It's the release week for IN RUINS - A Something More Novel by Danielle Pearl. Today I'm hosting Danielle as she shares the books that made her fallin in love with reading and writing. Then I am sharing my thoughts about IN RUINS - here's a hint: I loved it!
IN RUINS
by Danielle Pearl
Publication Date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Pages: 400
Purchase Amazon
Kobo
The first New Adult spin-off novel in the bestselling YA Something More series by Danielle Pearl!
She wanted to start again. To be someone—anyone—different. . .
Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.
It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .
She wanted to start again. To be someone—anyone—different. . .
Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.
It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .
As promised, here are Danielle Pearl's Top Five Books that made her fall in love with reading and writing.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery – I think I was about eight or nine when I first read it, which may have been a bit young, but I distinctly recall falling in love with the book I took as proof that adults did not, in fact, know everything.
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo- I read it after first seeing the Broadway musical (which I went on to see 10+ more times), when I was only ten or eleven. Fortunately I’ve reread it many times since, and have since caught much of what my youthful mind missed, but the central themes weren’t lost on me even then, and I fell just as deeply in love with Hugo’s prose as I did with Do You Hear The People Sing?.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- My mother gave it to me in the second grade, and, like many little girls I suspect, I connected deeply with Jo, and fell in love with my very first book-boyfriend, Laurie.
Harry Potter series by JK Rowling- because, magic.
The Diary of Anne Frank- Anne Frank, because, as the grandchild of survivors, I grew up around Holocaust stories, but they came mostly from adults. When I read this book at around age nine, I was struck with Anne’s ability to find joy in such dark circumstances, and that her simple choice to document it gave the world this unique insight into such an important period for history to remember.
Such great choices! Thank you for sharing!
My Thoughts
As soon as I read that IN RUINS was a new adult spin-off of a young adult series, I wanted to read this book. That was the hook for me. I didn't need to know anything else. I enjoy reading the growth of characters from teenagers into their adult years. But I haven't read the books of the YA series yet, and I didn't need to in order to understand what happened in this story.
IN RUINS had me captivated from the first pages and rooting for a happily ever after throughout.
From the beginning (ok, maybe chapter 2) of IN RUINS, it is obvious that Tucker adored Carleigh, loved her. It was my instant connection with these characters that made me curious as to what she could have done that was so horrible that would make him despise her so much and make me ache all the way to my toes with the pain that they were both experiencing.
I loved the push and the pull (as I like to describe it) and the angst between Carleigh and Tucker who want to move on from each other but who just can't seem to do it. Some of my favorite moments were the flashbacks of when they were together - they are filled with love and happiness and reading about those times made me desperate for them to experience them in the present.
Even though he wants to hate her, Tucker does care for Carleigh on some level because he wants to protect her from his teammates and anyone who may not care for her in the way that he used to. There were moments when he would be seething about the memory of what she did to him and still be in awe of her. And Carleigh was just as in awe of him:
IN RUINS had me captivated from the first pages and rooting for a happily ever after throughout.
From the beginning (ok, maybe chapter 2) of IN RUINS, it is obvious that Tucker adored Carleigh, loved her. It was my instant connection with these characters that made me curious as to what she could have done that was so horrible that would make him despise her so much and make me ache all the way to my toes with the pain that they were both experiencing.
I loved the push and the pull (as I like to describe it) and the angst between Carleigh and Tucker who want to move on from each other but who just can't seem to do it. Some of my favorite moments were the flashbacks of when they were together - they are filled with love and happiness and reading about those times made me desperate for them to experience them in the present.
Even though he wants to hate her, Tucker does care for Carleigh on some level because he wants to protect her from his teammates and anyone who may not care for her in the way that he used to. There were moments when he would be seething about the memory of what she did to him and still be in awe of her. And Carleigh was just as in awe of him:
"He takes a few steps closer, into the darkness I've been hiding in. I wish he wasn't so damn good-looking. His jaw and cheekbones are angled with perfect roughness, the deep green of his eyes almost celestial in the dim room. Men who look like him aren't like this. They're not kind and caring. They're cocky and frivolous. And he's those things, too. I suppose we're all all things. But Tucker is an impossibly perfect combination of those things. Perfect to me, anyway." (pg. 229)
That is some major swoon there!! Man, I love it!
IN RUINS is more than just a will they/won't they love story. Danielle Pearl touches on college-culture, rape culture, family relationships, high school friendships, and loyalty and connection. She includes many other interesting characters who I want to know. She gives glimpses into their lives (there's the hook again) and I'm excited to go back and read their stories and any continuation of this one.
I am a fan of this book! I've already recommended it to some friends and will definitely share it with more!
That is some major swoon there!! Man, I love it!
IN RUINS is more than just a will they/won't they love story. Danielle Pearl touches on college-culture, rape culture, family relationships, high school friendships, and loyalty and connection. She includes many other interesting characters who I want to know. She gives glimpses into their lives (there's the hook again) and I'm excited to go back and read their stories and any continuation of this one.
I am a fan of this book! I've already recommended it to some friends and will definitely share it with more!
Disclaimer: I received this ARC for this blog tour from publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way other than the ARC provided. Quotes were taken from the Advanced Review Copy and may differ from the final published version. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danielle Pearl is the bestselling author of the Something More series. She lives in New Jersey with her three delicious children and ever-supportive husband, who—luckily—doesn't mind sharing her with an array of fictional men. She did a brief stint at Boston University and worked in marketing before publishing her debut novel, Normal. She writes mature Young Adult and New Adult contemporary romance. Danielle enjoys coffee, wine, and cupcakes, and not in moderation.
FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE
Giveaway
(sponsored by the publisher)
(sponsored by the publisher)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment!