Violets & Violence by Morgan Parker

Violets & Violence by Morgan Parker. Selfpublished in 2014. Received for review from Publishing Push and the author. Adult romance. 2 out of 5 stars.  

WARNING: This is quite a negative review and I apologize for that. There's also going to be some spoilers. 

I don't know where to begin with this review because the book has left me speechless - and not in a good way. 

When it was just released back in 2014, I saw it everywhere and I've been intrigued by it ever since. I noticed it a few months ago on publishingpush.com and my intrigue reawakened. Funny thing is, I've never known what it is about or heard anyone talk about it. There has been so much mystery around this book and that definitely pulled me in. 

Violets & Violence is about Violet. Violet is a performing illusionist. She can levitate, walk through glass and be in two places at one time. I'd really hoped that there would be real magic, because I would simply love that, but there unfortunately weren't. 
I'm quite at a loss for words because I really want to tell you what it's about, I just have no idea how. I've read the entire book and I actually have no idea what it's about. I feel like there is so many sub-plots without a main plot line and it doesn't really work. But let's try anyway; We have Violet. Violet sleeps with Luke - the one who is actually in control of the show. Violet brings a volunteer on stage, Carter, and long story short - they fall for each other. BUT Luke is still in the picture and then he's somehow held captured in New York for 3 weeks until Violet rescues him. Turns out Violet and Luke have stolen something of value, sold it (or something) so they could start the show. People want what Luke and Violet have stolen back, which is why they've captured Luke. There's also a 'plot twist' which is quite poorly doe and I'm disappointed with both the twist and the dramatic ending. There's more to tell, but I don't want to ruin the entire book for you. I can feel the author wanted the ending to be groundbreaking or mind-blowing but it really wasn't. I'm really sorry but it was awful. 

Another thing I have a problem with is the sex. I'm not against sex in books but I have no idea why it's in there. It does nothing for the story except making it longer and making me annoyed. It would definitely do better without. 

I however love that the story is told from Luke and Carter - not Violet. It's definitely my favorite thing about the entire book and one of the few good things I have to say! 
I also like the cover! It's captivating! I was also surprised to learn that the author is a man, I don't know why, but I've always pictured a woman writing the book. 

I have yet to give a book 1 star this year, but this one was close. 

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

Series: You, #2

Publication date: February 23, 2016

Publisher: Atria

Genres: Adult, Thriller

Format: eARC

Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review

Pages: 448
Rating: ★★★.5/5

Goodreads ⎜Amazon ⎜Book Depository

 In the compulsively readable follow-up to her widely acclaimed debut novel, You, Caroline Kepnes weaves a tale that Booklist calls “the love child of Holden Caulfield and Patrick Bateman.”

Hidden Bodies marks the return of a voice that Stephen King described as original and hypnotic, and through the divisive and charmingly sociopathic character of Joe Goldberg, Kepnes satirizes and dissects our culture, blending suspense with scathing wit.

Joe Goldberg is no stranger to hiding bodies. In the past ten years, this thirty-something has buried four of them, collateral damage in his quest for love. Now he’s heading west to Los Angeles, the city of second chances, determined to put his past behind him.

In Hollywood, Joe blends in effortlessly with the other young upstarts. He eats guac, works in a bookstore, and flirts with a journalist neighbor. But while others seem fixated on their own reflections, Joe can’t stop looking over his shoulder. The problem with hidden bodies is that they don’t always stay that way. They re-emerge, like dark thoughts, multiplying and threatening to destroy what Joe wants most: truelove. And when he finds it in a darkened room in Soho House, he’s more desperate than ever to keep his secrets buried. He doesn’t want to hurt his new girlfriend—he wants to be with her forever. But if she ever finds out what he’s done, he may not have a choice...

Unfortunately my review of the first book in the series; You is in Danish but it was one of my favorite reads of last year! I absolutely loved it and I was surprised by the amount of literature in the book I mean Joe Goldberg, our main character, works in a bookstore and loves to read! I basically loved that we liked Joe and didn't like Beck. You definitely need to have read You before Hidden Bodies, I'm not sure how much sense some of it is going to make if you haven't.

I thought You was a standalone so I was very surprised when I found out that it was a duology - as far as I know she only have a two-book deal. I'm quite happy that I was able to get my hands on an eARC of Hidden Bodies though - even though I wish I could have listened to it as an audiobook instead. I think this series is the perfect one for audiobooks!

As you know, Hidden Bodies is about Joe Goldberg. It hasn't shifted in narrators and for that I am grateful! This one takes place in Los Angeles opposed to New York and I'm going to come straight out and tell you guys; You is so much better! Joe of course goes after Amy Adams, as you'd expected from the ending of You. Their relationship is nothing like the one he had with Beck - but I still didn't like her.
Hidden Bodies is just as poetic as the first one and I just love the writing style! It's hauntingly beautiful so of course I highlighted the heck out of this one! He managed to write a story in 6 words;

She waves. She goes. The end. 

I kept reading these 6 words over and over. Even though it's now completely out of context it's more beautiful. Ofcourse some will be cynical about it, but that line is what I like the best about this series. The ability Kepnes has to write the creepiest story, with a compelling main character, and the book is still hauntingly beautiful - who does that?

Even though I wasn't Joe's biggest fan in this one, I loved watching him grow! He experiences love and he's definitely, well almost, a changed man. I also enjoyed learning more about him, for example;

I've never harmed an animal; I can't imagine being that sort of monster.

He somehow rates animals higher than humans! Because obviously he's killed a lot of people but he would never stoop so low as to kill, or even harm, an animal. I for one find that quite funny.

What I really missed in this one was all the literary goodness we got in You. I wanted the bookstore, I wanted literary discussions, I wanted books! I was expected by the lack of it when you compare it to You. There's next to nothing when it comes to literary references and it saddens me.

Going through my notes I made while reading Hidden Bodies have me laughing out loud. The last 15-20% is all WHAT!?... WHAT!? etc. Well, I'm going to warn you in advance. It's what, 50 pages?, of plot twists! I didn't know what was going on half the time and reading this on the bus made for quite an embarrassing ride. It's all worth it to read the last 20 percent of the books, it's quite literally a roller coaster ride and it's a crazy one!

I'm trying to be pretty vague about what happens in this one since these books are just better to read knowing as little as possible! So, it's worth the read, but You is much better.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Series: N/A, Standalone

Publication date: January 1, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebook Landmark
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Women's fiction
Format: eArc
Source: The publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Pages: 398
Rating: ★★★★★/5

Goodreads ⎜Amazon ⎜Book Depository

Once you let a book into your life, the most unexpected things can happen...

Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara, who traveled all the way from Sweden just to meet her pen pal, Amy. When she arrives, however, she finds that Amy's funeral has just ended. Luckily, the townspeople are happy to look after their bewildered tourist—even if they don't understand her peculiar need for books. Marooned in a farm town that's almost beyond repair, Sara starts a bookstore in honor of her friend's memory. All she wants is to share the books she loves with the citizens of Broken Wheel and to convince them that reading is one of the great joys of life. But she makes some unconventional choices that could force a lot of secrets into the open and change things for everyone in town. Reminiscent of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, this is a warm, witty book about friendship, stories, and love.

I heard about this readalong going on in the beginning of the year where a bunch of people, here in Denmark, read the Danish translation of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend and now, after having read it, I'm quite sad that I didn't join them. It would be so nice to be able to share my feelings and thoughts with while I was reading it - because I absolutely loved it!

Going in to this book I only knew that it was about a girl who opened a book shop - and that it was a book about books. What more can you ask for really?

Sara has a pen pal in America called Amy, they exchange books and letters for two years and then Amy invites Sara to America. Sara leaves Sweden for a couple of months to finally meet Amy and ends up falling in love with Broken Wheel, Iowa. The beginning definitely made me laugh - her long time friend invites her to America only to wind up dead when she arrives.
I loved Sara! She always has a book with her, she's honest, loves to read, kind, funny and the kind of person I would love to know in real life. I think Sara might be one of, if not the, best characters I've ever come across. She's so real and so likeable! Sara definitely understands other readers and by the time I was done reading it I had two whole pages (Word pages) full of quotes from the book and a bunch of recommendations!

The other characters are definitely also likable, I loved Andy and Carl - the homosexual couple who runs the bar in town, I think Tom, Amy's nephew, is a fantastic character - he has so many different sides and his personality is right up my alley!. The rest of the characters are nice, but these are definitely some of my favorites!

Broken Wheel is a different sort of town; it's quite small but yet filled with people - at least it feels that way. Together with Sara I fell in love with the town, it became so idyllic, everyone was so friendly, everybody knew everybody and people helps each other. It was such a nice setting and it definitely brought something to the book. The small town setting might be one of my favorite things about the book.
The bookshop! I can't write this review without mentioning it! It's definitely my idyllic bookshop. It's not divided by genre, it's divided into Sara's very own categories and when she started making the categories I began laughing - when she was done I was mind blown: I will probably never categorize my books after the 'normal' genres anymore. I will follow Sara's example! The shop itself is so idyllic - it's homey and it's full of books. What more can you want? I just wanted to go to Broken Wheel myself, find a book and read in one of those big comfy chairs. If only.

Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend definitely surprised me, I had expected a light book about books and what I got was a fantastic, lovely, phenomenal and wonderful book. It was light but at the same time not fluffy - if that makes sense. I related so much to Sara, I laughed with the characters and I just wanted to go to Broken Wheel myself.
I think every lover of books should read this, it has probably made me love reading, and books in general, even more. It is so passionate about books and reading that you can't help being it too. It was so nice to read a book that really understands this passion we have of reading - not many people do and Katarina Bivald definitely do!
I have to admit, when I finished it I was ready to start over again, just to go back to Broken Wheel. That's how good this book is.

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

Series: Fairy Tales, #6 (companion series)

Publication date: November 17, 2015

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genres: Adult, Fairytale retelling

Format: eARC

Source: The publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Pages: 368
Rating: ★★★★/5

Goodreads ⎜Amazon ⎜Book Depository

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

I absolutely love fairytale retellings and I basically requested The Golden Braid with the sole piece of information that it was a retelling of Rapunzel. What I didn’t know going into this story was the fact that there’s religion in it – which I’m really not a fan of in books.

The romance in the book is completely swoon-worthy – definitely the ending!

The Golden Braid is set in Germany in Medieval times and there isn’t any magic or anything like that in the story and I think it’s my first fairytale retelling without magic, supernatural beings or anything like that. And I quite enjoyed it. 

Our main character is Rapunzel, for once she’s actually called Rapunzel and not something else. She’s about 19 and her mother, Gothel, will not have anyone near her. They travel from town to town and always take off when guys or men start showing interest in Rapunzel.

Rapunzel has learned a lot of things from other people, she can throw knives, hunt and such but she has never learned to read and that is her biggest wish – to learn how to read.

I loved getting to know Rapunzel. Even though she’s grown up with a controlling mother she’s now old enough to stand up to her, although Gothel doesn’t know that she is standing up to her. Seeing Rapunzel becoming a woman with feelings for men instead of this shy girl who can’t even bear to look at a man let alone talk to him is wonderful and seeing her learn to trust is even better. Rapunzel’s character is so perfect and I loved her! She grows throughout the story and I loved seeing her grow into the woman she is.

On their travels Gothel and Rapunzel meet Sir Gerek. Gerek is arrogant and annoying but that change throughout the story and he becomes one of the most loving characters you’ve ever come across. He changes completely and seeing him realize what it is he actually wants is wonderful. I definitely held my breath at times when waiting for him to realize things.

We ofcourse know he’s going to be the love interest and Rapunzel and him are perfect for each other! The ending left me completely in tears!

I really enjoyed reading this story, the only thing that put me off is the religion. They read the Bible, fine, but they also keep praying and saying God will be there for them and God this, God that. I really don’t enjoy books with religion in it and I really tried to look past it in this book. Lucky for me the swoon-worthy moments were completely free of religion!

I had no idea I’d enjoy a fairytale retelling so much when it didn’t involve magic, supernatural beings or prince and princesses at all. It had none of the things which usually makes a fairytale but I enjoyed it anyway!

After a long debate I’ve decided to give The Golden Braid 4 stars. I really enjoyed it and I probably would have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t for the religion part. It is such a captivating story and when I find out whether Melanie Dickerson’s other books also have religion in them or not I’ll probably read them!

We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman

Series: N/A, Standalone

Publication date: October 20, 2015
Publisher: Ebury Press
Genres: Adult, Contemporary
Format: eArc
Source: The publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Pages: 402
Rating: ★★★★★/5

Goodreads ⎜Amazon ⎜Book Depository

What if you had just one chance, one letter you could leave behind for the person you love? What would you write?

Stella Carey has good reason to only work nights at the hospice where she is a nurse. Married to a war veteran who has returned from Afghanistan brutally injured, Stella leaves the house each night as Vincent locks himself away, unable to sleep due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

During her nights at the hospice, Stella writes letters for her patients, detailing their final wishes, thoughts and feelings – from how to use a washing machine, to advice on how to be a good parent – and posts them after their death.

That is until Stella writes one letter that she feels compelled to deliver in time, to give her patient one final chance of redemption...

We Are all Made of Stars is an uplifting and heartfelt novel about life, loss and what happens in between from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Memory Book.

We Are All Made of Stars follows 3 characters; Hope, Hugh and Stella and between each chapter there's a letter from someone else.

Characters

Stella is our main character, her husband came home wounded from Afghanistan a year or so ago and they've slowly been falling apart. Stella has such a sad story and I just wanted to cry all the time - especially when she talks about their past - how they met and such - you could just feel the happiness but then you go back to 'real time' again and they're not even talking. It seriously killed me.

Hope is 21, has cystic fibrosis and loves books! Her hobby is reading and designing book covers - it's so cool! She has basically given up since she knows her life aren't going to be that long and you can just feel the depression every time she's the narrator. In comes her best friend Ben and life gets better. I loved reading the story from Hope's point of view and I loved getting to know Ben!

Lastly we have Hugh, he's quite the loner but after trying to help his neighbor's kids he gets rewarded and his lone life isn't that lonely anymore. Reading his story was quite depressing in the beginning but as you go along you can't help but smile and be quite happy for him.

Even though Stella is the main character I prefer Hope! I loved every part from her point of view, nothing was dragging, nothing was too sad and I just wanted to be as brave as her and have her 'job' as a book cover designer! Both Stella and Hugh are great narrators and each of the three have their own voice but Hope is just my favorite, I could see some of myself in her and I really enjoyed her story!

The Story

I loved every part of the story! Stella writes these letters for dying folks, she listen to their stories and when they're gone she post the letter to whomever it's intended for. Even though she helps people and tries to get their life in order before they're gone she juggling with problems at home. I just admire her for focusing on other people instead of wallowing in sadness.

Hope is definitely giving up in the beginning but she starts wanting to live and that progression was so heartwarming. The way Hope's part is written is just to my liking, she snarky, sarcastic and really funny. I laughed a lot during Hope's parts and I wish I could meet her in real life!

Even though I enjoyed Hugh's part it's probably my least favourite, in the end it was way better than the beginning but I still prefer Stella's og Hope's over his. Sorry.
It's not that his story is bad it's just not nearly as good as Hope's inspiring story or Stella's heartbreaking one. It is quite cute in the end though.

On another note

I loved the way this story is structured with the letter between each chapter, some of the letters I love, some surprised me and some just made me feel all the feels! None of the letters where boring and I just feel like they're perfect for the story and they just add something truly special to the story! 

I love Rowan Coleman's writing style! There where so many times that things where phrased so beautifully or cleverly and it's just beautiful all in all. I loved reading it and I loved that each of the characters have their distinct voice! 

It's also full of beautiful quotes and life lessons all the way through - I love it when that happens!

I decided to give We Are All Made of Stars 5 berries, it's an uplifting story but it's also quite sad, it made me feel all the feels and I felt so satisfied with the ending so I have to give it the highest rating! Every loose end is taken care of in the end and you can't really ask for more than a great ending to this beautiful story!