships were unwavering. This book is so much more than a romance.
Aubrey Miller- or Raven as she prefers meets Quinn her first day of college. Never does she imagine someone like Quinn will become her best friend, but she does. Then Kaeleb comes into the picture. Kaeleb is the person who gets her out of her shell and really gets her to become her true self. Things aren’t easy for any of these three. The obstacles that surround them make things hard. This book documents Aubrey’s four years of college. The ups, the downs, the struggles and the revelations.
“Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love. Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended. Without fear, there is nothing gained when overcome. And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized.”
I liked this author's writing style a lot. I think this book had potential to be a 5 star favorite for me (and I’m sure it is to many people) but there were a few small things through the middle that irked me enough to take my rating down to a 4. Still, I think this book is one that needs to be read. It’s a fantastic story that left me with tears rolling down my cheeks and the biggest smile on my face by the end! The ending was pretty damn epic!
For all my emotional readers who like to feel while reading, I highly recommend! I love a book that has humor, friendship and romance while still giving me all the feels!
"As long as you continue to travel through life in this darkness, you will never know how beautiful you light truly shines when you let yourself love and be loved.”
July 20, 2016
It's LIVE!!!
6 STARS!!!
Think Ten Tiny Breaths + I Love You to Death + Ruin + dose of L.B. Simmons magical writing style and quirky humor = this gorgeously written story that’s nothing short of extraordinary. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!
I’m selfish. You see, I’m writing this review a month ahead of its release date, meaning I got to bask in the pure awesomeness of this book while most of you...have not. Lol. But that’s okay...mark those calendars for April 25! History will be made on that day I say!
Now on to the actual review...
This book is SO unique!! Never before have I read a story where the depressing and humorous are so delightfully balanced and set in a NA background! Witty dialogue, endearing characters, and high-quality writing, this book completely charmed me and evoked a wide range of emotions! This is a story that other NA books should strive to achieve.
So what’s it about?
Aubrey Miller is on her way to college...just another normal college-bound girl. Except...she’s not. For one, she goes by Raven, a name that symbolizes all the darkness, agony, and pain she’s been through. Once a spirited, happy girl, Aubrey’s past is overshadowed by death: death of her parents, her beloved sister, and in a twisted way, believes she’s responsible for them. As a result, she locks away the few bright, innocent memories of her childhood and morphs into a hollow, depressing version of herself as a defense mechanism.
“I look like a freak.
Sometimes, I wonder if I overdid the attempt to deter anyone and everyone from ever getting near me.”
Depressing right? But no matter how heavy the content got (and trust me, there were times I felt SO somber), there was this underlying lighthearted tone to the story. Part of the reason can be attributed to the setting, and this is where I truly appreciated the NA aspect of the book. For stories set in college, there’s always a youthful quality added to the story and that serves as a great contrast to the melancholy, morbid vibe Aubrey gives off. But the main reason is Kaeleb’s character and oh my gosh!! I’ve fallen hard for him! He’s nothing but sexy, supportive, and kindhearted. I find it so refreshing that despite the college setting, the author went against the norm and created a male lead who was neither a jackass or bad boy; instead, a witty and loyal friend to Aubrey. Another vital part of the story was Quinn, Aubrey’s roommate-turned-BFF. I absolutely adored her character!! Though the author epitomized her as the classic blonde who was the queen of everything, there’s a depth to Quinn’s character. Her bubbly personality completely charmed me and once again, helped balance the dismal and depressing tones of the story. These three people, together, all so different but so similar in their brokenness, are the perfect group and though this book is focused on Aubrey’s “resurrection,” I’d say the three of them helped heal each other.
I loved seeing the progress all of them made, especially Aubrey, and I particularly appreciated how well the story was paced: over the course of Aubrey’s 4 years in college. Despite the positive improvement and healing on her part, though, there were many setbacks and just when I thought things were going to be okay, the characters hit their rock bottom and the old, happy Aubrey disappeared, leaving only the cold, detached Raven in her stead. And Kaeleb saw it happen, pleaded with her to not retreat into a shell of a person.
“I wanted to be enough for you. Strong enough. Man enough. Enough for you to find a reason to live again. To give you that courage and strength. But I know now, you’re the only one who can do that Sunshine.”
["she" referring to Raven, if that confuses anyone]
Anyways, everything that happens after the 65% mark pretty much broke my heart (thanks L.B.), but it’s also the most powerful portion of the book. This is where the true beauty and meaning of the story kicks in as Aubrey struggles and faces her past and chooses how to live her future. This is where she understands the pain and sorrow of death, tragedy, and heartache, yet takes the lessons she’s learned and figures out that without experiencing it all, she could never be “resurrected, ” finally delivered from the shackles of loss and gloom.
“Sometimes in life, there are these random moments when everything just clicks. When all the fragments of your fractured past fall together, merging in your mind to form a lucid image of your future. Each mistake made becomes a vital piece as it serves whatever purpose necessary to complete the picture as a whole and suddenly everything becomes so clear.”
As for the romance aspect, it’s more of a secondary element to the story but equally as important. I loved how it developed at a natural, believable pace and not turn into some insta-love fest. Kaeleb and Aubrey complement each other perfectly and I was ecstatic to see an old friendship turn into something more for the both of them, and that together they were able to move forward despite their weighty pasts.
I absolutely adored this book! Of course, no book is completely perfect and there were very minor qualms I had but in light of how emotionally evocative this story is and how I literally drowned myself within the pages until I finished, I have to give it 6 stars. It exceeded all my expectations I had and is by far the best work I’ve read from this author. Giving it anything less than 6 stars is unfathomable; my heart just won’t allow it.
“You know, if the sun and the moon were to actually collide, it would set off a cataclysmic reaction of epic proportions. Are you ready to have your world completely obliterated?”
ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all quotes are from an advanced copy and may be subject to change in the final edition.
6 STARS!!!
Think Ten Tiny Breaths + I Love You to Death + Ruin + dose of L.B. Simmons magical writing style and quirky humor = this gorgeously written story that’s nothing short of extraordinary. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!
I’m selfish. You see, I’m writing this review a month ahead of its release date, meaning I got to bask in the pure awesomeness of this book while most of you...have not. Lol. But that’s okay...mark those calendars for April 25! History will be made on that day I say!
Now on to the actual review...
This book is SO unique!! Never before have I read a story where the depressing and humorous are so delightfully balanced and set in a NA background! Witty dialogue, endearing characters, and high-quality writing, this book completely charmed me and evoked a wide range of emotions! This is a story that other NA books should strive to achieve.
So what’s it about?
Aubrey Miller is on her way to college...just another normal college-bound girl. Except...she’s not. For one, she goes by Raven, a name that symbolizes all the darkness, agony, and pain she’s been through. Once a spirited, happy girl, Aubrey’s past is overshadowed by death: death of her parents, her beloved sister, and in a twisted way, believes she’s responsible for them. As a result, she locks away the few bright, innocent memories of her childhood and morphs into a hollow, depressing version of herself as a defense mechanism.
“I look like a freak.
Sometimes, I wonder if I overdid the attempt to deter anyone and everyone from ever getting near me.”
Depressing right? But no matter how heavy the content got (and trust me, there were times I felt SO somber), there was this underlying lighthearted tone to the story. Part of the reason can be attributed to the setting, and this is where I truly appreciated the NA aspect of the book. For stories set in college, there’s always a youthful quality added to the story and that serves as a great contrast to the melancholy, morbid vibe Aubrey gives off. But the main reason is Kaeleb’s character and oh my gosh!! I’ve fallen hard for him! He’s nothing but sexy, supportive, and kindhearted. I find it so refreshing that despite the college setting, the author went against the norm and created a male lead who was neither a jackass or bad boy; instead, a witty and loyal friend to Aubrey. Another vital part of the story was Quinn, Aubrey’s roommate-turned-BFF. I absolutely adored her character!! Though the author epitomized her as the classic blonde who was the queen of everything, there’s a depth to Quinn’s character. Her bubbly personality completely charmed me and once again, helped balance the dismal and depressing tones of the story. These three people, together, all so different but so similar in their brokenness, are the perfect group and though this book is focused on Aubrey’s “resurrection,” I’d say the three of them helped heal each other.
I loved seeing the progress all of them made, especially Aubrey, and I particularly appreciated how well the story was paced: over the course of Aubrey’s 4 years in college. Despite the positive improvement and healing on her part, though, there were many setbacks and just when I thought things were going to be okay, the characters hit their rock bottom and the old, happy Aubrey disappeared, leaving only the cold, detached Raven in her stead. And Kaeleb saw it happen, pleaded with her to not retreat into a shell of a person.
“I wanted to be enough for you. Strong enough. Man enough. Enough for you to find a reason to live again. To give you that courage and strength. But I know now, you’re the only one who can do that Sunshine.”
["she" referring to Raven, if that confuses anyone]
Anyways, everything that happens after the 65% mark pretty much broke my heart (thanks L.B.), but it’s also the most powerful portion of the book. This is where the true beauty and meaning of the story kicks in as Aubrey struggles and faces her past and chooses how to live her future. This is where she understands the pain and sorrow of death, tragedy, and heartache, yet takes the lessons she’s learned and figures out that without experiencing it all, she could never be “resurrected, ” finally delivered from the shackles of loss and gloom.
“Sometimes in life, there are these random moments when everything just clicks. When all the fragments of your fractured past fall together, merging in your mind to form a lucid image of your future. Each mistake made becomes a vital piece as it serves whatever purpose necessary to complete the picture as a whole and suddenly everything becomes so clear.”
As for the romance aspect, it’s more of a secondary element to the story but equally as important. I loved how it developed at a natural, believable pace and not turn into some insta-love fest. Kaeleb and Aubrey complement each other perfectly and I was ecstatic to see an old friendship turn into something more for the both of them, and that together they were able to move forward despite their weighty pasts.
I absolutely adored this book! Of course, no book is completely perfect and there were very minor qualms I had but in light of how emotionally evocative this story is and how I literally drowned myself within the pages until I finished, I have to give it 6 stars. It exceeded all my expectations I had and is by far the best work I’ve read from this author. Giving it anything less than 6 stars is unfathomable; my heart just won’t allow it.
“You know, if the sun and the moon were to actually collide, it would set off a cataclysmic reaction of epic proportions. Are you ready to have your world completely obliterated?”
ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all quotes are from an advanced copy and may be subject to change in the final edition.
May 17, 2018
3.5 stars
Aurbrey Miller has reinvented herself. Long gone is the blue eyed, blonde haired girl she once was, in her place is Raven Miller with her facial piercings, jet black hair and an ever-changing supply of contact lenses. Aubrey/Raven is trying to distance herself from sad her past and keep others at arm’s reach in the present. She lost her family when she was eight years old and has always felt responsible - even though she was not! Raised by her godmother, she feels safer keeping people at bay believing that she is the cause of bad things happening around her. It isn't until she meets her college roommate Quinn and her friend Kaeleb, that she begins to let other's in. That's it - that is all you are getting!
This book is many different things rolled into one. It's part romance, it's part coming of age, it's part dealing with loss, it's about acceptance, it's about growth, etc. This book also touches on bullying, suicide, illness, etc. Sounds heavy right and to a small degree it is. But it is also about finding yourself, allowing yourself to be loved, friendship, and re-connection.
This book was a well-written fast read for me. This book is considered "New Adult" and has a very YA feel to it. Although I liked the characters, I wasn't blown away by them - or shall I say, I was not emotionally attached to them. I would have liked to see more backstory on both Quinn and Kaeleb. In some ways, the book felt a little rushed to me. I wanted more - at times I read a book and think to myself "this book would have been better if 50-60 pages had been edited out". In this case, I wanted more of the story. Don't get me wrong, this was still enjoyable - I just wanted MORE.
I received a copy of this book from Spencer Hill press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are my own.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
March 1, 2016
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This is a well told story that will have readers, swooning, crying and rejoicing in Raven/Aubrey's journey through her struggles and strides during her four years of college.
Tremendous loss has given life to Raven (Aubrey's people repelling persona) used to keep love and loss away. Once Aubrey meets her roommate and her Boarding Buddy the persona of Raven starts to slowly fall.
Through four years of college Aubrey finds her soul mate, best friend and mentor. When death comes to claim another of Aubrey's loved ones she will need to face her fears head on.
Kaeleb McMadden, Quinn Matthews, Professor Martin Palmer and Linda truly were a wonderful cast of characters who changed Aubrey's life for the better.
I must include how much I loved Kaeleb! He was a terrific character and together he and Aubrey had fantastic banter, true friendship, great chemistry and a bond that is unbreakable.
My favorite part was definitely the ending in which the author brilliantly brought the whole story full circle.
"That's my purpose. What's yours?"
This is a well told story that will have readers, swooning, crying and rejoicing in Raven/Aubrey's journey through her struggles and strides during her four years of college.
Tremendous loss has given life to Raven (Aubrey's people repelling persona) used to keep love and loss away. Once Aubrey meets her roommate and her Boarding Buddy the persona of Raven starts to slowly fall.
Through four years of college Aubrey finds her soul mate, best friend and mentor. When death comes to claim another of Aubrey's loved ones she will need to face her fears head on.
Kaeleb McMadden, Quinn Matthews, Professor Martin Palmer and Linda truly were a wonderful cast of characters who changed Aubrey's life for the better.
I must include how much I loved Kaeleb! He was a terrific character and together he and Aubrey had fantastic banter, true friendship, great chemistry and a bond that is unbreakable.
My favorite part was definitely the ending in which the author brilliantly brought the whole story full circle.
"That's my purpose. What's yours?"
April 28, 2014
4.5--Sunshine--Stars!
I was originally only going to fill 4 stars on this one.....but I loved the ending. So....five stars it is!
This was a really good read. A bit on the heavy and sad side....reminded me of a cross between I Love You to Death and Left Drowning.
Aubrey Miller is gone. She disappeared at 8 years old when she was forced to say goodbye to her best friend Kaelab and go live with her guardian Linda. Aubrey's 8 year old life was full of pain and sorrow.
Aubrey grew up fearing death.
Never getting close to others, never building friendships and never allowing herself to love. It was out of this fear that Raven was born.
Raven is starting her freshman year of college. She's got her mask on to keep everyone away. She walks in to her dorm the first day and meets her roommate Quinn and her life will never be the same again.
Quinn is everything Raven is not. She's full of life, she's bubbly, she's happy. But as these two friends soon discover...what appears on the outside is not always a true representation of a what's on the inside.
On that same day that Raven meets Quinn, she's reunited with her best friend Kaelab. But Raven is no longer Aubrey, the 8 year old girl that said goodbye to Kaelab all those years ago.
Over the years Raven, Quinn and Kaelab will form an undeniable bond. A bond that will be tested. A bond that will grow stronger and stronger. A bond that will help carry each other though the obstacles life will bring them.
Both Quinn and Kaelab will slowly bring Aubrey back to life. But the journey won't be an easy one. Death will once again come knocking on Aubrey's door. Will Quinn and Kaelab be enough to carry Aubrey through?
My heart broke for Aubrey and all that she went through in her young life. She experienced more pain and suffering than anyone should ever have to.
Kaelab was a fantastic hero. He was by Aubrey's side every step of the way. He was her rock. Her knight in shining armor. Her greatest love.
This was a really beautiful story, a story of a girl, whose life was shrouded in loss. Who thought she'd never live again, much less love again. It's the story of the power of friendship and love and how both brought Raven out of the darkness and Aubrey in to the light.
I was originally only going to fill 4 stars on this one.....but I loved the ending. So....five stars it is!
This was a really good read. A bit on the heavy and sad side....reminded me of a cross between I Love You to Death and Left Drowning.
Aubrey Miller is gone. She disappeared at 8 years old when she was forced to say goodbye to her best friend Kaelab and go live with her guardian Linda. Aubrey's 8 year old life was full of pain and sorrow.
Aubrey grew up fearing death.
"The simplicity of living astounds me.
But it's the terror of death that devours me."
Never getting close to others, never building friendships and never allowing herself to love. It was out of this fear that Raven was born.
Raven is starting her freshman year of college. She's got her mask on to keep everyone away. She walks in to her dorm the first day and meets her roommate Quinn and her life will never be the same again.
Quinn is everything Raven is not. She's full of life, she's bubbly, she's happy. But as these two friends soon discover...what appears on the outside is not always a true representation of a what's on the inside.
On that same day that Raven meets Quinn, she's reunited with her best friend Kaelab. But Raven is no longer Aubrey, the 8 year old girl that said goodbye to Kaelab all those years ago.
Over the years Raven, Quinn and Kaelab will form an undeniable bond. A bond that will be tested. A bond that will grow stronger and stronger. A bond that will help carry each other though the obstacles life will bring them.
Both Quinn and Kaelab will slowly bring Aubrey back to life. But the journey won't be an easy one. Death will once again come knocking on Aubrey's door. Will Quinn and Kaelab be enough to carry Aubrey through?
"I wanted to be enough for you. Strong enough. Man enough. Enough for you to find a reason to live again. To give you that courage and strength. But now I know you're the only one who can do that, Sunshine."
My heart broke for Aubrey and all that she went through in her young life. She experienced more pain and suffering than anyone should ever have to.
Kaelab was a fantastic hero. He was by Aubrey's side every step of the way. He was her rock. Her knight in shining armor. Her greatest love.
This was a really beautiful story, a story of a girl, whose life was shrouded in loss. Who thought she'd never live again, much less love again. It's the story of the power of friendship and love and how both brought Raven out of the darkness and Aubrey in to the light.
"As long as you continue to travel through life in this darkness, you will never know how beautiful you light truly shines when you let yourself love and be loved."
March 27, 2015
DNF at 67%
If there is anything, ANYTHING that drives me the most batshit crazy, it's manufactured drama. I can deal with angst, in fact, I crave it in most books, but when the level of angst, suffering, drama, is just so heavy in the plot of a story that it becomes UNBELIEVABLE, I give up. And that's the case here.
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller started out strong for me. A very lonely, scarred college freshman that's endured so much loss, she's actually blamed herself for it. Everyone close to her dies...her little sister, her mother, her father (all on separate instances, I might add...did I mention unbelievable). After the loss of her family, she's taken in by Linda, her mom's best friend. She builds walls like no other to protect those around her from getting close to her....it's in their best interest, after all, since everyone close to her dies an untimely death. She pierces her face, dyes her hair, wears cat-eye contacts, ANYTHING to repel friendship or relationships.
Until she meets her 'thunderstorm of pink' college roommate, Quinn, these repel tactics worked. But Quinn seems to be immune to her darkness, is anything but repelled. Bree (aka Raven) can't help but let her walls gradually crumble. Enter Kealeb, her best friend from early childhood who just happens to be her roommate's "orientation buddy" (again...not so believable). Between Kaeleb and Quinn, her walls gradually fall and the real Bree creeps out.
So this part was good! I loved the balance of humor with drama in the beginning. Linda has a swear jar and it was hilarious. Said jar gets to go along to college with her...her friends taking part in the challenge to stop swearing...or not.
The reader is so happy to see her have this chance at life after so much sorrow and loss. But, NO, there has to be DRAMA. There has to be more HEARTBREAK. So far fetched, it's unbelievable. So, instead of making me sad, it makes me ANGRY.
Quinn can't simply be this sweet vivacious friend to help her. No, she has to be suffering from . Linda also can't simply be the great foster mom to live her life with happily in place of her parents. Oh, no. Quinn has to and Linda has to all in one night! Are you freaking kidding me?
Does this end in a HEA? I sure as hell hope so, for the sake of the readers that hang on past the point I threw in the towel. I can only take so much pain and, let's just face it, this is just too much for one pathetic girl to endure. I found myself saying, "Really? Seriously? Come on, people!"
On a lighter note, Kaeleb is the star of the show. Loved him. What a great guy. Mature way beyond his years. Hope he doesn't get off'ed too.
Moving on!
If there is anything, ANYTHING that drives me the most batshit crazy, it's manufactured drama. I can deal with angst, in fact, I crave it in most books, but when the level of angst, suffering, drama, is just so heavy in the plot of a story that it becomes UNBELIEVABLE, I give up. And that's the case here.
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller started out strong for me. A very lonely, scarred college freshman that's endured so much loss, she's actually blamed herself for it. Everyone close to her dies...her little sister, her mother, her father (all on separate instances, I might add...did I mention unbelievable). After the loss of her family, she's taken in by Linda, her mom's best friend. She builds walls like no other to protect those around her from getting close to her....it's in their best interest, after all, since everyone close to her dies an untimely death. She pierces her face, dyes her hair, wears cat-eye contacts, ANYTHING to repel friendship or relationships.
Until she meets her 'thunderstorm of pink' college roommate, Quinn, these repel tactics worked. But Quinn seems to be immune to her darkness, is anything but repelled. Bree (aka Raven) can't help but let her walls gradually crumble. Enter Kealeb, her best friend from early childhood who just happens to be her roommate's "orientation buddy" (again...not so believable). Between Kaeleb and Quinn, her walls gradually fall and the real Bree creeps out.
So this part was good! I loved the balance of humor with drama in the beginning. Linda has a swear jar and it was hilarious. Said jar gets to go along to college with her...her friends taking part in the challenge to stop swearing...or not.
The reader is so happy to see her have this chance at life after so much sorrow and loss. But, NO, there has to be DRAMA. There has to be more HEARTBREAK. So far fetched, it's unbelievable. So, instead of making me sad, it makes me ANGRY.
Quinn can't simply be this sweet vivacious friend to help her. No, she has to be suffering from . Linda also can't simply be the great foster mom to live her life with happily in place of her parents. Oh, no. Quinn has to and Linda has to all in one night! Are you freaking kidding me?
Does this end in a HEA? I sure as hell hope so, for the sake of the readers that hang on past the point I threw in the towel. I can only take so much pain and, let's just face it, this is just too much for one pathetic girl to endure. I found myself saying, "Really? Seriously? Come on, people!"
On a lighter note, Kaeleb is the star of the show. Loved him. What a great guy. Mature way beyond his years. Hope he doesn't get off'ed too.
Moving on!
April 14, 2016
*Kindle freebie 3/18/16...*
A lot of horrible things happened to Aubrey/Raven. Aubrey is who she was before and Raven is who she is now. Her new name and persona helps her deal with those horrible things...or does it?
There is a warning for this book regarding the horrible things and that's a good thing because then you know what you're dealing with. But...the thing I liked about the book is really the message of hope...that there are good things too if you let yourself be open to them.
Aubrey/Raven is an interesting character. Her defense mechanisms were pretty intense and I think the only thing that was missing was how she came up with them.
Kaeleb...almost perfect! I just didn't like his "Hulk"-ish ways especially when he knew who Raven was. But...he more than redeemed himself and he was sooo funny and that was definitely needed.
I really enjoyed Quinn. Love what she brought to Aubrey and in turn, what Aubrey was able to bring Quinn. There's a part in the beginning that talks about how we all are dealing with things and she really hit home with that.
There's some good steamy scenes but what I liked was that the focus was more on love than just having sex.
This book is definitely emotional and I'm sure you will cry a tear or two especially with regards to Linda...that was so heartbreaking!
The big problem for me is that many things were pretty predictable and not hard to figure out. It would have been more interesting for things to have not worked out so perfectly all the time.
Still I enjoyed the journey and I loved that everything was done in one book and you didn't have to wait for the next one to come out.
Favorite quotes
♥ “What if I call you Sunshine? It’s not demeaning in the least. And I’ll go ahead and keep that one specifically reserved for you, since, you know, you’re not part of my harem and all.”
♥ “You’d be the exception, you know. With you, it would be real, not an escape.”
♥ “That’s what I can’t get over. Because in this moment, you are quite literally my dream come true.”
♥ "There you are."
♥ “You know, if the sun and the moon were to actually collide, it would set off a cataclysmic reaction of epic proportions. Are you ready to have your world completely obliterated?”
A lot of horrible things happened to Aubrey/Raven. Aubrey is who she was before and Raven is who she is now. Her new name and persona helps her deal with those horrible things...or does it?
There is a warning for this book regarding the horrible things and that's a good thing because then you know what you're dealing with. But...the thing I liked about the book is really the message of hope...that there are good things too if you let yourself be open to them.
Aubrey/Raven is an interesting character. Her defense mechanisms were pretty intense and I think the only thing that was missing was how she came up with them.
Kaeleb...almost perfect! I just didn't like his "Hulk"-ish ways especially when he knew who Raven was. But...he more than redeemed himself and he was sooo funny and that was definitely needed.
I really enjoyed Quinn. Love what she brought to Aubrey and in turn, what Aubrey was able to bring Quinn. There's a part in the beginning that talks about how we all are dealing with things and she really hit home with that.
There's some good steamy scenes but what I liked was that the focus was more on love than just having sex.
This book is definitely emotional and I'm sure you will cry a tear or two especially with regards to Linda...that was so heartbreaking!
The big problem for me is that many things were pretty predictable and not hard to figure out. It would have been more interesting for things to have not worked out so perfectly all the time.
Still I enjoyed the journey and I loved that everything was done in one book and you didn't have to wait for the next one to come out.
Favorite quotes
♥ “What if I call you Sunshine? It’s not demeaning in the least. And I’ll go ahead and keep that one specifically reserved for you, since, you know, you’re not part of my harem and all.”
♥ “You’d be the exception, you know. With you, it would be real, not an escape.”
♥ “That’s what I can’t get over. Because in this moment, you are quite literally my dream come true.”
♥ "There you are."
♥ “You know, if the sun and the moon were to actually collide, it would set off a cataclysmic reaction of epic proportions. Are you ready to have your world completely obliterated?”
April 28, 2014
4.5 Stars
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is an emotionally charged story about finding the light at the end of the tunnel. A beautiful message surrounded by sweet romance, friendship, family, drama, and loss.
“I am death. And I bring it to all who love me.”
Aubrey has experienced extreme loss. The trauma she has suffered has left it's mark on her fragile young mind. Blaming herself for every loss that has touched her life, she is consumed by guilt. So she creates Raven - black hair, cat eyes, extreme makeup, multiple facial piercings and an unapproachable attitude.
"I look like a freak.
Sometimes, I wonder if I overdid that attempt to deter anyone and everyone from ever getting near me."
On her first day of college she meets her perky, pink loving roommate, Quinn and is reunited with her childhood best friend, Kaeleb. She tries to keep her distance and maintain the walls she has built around her heart, but Quinn and Kaeleb break through.
"Perhaps you need to let go of Raven, and reacquaint yourself with Aubrey. With who you really are."
As friendships grown and feelings resurface, Aubrey finds herself living again, happy and hopeful. But everything is not as it seems and there are still obstacles for Aubrey to face. Will she face them or turn to Raven to deal?
“It seems what people try to represent on the outside very rarely mirrors their inside. Beautiful people tend to be ugly, ugly people tend to be beautiful, storms tend to brew below a person’s cool, calm exterior, and tremendously happy people tend to be overcompensating for their own grief. Nothing is ever really what it seems.”
Aubrey's journey is beautifully written - full of self-discovery, heartbreak, and love. The characters were fantastic - I loved them all. Although there is some dark, sorrowful moments, I was smiling throughout this read. I cried, swooned, and in the end felt uplifted. It's great, heartwarming story about a girl finding her way. I really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend it.
"Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love. Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended. Without fear there is nothing gained when overcome. And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized."
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Guest reviewing for:
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is an emotionally charged story about finding the light at the end of the tunnel. A beautiful message surrounded by sweet romance, friendship, family, drama, and loss.
“I am death. And I bring it to all who love me.”
Aubrey has experienced extreme loss. The trauma she has suffered has left it's mark on her fragile young mind. Blaming herself for every loss that has touched her life, she is consumed by guilt. So she creates Raven - black hair, cat eyes, extreme makeup, multiple facial piercings and an unapproachable attitude.
"I look like a freak.
Sometimes, I wonder if I overdid that attempt to deter anyone and everyone from ever getting near me."
On her first day of college she meets her perky, pink loving roommate, Quinn and is reunited with her childhood best friend, Kaeleb. She tries to keep her distance and maintain the walls she has built around her heart, but Quinn and Kaeleb break through.
"Perhaps you need to let go of Raven, and reacquaint yourself with Aubrey. With who you really are."
As friendships grown and feelings resurface, Aubrey finds herself living again, happy and hopeful. But everything is not as it seems and there are still obstacles for Aubrey to face. Will she face them or turn to Raven to deal?
“It seems what people try to represent on the outside very rarely mirrors their inside. Beautiful people tend to be ugly, ugly people tend to be beautiful, storms tend to brew below a person’s cool, calm exterior, and tremendously happy people tend to be overcompensating for their own grief. Nothing is ever really what it seems.”
Aubrey's journey is beautifully written - full of self-discovery, heartbreak, and love. The characters were fantastic - I loved them all. Although there is some dark, sorrowful moments, I was smiling throughout this read. I cried, swooned, and in the end felt uplifted. It's great, heartwarming story about a girl finding her way. I really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend it.
"Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love. Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended. Without fear there is nothing gained when overcome. And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized."
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Guest reviewing for:
March 30, 2016
Aubrey Miller is a broken girl, who has completed isolated herself from others. She is terrified to truly live her life, but begins to come out of her shell more when she goes to college.
She ends up meeting a girl who is her complete opposite at first glance and a guy who just so happens to be her childhood best friend. I loved that little twist and the dynamic these three brought to the table. I love how they all grew throughout the story and how they forged this incredible bond.
This story is super emotional and at times it was difficult to listen to. I just wanted to tune out some of the moments, because I didn’t know just how much more Aubrey/me could take. I can absolutely see why so many have loved this story. I can understand the insane feelings, but I think I detached myself from the story because I was truly worried for Aubrey’s sanity at some points. Then I was a little frustrated with Aubrey’s behavior, so overall it wasn’t a perfect read for me, but still very enjoyable.
I listened to the audio version of this book and enjoyed the narration. At times the narration seemed choppy, but I assume that’s how the text is written.
She ends up meeting a girl who is her complete opposite at first glance and a guy who just so happens to be her childhood best friend. I loved that little twist and the dynamic these three brought to the table. I love how they all grew throughout the story and how they forged this incredible bond.
"I'll help you get lost anytime, Sunshine. The only deal is you have to promise to come back. I never want to lose you again.”
This story is super emotional and at times it was difficult to listen to. I just wanted to tune out some of the moments, because I didn’t know just how much more Aubrey/me could take. I can absolutely see why so many have loved this story. I can understand the insane feelings, but I think I detached myself from the story because I was truly worried for Aubrey’s sanity at some points. Then I was a little frustrated with Aubrey’s behavior, so overall it wasn’t a perfect read for me, but still very enjoyable.
I listened to the audio version of this book and enjoyed the narration. At times the narration seemed choppy, but I assume that’s how the text is written.
November 23, 2014
6 SUN AND MOON STARS! ★★★★★★
"My name is Aubrey Miller, or Raven Miller, depending on what part of my life I'm referencing, and this is my story."
I just wanted to curl up in my bed for the entire rest of my day after putting this one down. It caused a riot of my emotions & not to mentioned, my box of Kleenex fell victim to my ugly crying while going through this one. This was like Sea of Tranquillity meets Hopeless and entered into a threesome with Ten Tiny Breaths. ALL which sums up to my feelings for this book:
******
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is a story of how a little girl witnessed the death of each of her family member & lived through loss than most people of her age. Traumatised at a young age, her misplaced sense of guilt made her believed that she was the cause of death to everyone she ever loved or cared of. As a defense mechanism, she goes by an alter ego, Raven; whose appearance mimics a goth-punk to repel everyone away & ensure they're safe from their impending "doom of death".
Well almost everyone steered clear of her except for her perky pink-lover roommate, Quinn and the one person she thought she'd never see again after all those years; her childhood friend, Kaeleb.
Okay okay I know, I can easily draw parallel from this to SoT where:
1. Natsya goes all gothic & pulling the same stunt with everyone.
2. Josh was also known as the "boy of death"; similar to Aubrey/Raven here.
3. The whole "Sunshine" endearing term. What a coincidence LOL!
Also the whole Kaeleb finally finding Aubrey after all those years would definitely spark up memories from Hopeless.
So why still the 6-stars rating?
Because I decided to rate this based on the overall execution of the story (which I found to be incredibly powerful and brilliant) rather than the originality of the premise brought to the table. Many authors can easily recycle a similar idea & play it out differently in their own books, but rarely one can transform that idea into delivering such an emotional power-packed punch read like this one. This not just a depressing read about how a girl will find her life back (or "resurrected her life again") but a journey of self-discovery and finding that light at the end of the tunnel as 3 individuals form an unbreakable bond & helped each other to heal their broken selves.
And for this, I must commend L.B. Simmons for this astonishing feat (and also for all that ugly crying she put me through).
On the surface, this really does come off as superbly morbid & honestly I was afraid to put myself through such a depressing read. But you would be surprised that there is a good balance of that melancholy tone mixed with some light-heartedness coated in between.
Quinn's character definitely stood out for me; she was like the sunshine in this dark book although beneath that perky girl lies a damaged soul. Kaeleb on the other hand, is nothing short of swoon-worthy ♥♥ He's that sexy, witty & charming guy who is constantly supportive of Aubrey and Quinn & cared for them endlessly.
Even when Aubrey hit rock bottom, Kaeleb was her only anchor left & he would have gone to the depths of hell to bring her back. Even as he struggled with his own demons, he never stopped trying to save Aubrey.
I think the story as an overall was well-paced, the romance also wasn't too heavy or rushed which I appreciated because it focused more on the original premise itself. By 70% onwards, that's when the powerful punch kicks in and my sob-fest begin (thanks LB Simmons, you owe me half a box of Kleenex now). All I can say that it was heartbreaking, depressing, inspiring and uplifting; ALL OF THOSE FEELINGS COMING TOGETHER throughout that entire stretch.
Was the story predictable? Well it wasn't hard to guess what was coming but that doesn't change the fact that when I got to it, I was still crying like a baby. The writing was impeccable and the words flowed effortlessly which really hit me strong in the gut.
And that goes without saying that this book is one that will stay with me for a while as I soak it all in. A beautiful, uplifting story of friendship, heartache and love. A story of how death can bring someone to the deepest end of hell and to truly experience pain & sorrow before realizing the true meaning of life.
It's just one of those reads that you have to read to experience it. I regret nothing even after all it put me through because I absolutely loved it ♥
"My name is Aubrey Miller, or Raven Miller, depending on what part of my life I'm referencing, and this is my story."
I just wanted to curl up in my bed for the entire rest of my day after putting this one down. It caused a riot of my emotions & not to mentioned, my box of Kleenex fell victim to my ugly crying while going through this one. This was like Sea of Tranquillity meets Hopeless and entered into a threesome with Ten Tiny Breaths. ALL which sums up to my feelings for this book:
******
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is a story of how a little girl witnessed the death of each of her family member & lived through loss than most people of her age. Traumatised at a young age, her misplaced sense of guilt made her believed that she was the cause of death to everyone she ever loved or cared of. As a defense mechanism, she goes by an alter ego, Raven; whose appearance mimics a goth-punk to repel everyone away & ensure they're safe from their impending "doom of death".
Well almost everyone steered clear of her except for her perky pink-lover roommate, Quinn and the one person she thought she'd never see again after all those years; her childhood friend, Kaeleb.
Okay okay I know, I can easily draw parallel from this to SoT where:
1. Natsya goes all gothic & pulling the same stunt with everyone.
2. Josh was also known as the "boy of death"; similar to Aubrey/Raven here.
3. The whole "Sunshine" endearing term. What a coincidence LOL!
Also the whole Kaeleb finally finding Aubrey after all those years would definitely spark up memories from Hopeless.
So why still the 6-stars rating?
Because I decided to rate this based on the overall execution of the story (which I found to be incredibly powerful and brilliant) rather than the originality of the premise brought to the table. Many authors can easily recycle a similar idea & play it out differently in their own books, but rarely one can transform that idea into delivering such an emotional power-packed punch read like this one. This not just a depressing read about how a girl will find her life back (or "resurrected her life again") but a journey of self-discovery and finding that light at the end of the tunnel as 3 individuals form an unbreakable bond & helped each other to heal their broken selves.
And for this, I must commend L.B. Simmons for this astonishing feat (and also for all that ugly crying she put me through).
On the surface, this really does come off as superbly morbid & honestly I was afraid to put myself through such a depressing read. But you would be surprised that there is a good balance of that melancholy tone mixed with some light-heartedness coated in between.
Quinn's character definitely stood out for me; she was like the sunshine in this dark book although beneath that perky girl lies a damaged soul. Kaeleb on the other hand, is nothing short of swoon-worthy ♥♥ He's that sexy, witty & charming guy who is constantly supportive of Aubrey and Quinn & cared for them endlessly.
Even when Aubrey hit rock bottom, Kaeleb was her only anchor left & he would have gone to the depths of hell to bring her back. Even as he struggled with his own demons, he never stopped trying to save Aubrey.
"I'll help you get lost anytime, Sunshine. The only deal is you have to promise to come back. I never want to lose you again."
I think the story as an overall was well-paced, the romance also wasn't too heavy or rushed which I appreciated because it focused more on the original premise itself. By 70% onwards, that's when the powerful punch kicks in and my sob-fest begin (thanks LB Simmons, you owe me half a box of Kleenex now). All I can say that it was heartbreaking, depressing, inspiring and uplifting; ALL OF THOSE FEELINGS COMING TOGETHER throughout that entire stretch.
Was the story predictable? Well it wasn't hard to guess what was coming but that doesn't change the fact that when I got to it, I was still crying like a baby. The writing was impeccable and the words flowed effortlessly which really hit me strong in the gut.
And that goes without saying that this book is one that will stay with me for a while as I soak it all in. A beautiful, uplifting story of friendship, heartache and love. A story of how death can bring someone to the deepest end of hell and to truly experience pain & sorrow before realizing the true meaning of life.
“Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love. Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended. Without fear, there is nothing gained when overcome. And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized.”
It's just one of those reads that you have to read to experience it. I regret nothing even after all it put me through because I absolutely loved it ♥
“You know, if the sun and the moon were to actually collide, it would set off a cataclysmic reaction of epic proportions. Are you ready to have your world completely obliterated?”
June 10, 2016
5 incredible, amazing stars!!
“The simplicity of living astounds me. But it’s the terror of death that devours me.”
This book is truly something special. I loved it, and I have a feeling that it will stick with me for a very long time. It reminded me a lot of the book I Love You to Death by Natalie Ward, but both have very different heroines in it.
“I hope that one day you’ll find that source of light and let it heal you, too. Because if you do, it will illuminate your path and eventually lead you home. To me.”
Sometimes, when I really love a book, I have a hard time reviewing it because nothing I say will ever do it justice, and that's the case here so I am not writing an official review on this one. I just have to say, give it a chance. It'll change your perspective on things.
“Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love. Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended. Without fear, there is nothing gained when overcome. And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized.”
PS: It's lendable on Kindle so if you so wish, message me and I will loan it to you for free :)
“The simplicity of living astounds me. But it’s the terror of death that devours me.”
This book is truly something special. I loved it, and I have a feeling that it will stick with me for a very long time. It reminded me a lot of the book I Love You to Death by Natalie Ward, but both have very different heroines in it.
“I hope that one day you’ll find that source of light and let it heal you, too. Because if you do, it will illuminate your path and eventually lead you home. To me.”
Sometimes, when I really love a book, I have a hard time reviewing it because nothing I say will ever do it justice, and that's the case here so I am not writing an official review on this one. I just have to say, give it a chance. It'll change your perspective on things.
“Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love. Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended. Without fear, there is nothing gained when overcome. And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized.”
PS: It's lendable on Kindle so if you so wish, message me and I will loan it to you for free :)
July 12, 2014
“I’ll help you get lost any time, Sunshine. The only deal is you have to promise to come back. I never want to lose you again.”
As I write this review, my heart is bursting at the seams from what I can only call ‘book junkie nirvana’. But let me make a little confession first. This is a book that I was reluctant to read for so long, or better, I was terrified of it. I mistakenly perceived it as a predominantly gloomy, even morbid story that would end up affecting me negatively and make me experience the type of emotions I was unwilling to feel. Oh boy, was I wrong! This is one of the most positive, feel-good, emotionally fulfilling stories I have ever read, a story about the light at the end of the tunnel, about finding the courage to live rather than wallow in sorrow, and about the true joy of living. While captivated by this book, I found myself smiling, snickering, laughing out loud, crying, hugging my dog, and kicking myself repeatedly for not reading it sooner.
“I am death. And I bring it to all who love me.”
Aubrey Miller is a girl held captive by the bounds of her own traumatised young mind. Having lived through more loss and suffering than most people of her age, her misplaced sense of guilt has made her believe that she was the cause of every death that has ever touched her, turning her into someone who now lives in constant fear of any further loss. As a desperate defence mechanism, Aubrey has thus created an alter ego of sorts, appropriately named Raven, whose physical appearance is designed to repel others and deter them from wanting to get close to her. All her most distressing memories have been locked in the furthest recesses of her mind, as she fiercely guards herself from re-experiencing the crippling pain associated with those memories. But behind a façade of indifference and emotional detachment, hides a frightened little girl who has never dealt with her demons, a girl who craves to let herself love and be loved. A girl who is silently screaming for help and for someone to pull her out of her self-inflicted prison.
“The simplicity of living astounds me. But it’s the terror of death that devours me.”
On her first day of college, Raven is not only confronted with someone who appears to be her polar opposite—her new perky roommate—but also a blast from her past she never even hoped of crossing paths with again—her childhood best friend, Kaeleb. As she hides her true self behind her many facial piercings, odd contact lenses and dark hair dyes, Raven tries her best to keep her distance from these new intruders in her life, but the more she pushes them away, the more they keep rupturing her defences and reanimating her broken heart.
“You’ve always been my sunshine. Ever since we were kids. I know you’re still in there, Bree. And I will find you.”
As new bonds are forged, old ones rekindled and strengthened, and as her old self starts resurfacing again, we follow our fierce heroine through her college years and through her brave journey of self-realisation. It’s a journey filled with new challenges, new heartbreaks, new milestones in her life, and let me tell you, I literally forgot to breathe at times. Impeccably written and cleverly woven together, a perfect mixture of heart-warming romance and soul-shattering drama, with just the right tinge of humour, this book is a wonderful story of friendship, of the true meaning of family, of love everlasting. It is also a story of hope, the story of a young woman rising from the ashes of her painful past and embracing life in all its beauty. All of Ms Simmons’ stories tend to fill the reader with joy and positivity, but this book stands in a category of its own as I can only describe it as the complete package. Do as I say and not as I did and do your heart a favour by reading this story as soon as you can.
“You call me your moon, well, I call you my soul mate.”
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July 13, 2014
I really wanted to take my time with this review, as I am not sure I can even do justice to how amazing this book was! From the riveting storyline and fantastic characters to the overall emotions that this tale invoked, I cannot say enough positive...I can only thank my GR friends for guiding me to this read! 5+ Sun and Moon Stars
What happens to a young Aubrey Miller who has to experience death of her loved ones, repeatedly? Well, she dies too, only on the inside. She locks down all connection with living life and she creates a new identity that a dark disguise geared toward isolation.
As "Raven" she can keep the death of others at bay unknowingly never truly living herself.
When Raven embarks on college it seems as if her façade slips with the introduction of her roomie and boarding buddy. Little did she know that a bubbly pageant queen, Quinn, and blast from her childhood past, Kaeleb, would crack her disguise and teach her about acceptance. After all, everyone has burdens to carry and life is not always fair, even to the seemingly perfect.
It is over the course of 4 years in college that you will experience a true "resurrection" of a woman. From finding that first friendly smile, to experiencing that first intimate connection, Aubrey begins to rediscover herself. She even finds the ability to find emotion and bit by bit the light begins to burn bright.
Her friends give her a constant security blanket and accept all of her being. It is a very slow and beautifully painful written experience that has ups and downs. Aubrey may have rediscovered herself superficially to everyone's liking, but she still has not learned to truly "BE" in the moment with the past buried. When death soon approaches, it is too much and all progress is halted...RAVEN seems to be a safer bet....but at what cost?
Take this journey with Aubrey Miller and you will find yourself deeply connected. You fall in love with a bubbly pageant queen whose is more beautiful on the inside then outside. You will swoon over the steadfast love and gentle yet confident demeanor that Kaeleb gives Aubrey everyday. Most importantly you will experience true emotion in confronting death and choosing to live with it, thru it, and after it. You will experience LIFE for the first time as does Aubrey Miller!
Merged review:
eeke...lost my review....I know I read it and wrote it...:/
What happens to a young Aubrey Miller who has to experience death of her loved ones, repeatedly? Well, she dies too, only on the inside. She locks down all connection with living life and she creates a new identity that a dark disguise geared toward isolation.
As "Raven" she can keep the death of others at bay unknowingly never truly living herself.
When Raven embarks on college it seems as if her façade slips with the introduction of her roomie and boarding buddy. Little did she know that a bubbly pageant queen, Quinn, and blast from her childhood past, Kaeleb, would crack her disguise and teach her about acceptance. After all, everyone has burdens to carry and life is not always fair, even to the seemingly perfect.
It is over the course of 4 years in college that you will experience a true "resurrection" of a woman. From finding that first friendly smile, to experiencing that first intimate connection, Aubrey begins to rediscover herself. She even finds the ability to find emotion and bit by bit the light begins to burn bright.
Her friends give her a constant security blanket and accept all of her being. It is a very slow and beautifully painful written experience that has ups and downs. Aubrey may have rediscovered herself superficially to everyone's liking, but she still has not learned to truly "BE" in the moment with the past buried. When death soon approaches, it is too much and all progress is halted...RAVEN seems to be a safer bet....but at what cost?
Take this journey with Aubrey Miller and you will find yourself deeply connected. You fall in love with a bubbly pageant queen whose is more beautiful on the inside then outside. You will swoon over the steadfast love and gentle yet confident demeanor that Kaeleb gives Aubrey everyday. Most importantly you will experience true emotion in confronting death and choosing to live with it, thru it, and after it. You will experience LIFE for the first time as does Aubrey Miller!
Merged review:
eeke...lost my review....I know I read it and wrote it...:/
July 29, 2016
2.5-stars
Man. I am afraid I will sound like a cold-blooded bitch. I won’t repeat the blurb since it outlines the storyline in details. I thought the story is not raw, not dark, not edgy, and not original.
Aubrey: ‘I am death’
She believes she is the bad news for everyone she loves. She blames herself for her sister’s death and ultimately the loss of her parents. I can’t imagine how a 6-years old Aubrey could find any understanding for a tragic like this. It is this plot I see the potential in the novel.
Buuut, the storyline goes OTT on the ‘death’. See, it is not enough for Aubrey to lose her entire family. She also has to experience the issues of bully, cancer, suicide...
Once the plot goes OTT on a fixed subject, I tend to go OTT rebel too.
The hero Kaeleb is always kind, sweet, and sensitive to Aubrey. There are just so many times I want to bitch slap her! Kaeleb's unconditional devotion to Aubrey is too perfect to be true. An OTT perfect character.
And remember the word ‘Sunshine’ in Sea of Tranquility?
OTT ‘sunshine’ is used in this book. Totally not cool.
OTT cheesy dialogues.
Some of the messages sound too philosophical, too scripted, and too ‘Dr. Phill’
Man. I am afraid I will sound like a cold-blooded bitch. I won’t repeat the blurb since it outlines the storyline in details. I thought the story is not raw, not dark, not edgy, and not original.
Aubrey: ‘I am death’
She believes she is the bad news for everyone she loves. She blames herself for her sister’s death and ultimately the loss of her parents. I can’t imagine how a 6-years old Aubrey could find any understanding for a tragic like this. It is this plot I see the potential in the novel.
Buuut, the storyline goes OTT on the ‘death’. See, it is not enough for Aubrey to lose her entire family. She also has to experience the issues of bully, cancer, suicide...
Once the plot goes OTT on a fixed subject, I tend to go OTT rebel too.
The hero Kaeleb is always kind, sweet, and sensitive to Aubrey. There are just so many times I want to bitch slap her! Kaeleb's unconditional devotion to Aubrey is too perfect to be true. An OTT perfect character.
And remember the word ‘Sunshine’ in Sea of Tranquility?
OTT ‘sunshine’ is used in this book. Totally not cool.
OTT cheesy dialogues.
Some of the messages sound too philosophical, too scripted, and too ‘Dr. Phill’
April 26, 2014
5 Sunshine Stars
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller was one of those books that took my heart, twisted it around, tore it to pieces, and slowly taped it back together. L.B. Simmons storytelling of Aubrey Miller’s life was heartbreaking, touching, and beautiful. Ms. Simmons took me on such an emotional rollercoaster ride that I found myself ugly crying the last 20% of the book especially there was a scene that I could relate to and it hit home for me. I had to take a moment to put my kindle down and just cry. I am in awe of Ms. Simmons ability to make her characters feel REAL while able to discuss sensitive topics. Ms. Simmons brought Aubrey Miller, Kaeleb McMadden, and Quinn Matthews to life in this book. These characters literally gutted my heart. I felt every ounce of their pain, hurt, heartbreak, love, and happiness. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is a book to be experienced where it resonates the true meaning of living.
Typically I would give a brief background of the characters and scenes in the book for my review but I simply can’t do it for this book. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller must be READ and EXPERIENCED. The writing and storytelling was just breathtakingly beautiful. The characters were real and believable and the emotions were just honest and raw. I cried, laughed, swooned, and ugly cried all over again. This book spoke volumes of love, friendship, family, forgiveness, second chances, death, and life. What made me fall in love with this book was how REAL every situation was. I found myself reliving a certain point in my life when I had to let go and accept the death of a loved one. Death is a reminder that life is indeed short and we must live it to the fullest. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller has definitely earned a spot in my top favorites of 2014. Ms. Simmons will bewitch you with her amazing talent of captivating you with her words and storytelling. This is my first book by this author and after devouring this book, I will definitely be reading her books.
L.B. Simmons
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller was one of those books that took my heart, twisted it around, tore it to pieces, and slowly taped it back together. L.B. Simmons storytelling of Aubrey Miller’s life was heartbreaking, touching, and beautiful. Ms. Simmons took me on such an emotional rollercoaster ride that I found myself ugly crying the last 20% of the book especially there was a scene that I could relate to and it hit home for me. I had to take a moment to put my kindle down and just cry. I am in awe of Ms. Simmons ability to make her characters feel REAL while able to discuss sensitive topics. Ms. Simmons brought Aubrey Miller, Kaeleb McMadden, and Quinn Matthews to life in this book. These characters literally gutted my heart. I felt every ounce of their pain, hurt, heartbreak, love, and happiness. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is a book to be experienced where it resonates the true meaning of living.
Typically I would give a brief background of the characters and scenes in the book for my review but I simply can’t do it for this book. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller must be READ and EXPERIENCED. The writing and storytelling was just breathtakingly beautiful. The characters were real and believable and the emotions were just honest and raw. I cried, laughed, swooned, and ugly cried all over again. This book spoke volumes of love, friendship, family, forgiveness, second chances, death, and life. What made me fall in love with this book was how REAL every situation was. I found myself reliving a certain point in my life when I had to let go and accept the death of a loved one. Death is a reminder that life is indeed short and we must live it to the fullest. The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller has definitely earned a spot in my top favorites of 2014. Ms. Simmons will bewitch you with her amazing talent of captivating you with her words and storytelling. This is my first book by this author and after devouring this book, I will definitely be reading her books.
L.B. Simmons
April 30, 2014
3.5 stars
That was very depressing read... No review for now. Maybe later <3
That was very depressing read... No review for now. Maybe later <3
Want to read
April 22, 2014
ARC kindly provided by publicist on behalf of author
July 3, 2016
Finally finally finally I was able to finish this book. Even while other events pulled me away, I felt the itch to get back to it and I'm so glad I finally did.
This is a beautiful story of a lost girl finding her way back to life. And NOT only thanks to the love of a good guy (though that too). Her growth was personal and aided not just by love but friendship and guidance too. She was saved, she helped save herself.
Along the way there are some beautiful turns of phrase "unchartered moment" to describe a first kiss being a prime example. And there were some unique techniques deployed to spice up the prose (which fit perfectly with Raven/Aubrey's quirky personality, like reverting to a script format or an interview.
I loved the supporting characters. Quinn was a doll with a hidden steel spine, and Kaeleb was sweet, supportive perfection.
Put a quarter in the swear jar for me, LB Simmons, this was a fucking good book.
This is a beautiful story of a lost girl finding her way back to life. And NOT only thanks to the love of a good guy (though that too). Her growth was personal and aided not just by love but friendship and guidance too. She was saved, she helped save herself.
Along the way there are some beautiful turns of phrase "unchartered moment" to describe a first kiss being a prime example. And there were some unique techniques deployed to spice up the prose (which fit perfectly with Raven/Aubrey's quirky personality, like reverting to a script format or an interview.
I loved the supporting characters. Quinn was a doll with a hidden steel spine, and Kaeleb was sweet, supportive perfection.
Put a quarter in the swear jar for me, LB Simmons, this was a fucking good book.
August 12, 2015
OMG THE FEELS.
What can I say about this book that hasn’t been said already?
I am a writer for godsakes and I’m finding it hard to come up with the right words. Here are a few for starters: Heart-shredding. Ugly cry. Belly laughs. Swoon.
But I think the best word I can use to describe this book is: PHENOMENAL.
I went into this with my emotional walls firmly in place—I don’t normally go in for an angsty read, and based on the synopsis, I thought I was setting myself up for heartache. But soon enough, I realized there was so much HUMOR in this story. And thank God for that, because the laughs turned a gloomy subject into, well, entertainment.
A lot of that has to do with the MC, Aubrey. She’s seen too much death in her young life, and uses a fabricated persona to keep people from getting close to her. Goth to the extreme, “Raven” manages to keep people at arm’s length. That is, until she starts her first day at college… and meets the bubbly and incomparable Quinn.
Princess Fi-Fi, ruler of Unicorn Land where rainbows reign and all things are pink and sparkly.
Yes, of course, there is also a beautiful romance. There are definitely some steamy moments, and with a character like Kaeleb, one can’t help but swoon. But he—like this story—is so much more. His depth of character, his love for Aubrey, his refusal to give up and walk away… He is not only an amazing boyfriend, but an amazing man.
“As long as you continue to travel through life in this darkness, you will never know how beautiful your light truly shines when you let yourself love and be loved. Trust me when I say, it’s a breathtaking sight to see. You burn as bright as the sun.” ~Kaeleb
He has his flaws and his damage, but those traits only add to my love for him. Mostly, though, I love that he isn’t a stereotypical alpha male that we see so often in books. He’s alpha because of his strength of character, his devotion, the fathomless depths of his love. Plus, he’s really, really hot. LOL
“Hmmm, interesting,” Kaeleb chuckles, rubbing his hand along his jaw. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for the jealous type.”
“You won’t be pegging me at all. Ever.”
Kaeleb throws his head back in laughter before once again lowering his eyes and locking them onto mine. After inching his face even closer, his breaths hit my mouth as his wide smile falls into an arrogant grin. “Never say never, Sunshine.”
Mostly, I love the layers that get pulled back in this story: The beautiful—yet emaciated—Sabrina is a wicked bitch under her model-quality looks… Quinn seemingly has it all together, yet when her armor slips, we see the damaged, self-loathing little girl underneath… Kaeleb is the gorgeous, athletic stud who is taking a trust class… and “the freak” turns out to be actually more human than most people.
“I learned a long time ago to never judge a book by its cover. It seems what people try to represent on the outside very rarely mirrors their inside. Beautiful people tend to be ugly, ugly people tend to be beautiful, storms tend to brew below a person’s cool, calm exterior, and tremendously happy people tend to be overcompensating for their own grief. Nothing is ever really what it seems.” ~Quinn
There are so many moments of pure poetry in this story. I could highlight entire pages of gorgeous prose, enlightening revelations, obvious truths. But to do so would rob you of the experience of reading this story for yourself. And that’s what TRoAM is: It’s an experience.
“Sometimes in life, there are these random moments when everything just clicks. When all the fragments of your fractured past fall together, merging in your mind to form a lucid image of your future. Each mistake made becomes a vital piece as it serves whatever purpose necessary to complete the picture as a whole and suddenly everything becomes so clear.” ~Aubrey
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I wanted to hurl my Kindle… and then I wanted to hug it. Every word of this book made me feel so very, very much. And that, my fellow readers, is the whole point of cracking open any new story in the first place. So, crack this one open. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
*I feel the need to mention that I was a beta-reader on this book. But please note that I wouldn’t have bothered to get involved beyond that if I didn’t love it so darned much. So, this footnote is more for protocol’s sake than to convince you about my honesty while reviewing. Because the honest-to-God truth is that I LOVE THIS BOOK. I hope you will, too. ;)
What can I say about this book that hasn’t been said already?
I am a writer for godsakes and I’m finding it hard to come up with the right words. Here are a few for starters: Heart-shredding. Ugly cry. Belly laughs. Swoon.
But I think the best word I can use to describe this book is: PHENOMENAL.
I went into this with my emotional walls firmly in place—I don’t normally go in for an angsty read, and based on the synopsis, I thought I was setting myself up for heartache. But soon enough, I realized there was so much HUMOR in this story. And thank God for that, because the laughs turned a gloomy subject into, well, entertainment.
A lot of that has to do with the MC, Aubrey. She’s seen too much death in her young life, and uses a fabricated persona to keep people from getting close to her. Goth to the extreme, “Raven” manages to keep people at arm’s length. That is, until she starts her first day at college… and meets the bubbly and incomparable Quinn.
Princess Fi-Fi, ruler of Unicorn Land where rainbows reign and all things are pink and sparkly.
Yes, of course, there is also a beautiful romance. There are definitely some steamy moments, and with a character like Kaeleb, one can’t help but swoon. But he—like this story—is so much more. His depth of character, his love for Aubrey, his refusal to give up and walk away… He is not only an amazing boyfriend, but an amazing man.
“As long as you continue to travel through life in this darkness, you will never know how beautiful your light truly shines when you let yourself love and be loved. Trust me when I say, it’s a breathtaking sight to see. You burn as bright as the sun.” ~Kaeleb
He has his flaws and his damage, but those traits only add to my love for him. Mostly, though, I love that he isn’t a stereotypical alpha male that we see so often in books. He’s alpha because of his strength of character, his devotion, the fathomless depths of his love. Plus, he’s really, really hot. LOL
“Hmmm, interesting,” Kaeleb chuckles, rubbing his hand along his jaw. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for the jealous type.”
“You won’t be pegging me at all. Ever.”
Kaeleb throws his head back in laughter before once again lowering his eyes and locking them onto mine. After inching his face even closer, his breaths hit my mouth as his wide smile falls into an arrogant grin. “Never say never, Sunshine.”
Mostly, I love the layers that get pulled back in this story: The beautiful—yet emaciated—Sabrina is a wicked bitch under her model-quality looks… Quinn seemingly has it all together, yet when her armor slips, we see the damaged, self-loathing little girl underneath… Kaeleb is the gorgeous, athletic stud who is taking a trust class… and “the freak” turns out to be actually more human than most people.
“I learned a long time ago to never judge a book by its cover. It seems what people try to represent on the outside very rarely mirrors their inside. Beautiful people tend to be ugly, ugly people tend to be beautiful, storms tend to brew below a person’s cool, calm exterior, and tremendously happy people tend to be overcompensating for their own grief. Nothing is ever really what it seems.” ~Quinn
There are so many moments of pure poetry in this story. I could highlight entire pages of gorgeous prose, enlightening revelations, obvious truths. But to do so would rob you of the experience of reading this story for yourself. And that’s what TRoAM is: It’s an experience.
“Sometimes in life, there are these random moments when everything just clicks. When all the fragments of your fractured past fall together, merging in your mind to form a lucid image of your future. Each mistake made becomes a vital piece as it serves whatever purpose necessary to complete the picture as a whole and suddenly everything becomes so clear.” ~Aubrey
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I wanted to hurl my Kindle… and then I wanted to hug it. Every word of this book made me feel so very, very much. And that, my fellow readers, is the whole point of cracking open any new story in the first place. So, crack this one open. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
*I feel the need to mention that I was a beta-reader on this book. But please note that I wouldn’t have bothered to get involved beyond that if I didn’t love it so darned much. So, this footnote is more for protocol’s sake than to convince you about my honesty while reviewing. Because the honest-to-God truth is that I LOVE THIS BOOK. I hope you will, too. ;)
May 10, 2016
3.75 stars!
August 9, 2016
4.5 - Resurrecting - Stars
Aubrey aka Raven has gone goth to push people away from her. She has had a shitty ass life. She feels that everyone she has a direct relationship with is tainted and will eventually die.
"Because death annihilates love. I am death. I am not meant to love. It's a proven fact."
But goth girls still gotta go to college.
She gets there and has everyone kept at an arm's length. The only problem with her plan to push everyone away is Kaeleb Kristopher McMadden.
Aubrey and Kaeleb used to be best friends when they were eight but that's when everything went down with Aubrey's family and she moved away to live with her guardian, Linda.
She hasn't seen him in years but now he is her roommate Quinn's Boarding Buddy. And he doesn't even recognize Raven! But that's kinda ok because she doesn't want him to get close to her either.
They share a class and eventually get reacquainted. Kaeleb tries to help Raven get back to her old self and move past the pain.
“I wanted to be enough for you. Strong enough. Man enough. Enough for you to find a reason to live again. To give you that courage and strength. But I know now, you’re the only one who can do that Sunshine.”
Aubrey eventually realizes that while she will have pain in her life, that's no reason to stop living.
"There will be heartache.
There will be anger.
There will be fear.
There will be sorrow.
But as with all life, there must be balance."
I liked that this book took place over all 4 years of college and it showed the strong friendship between Raven, Quinn, and Kaeleb. They overcame so many obstacles and moved forward and all three survived.
Aubrey aka Raven has gone goth to push people away from her. She has had a shitty ass life. She feels that everyone she has a direct relationship with is tainted and will eventually die.
"Because death annihilates love. I am death. I am not meant to love. It's a proven fact."
But goth girls still gotta go to college.
She gets there and has everyone kept at an arm's length. The only problem with her plan to push everyone away is Kaeleb Kristopher McMadden.
Aubrey and Kaeleb used to be best friends when they were eight but that's when everything went down with Aubrey's family and she moved away to live with her guardian, Linda.
She hasn't seen him in years but now he is her roommate Quinn's Boarding Buddy. And he doesn't even recognize Raven! But that's kinda ok because she doesn't want him to get close to her either.
They share a class and eventually get reacquainted. Kaeleb tries to help Raven get back to her old self and move past the pain.
“I wanted to be enough for you. Strong enough. Man enough. Enough for you to find a reason to live again. To give you that courage and strength. But I know now, you’re the only one who can do that Sunshine.”
Aubrey eventually realizes that while she will have pain in her life, that's no reason to stop living.
"There will be heartache.
There will be anger.
There will be fear.
There will be sorrow.
But as with all life, there must be balance."
I liked that this book took place over all 4 years of college and it showed the strong friendship between Raven, Quinn, and Kaeleb. They overcame so many obstacles and moved forward and all three survived.
December 28, 2017
***4,5 "Ninja charm!!!" stars***
Honestly, i think i have forgotten how to write reviews but i will give it a try...
It won't be as they used to be, but never mind!!!!
"DEATH BECOMES ME."
This was a deeply touching story...
A story that touched many sensitive matters that i don't want to reveal you in case you want to give it a try...
This story took us a ride from the darkness to light... but it wasn't an easy ride... It took much effort from our heroine to find the light that always lurking in the darkness of her soul....
"Sometimes in life there are these random moments when everything just clicks. When all the fragments of your fractured past fall together, merging in your mind to form a lucid image of your future. Each mistake made becomes a vital piece as it serves whatever purpose necessary to complete the picture as a whole and suddenly everything becomes so clear."
She wasn't alone in this ride...
She had by her side two wonderful people who had their own issues to solve...
Sweet and loving Quinn who from the outside was the joy of life, but deep down inside were lurking her own demons ready to take her joy away...
And there was also Kaeleb.... God, i loved this guy so much!!! He was so patient, so caring, with so much understanding... I love the way he was handling all the things that were happening around him...
And there was another one person that i liked very much... Linda...
She was such a wonderful person, but i won't say more....
“I hope that one day you’ll find that source of light and let it heal you, too. Because if you do, it will illuminate your path and eventually lead you home. To me.”
This was the story of Raven Miller who fought her darkness with friendship and real love as her weapons and we end up to witness the resurrection of Aubrey Miller...
(Don't ask, it's a long story!!!)
“Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love.
Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended.
Without fear, there is nothing gained when overcome.
And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized.”
Honestly, i think i have forgotten how to write reviews but i will give it a try...
It won't be as they used to be, but never mind!!!!
"DEATH BECOMES ME."
This was a deeply touching story...
A story that touched many sensitive matters that i don't want to reveal you in case you want to give it a try...
This story took us a ride from the darkness to light... but it wasn't an easy ride... It took much effort from our heroine to find the light that always lurking in the darkness of her soul....
"Sometimes in life there are these random moments when everything just clicks. When all the fragments of your fractured past fall together, merging in your mind to form a lucid image of your future. Each mistake made becomes a vital piece as it serves whatever purpose necessary to complete the picture as a whole and suddenly everything becomes so clear."
She wasn't alone in this ride...
She had by her side two wonderful people who had their own issues to solve...
Sweet and loving Quinn who from the outside was the joy of life, but deep down inside were lurking her own demons ready to take her joy away...
And there was also Kaeleb.... God, i loved this guy so much!!! He was so patient, so caring, with so much understanding... I love the way he was handling all the things that were happening around him...
And there was another one person that i liked very much... Linda...
She was such a wonderful person, but i won't say more....
“I hope that one day you’ll find that source of light and let it heal you, too. Because if you do, it will illuminate your path and eventually lead you home. To me.”
This was the story of Raven Miller who fought her darkness with friendship and real love as her weapons and we end up to witness the resurrection of Aubrey Miller...
(Don't ask, it's a long story!!!)
“Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love.
Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended.
Without fear, there is nothing gained when overcome.
And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized.”
April 27, 2014
I didn't think that at the end of this book I would have a heavy heart and a smile on my face. This was a beautifully written book. You wont find a easy romance, or hearts and flowers. This will go straight to your heart and your gut and you will feel the resurrection of Aubrey Miller, indeed.
The prologue will set you up on what she has in store for you. The book is broken up over her college years. Each year its own section. I really liked that. And at the end of each chapter she sums up her highs and lows. Another part of the book I loved, sometimes re reading those parts. Because one thing you will have happen the ENTIRE book, is lots of FEELS... Sadness, hope, loss... there are too many to list.
Aubrey Miller, her given name, has experienced loss in her life that would bring anyone to their knees. In order to survive she had to become Raven Miller, a girl who masks herself with piercings, pale faced makeup, blood red lips, black eye shadow to the extreme. The whole point, to keep people away. To protect them. In her mind, she brings death to those close to her. As her story unfolds, you will understand her need to protect not only herself, but those around her.
Now, I can list quotes and breakdown each section of the book, but I decided not to. I suggest reading this book without knowing exactly what's in it. I did. Im so glad I did.
Aubrey needed to become Raven, I am convinced of that. I loved her transformation, but there wasn't only one transformation that took place for her. And she wasn't the only one who had a transformation. Her fiery roommate Quinn and the most amazing boy Kaeleb, they did too. And it was just as beautiful.
Linda, an amazing character in this book, who never gave up on that 8 year old girl.
Aubrey/Raven/Bree...Read this and find out who each of them were, and how they got to the end as one.
The prologue will set you up on what she has in store for you. The book is broken up over her college years. Each year its own section. I really liked that. And at the end of each chapter she sums up her highs and lows. Another part of the book I loved, sometimes re reading those parts. Because one thing you will have happen the ENTIRE book, is lots of FEELS... Sadness, hope, loss... there are too many to list.
Aubrey Miller, her given name, has experienced loss in her life that would bring anyone to their knees. In order to survive she had to become Raven Miller, a girl who masks herself with piercings, pale faced makeup, blood red lips, black eye shadow to the extreme. The whole point, to keep people away. To protect them. In her mind, she brings death to those close to her. As her story unfolds, you will understand her need to protect not only herself, but those around her.
Now, I can list quotes and breakdown each section of the book, but I decided not to. I suggest reading this book without knowing exactly what's in it. I did. Im so glad I did.
Aubrey needed to become Raven, I am convinced of that. I loved her transformation, but there wasn't only one transformation that took place for her. And she wasn't the only one who had a transformation. Her fiery roommate Quinn and the most amazing boy Kaeleb, they did too. And it was just as beautiful.
Linda, an amazing character in this book, who never gave up on that 8 year old girl.
Aubrey/Raven/Bree...Read this and find out who each of them were, and how they got to the end as one.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 4, 2015Hmmm, it’s almost May...does that mean it’s too late to make New Year’s resolutions? Fuck it, I’m gonna do it anyway.
2014 New Year’s Resolution #1 – Stop buying random shit on Amazon unless I read the sample first. I don’t care if it is only $2.99 or $0.99. Just stop it! Read the sample first! If I had done that one simple thing, I would not have even bothered with this book to begin with. Straight away, the prologue was incredibly cheesy and I actually said “Blech!” out loud. (BOL? Oh I like that, hehe, I’m gonna try to make BOL happen ;)
2014 New Year’s Resolution #2 – DNF more. You know, I used to be proud of the fact that I rarely dnf books, but really, what the hell is there to be proud about knowingly and willingly wasting your time on something that you are not liking at all and have confirmation from others that you probably will continue to not like all the way to the end? That’s not being a trooper, or determined - that’s just being stupid and I’ve been stupid way too many times in the past by forcing myself to finish a book that I’m clearly not liking.
Thank you, book, for making me realize the importance of these 2 things and giving me the push I needed to finally make a decided effort to correct them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
DNF at 24%. My thoughts up until this -- admittedly very early -- stopping point:
--Cheesy narrative and cheesy dialogue (the worst offender for me in this book. I couldn’t take it.)
--Way too much “I’m so damaged, look at how I dress and how I act can’t you see how damaged I am, I am so broken and I can never be fixed, I’m just so, so damaged.” I don't like being force-fed shit. It makes me throw up.
--Everything seems way too predictable, I feel like I know exactly what is going to happen (and I have confirmation from someone who read the whole book that it pans out this way as well).
2014 New Year’s Resolution #1 – Stop buying random shit on Amazon unless I read the sample first. I don’t care if it is only $2.99 or $0.99. Just stop it! Read the sample first! If I had done that one simple thing, I would not have even bothered with this book to begin with. Straight away, the prologue was incredibly cheesy and I actually said “Blech!” out loud. (BOL? Oh I like that, hehe, I’m gonna try to make BOL happen ;)
2014 New Year’s Resolution #2 – DNF more. You know, I used to be proud of the fact that I rarely dnf books, but really, what the hell is there to be proud about knowingly and willingly wasting your time on something that you are not liking at all and have confirmation from others that you probably will continue to not like all the way to the end? That’s not being a trooper, or determined - that’s just being stupid and I’ve been stupid way too many times in the past by forcing myself to finish a book that I’m clearly not liking.
Thank you, book, for making me realize the importance of these 2 things and giving me the push I needed to finally make a decided effort to correct them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
DNF at 24%. My thoughts up until this -- admittedly very early -- stopping point:
--Cheesy narrative and cheesy dialogue (the worst offender for me in this book. I couldn’t take it.)
--Way too much “I’m so damaged, look at how I dress and how I act can’t you see how damaged I am, I am so broken and I can never be fixed, I’m just so, so damaged.” I don't like being force-fed shit. It makes me throw up.
--Everything seems way too predictable, I feel like I know exactly what is going to happen (and I have confirmation from someone who read the whole book that it pans out this way as well).
April 28, 2014
Someone said this was a cross between The Sea of Tranquility and Hopeless. And the plot running along those similar themes IMO was this book's undoing to a large degree.
This was definitely a variation of things I've read in the past. I'm not accusing anyone of anything here. Most subject matters have probably have millions of stories written about them - just in varying scenarios etc...The problem was this book paled in comparison.
What didn't work for me? EVERYTHING felt HALF-BAKED. If you tackle a subject matter such as this, I felt that it and she needed be darker and more intense. The reason for her brokenness was a bit weak. Sure people died around you but if you started thinking of yourself as a grim reaper to anyone who comes close to you, then you're not broken but borderline mental and you need professional help. And her people avoidance techniques - seriously? Piercings, hair dye and black smudges on your face? And considering how she holds herself apart from any human relationship, two people broke through her barrier by merely swearing profusely. And then there's the "connection" with Kaeleb which I couldn't connect with at all. Why? Because the story breezed through most of the plot - from first day of college to last day of senior year (save for that climax which is referenced below)
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is not a bad read. But it wasn't great either. And it did have a redeeming factor and that I think it handled death and one's acceptance of it so beautifully.
I didn't mean to be harsh in my review. But this was my third dud in a row and I'm feeling majorly bummed out right now.
This was definitely a variation of things I've read in the past. I'm not accusing anyone of anything here. Most subject matters have probably have millions of stories written about them - just in varying scenarios etc...The problem was this book paled in comparison.
What didn't work for me? EVERYTHING felt HALF-BAKED. If you tackle a subject matter such as this, I felt that it and she needed be darker and more intense. The reason for her brokenness was a bit weak. Sure people died around you but if you started thinking of yourself as a grim reaper to anyone who comes close to you, then you're not broken but borderline mental and you need professional help. And her people avoidance techniques - seriously? Piercings, hair dye and black smudges on your face? And considering how she holds herself apart from any human relationship, two people broke through her barrier by merely swearing profusely. And then there's the "connection" with Kaeleb which I couldn't connect with at all. Why? Because the story breezed through most of the plot - from first day of college to last day of senior year (save for that climax which is referenced below)
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is not a bad read. But it wasn't great either. And it did have a redeeming factor and that I think it handled death and one's acceptance of it so beautifully.
I didn't mean to be harsh in my review. But this was my third dud in a row and I'm feeling majorly bummed out right now.
December 28, 2015
Omg L.b simmons this book was beautiful. I was in such a bad reading funk for the past two weeks then Madeline wrote her review and i just had to read it (thanks maddie ) .From the start of the book i was hooked this author has so many amazing quotes and such a strong message that i took and learned while reading this book. It was a sad book i thought i was going to cry but i didnt becuase deep down i knew what was probably going to happen so i just prepared myself for it.I loved the charaters they all had there own great personalitys. And my favorite part was the ending it just tied in so amazing i couldent stop smiling .If you havent read this book you should it's great you might cry,you will laugh but in the end your going to get a great message out of it .
April 29, 2014
I guess I am in the minority here. This book was missing chemistry, it was missing dialogue at times when I needed it, and it was missing something I can't put my finger on.
Oh well, can't love em all!
Oh well, can't love em all!
September 6, 2014
2.5 Stars. I'm sorry but I just didn't feel this one. The heroine was far too depressing and I felt zero chemistry between her and Kaeleb.
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 25, 2014DNF at 46%
ENOUGH!
I can't take this pity party anymore. I tried, okay?
ENOUGH!
I can't take this pity party anymore. I tried, okay?
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