Review - Falling For Romeo by Jennifer Laurens

Title and Author:  Falling for Romeo by Jennifer Laurens

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: October 1st, 2007

Paperback/Hardcover: 216

Genre: Young Adult

Summary:

John can have any girl he wants. Jennifer's never been kissed.
Everybody thinks he's perfect. She's got issues with pride and jealousy.
They were best friends-once. Now, they're playing Romeo and Juliet. Virgin lips Jennifer must have her first kiss on stage with John, the guy every girl in school wants. The pressure and tension build along with each staged kiss. Both are shocked when feelings bloom. Can either tell which kisses are real and which are for show?

Review:

Falling for Romeo is one of those books able to put a smile on your face. It is a very cute book with an equally delightful plot.

Jennifer and John are too childhood friends who drifted apart in high school. John has become one of the most popular guys in school and all the girls seem to be in love with him, including Jennifer, even though she would never admit that.

Then both John and Jennifer are cast as Romeo and Juliet in the school’s play and sparks fly between them.

This story left me with a smile on my face. Both Jennifer and John are great characters. They are sweet and caring and it is obvious they like each other but are, in the beginning, too stubborn to accept that and make a move. They dance around each other for a little while and their bickering is priceless.

I liked the fact that even though John was quite popular he wasn’t a jerk. He didn’t exactly like all the attention he got, which only made him more interesting.

I think John and Jennifer were a perfect match for each other. When they were kids their friendship was real and little by little they find a way of connecting again all while pretending they are Romeo and Juliet.

I love the fact Jennifer Laurens wrote the book in a way you can relate with both characters and their feelings. They seem real and I couldn’t help but to want them to be together.

All in all, I think this is a very well-written book, that’s realistic and that’s able to make you smile. This is a very cute, entertaining and interesting read. You should definitely give this book a try.

Rating: Worth Your Time

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Jennifer Laurens Interview

As you probably already know this weekend's posts are dedicated to Jennifer Laurens.

Jennifer was kind enough to answer a few of my questions. I hope you like this interview and if you haven't already, you should go read Jennifer's books! I'm sure you'll like them.

I'll be hosting a giveaway for one of her books this weekend so stay tuned!

1 -Tell us a little about yourself? 

JL: I’m addicted to writing, drinking Rockstars and traveling with my family ( 6 kids and a fabulous husband )

2 - Have you always wanted to be a writer? If not, when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

JL: I’ve written since I was in Jr. High school – started by writing plays. Now, I write YA books and love the fit. I’ve also written Women’s Romance.

3 - What inspired you to write the Heavenly series? 

JL: Heavenly is really the story of my family learning to live and deal with the issues of autism and teenage substance abuse. It’s a very real, personal series because most of what happens in the book has happened in our family.

4 - Did your own experiences help you in the writing process for any of your books?

JL: I write from experience or the experiences of my family members. There are bits and pieces of me in all of my work. As well as huge chunks like: I have a daughter who has autism, I have a son who has a drug addiction. One of my daughters partied and had alcohol issues. ( Heavenly ) One of my daughter’s high school experiences in Romeo and Juliet is chronicled in Falling for Romeo. The list goes on.

5 - Some of your books deal with issues like drinking and drug use. Do you feel strongly about those issues?

JL: Very. My son ( Luke ) still struggles. It’s hard on everyone to see someone you love choose to participate in activities that will harm their spirit, their health and their relationships.

6 - Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

JL: Finding the time to write AND do everything else I do is a challenge these days. We have 12 people living in our house at the moment, and quiet time is impossible to find.

7 - Which of the characters would you most like to invite to dinner?  Why? 

JL: Well, everyone in Heavenly already lives here. ( haha ) So, I’d like to have Matthias as a permanent resident. I could use his help!

8 - Are you currently working on a new book? 

JL: Yes – a YA paranormalish story that brings two people from different time periods together.

        

                                                  

9 - Is there anything specific that you want to say to your readers or that you would like them to know? 

JL: That I appreciate the support and sharing of my books with your reader friends. As any indie artist knows, word of mouth is the best way to get favorite music, movies and books into the hands of those who appreciate and love to enjoy it! Thank you for helping me!

You can find Jennifer Laurens at: 

• Twitter
• Website
• Facebook
• Goodreads 

Thank you so much for the interview! :)

Review - Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

Title and Author: Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: April 29th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 243

Genre: Young Adult

Summary

Ashlyn: A lonely society princess living in New York City.

Daddy hired you to be my bodyguard.

Colin: Childhood enemy, now her protector.

Daddy thought I’d be safe. He thought I’d never fall in love. He thought he could keep me forever.

Charles: obsessed with keeping her safe, keeping her his, he hires the one person he knows she could never fall in love with: Colin.

Daddy was wrong

Review:

Overprotected is the latest book by Jennifer Laurens and it is a very interesting one.

Ashlyn is a teenager who was kidnapped when she was a little kid, prompting her parents to make everything possible to protect her. Her father threats Ashlyn like a princess and along the years he has taken very extreme measures to keep her safe. Ashlyn is not allowed to go out without a bodyguard, every single one of her steps are controlled and she has only one friend her father approves of.

After her bodyguard is fired Ashlyn hopes that her father will finally give her some freedom. She is almost 18, after all. Her father hires a new bodyguard, though, one that Ashlyn knows since they both were kids and who she hates.

Colin is not the same person anymore, though. He’s grown up and become a very interesting and good looking young man Ashlyn can’t help filling attracted to.

Colin is not the only problem Ashlyn has to deal with, though. Little by little she starts to realize her parents´ marriage is not as perfect as it may seem.

Ashlyn is an interesting main character. In the beginning she acts like a spoiled princess but it’s obvious she is very vulnerable. All she wants is to be free and as the story develops Ashlyn grows. She learns to fight for herself and her freedom.

Now, Colin is great! He is very sweet and charming. He is hired to protect Ashlyn and he does exactly that. He even stands up to Ashlyn’s dad when needed. He was exactly what Ashlyn needed.

Ashlyn’s parents were complex, to say the least, especially her father. The things he does to keep Ashlyn safe makes you think about whether he should have the right to act as he does or not.

Overall Overprotected is a very well written book, with an interesting plot and intriguing characters.

I really enjoyed reading this book and was immediately drawn into the story. I think any Young Adult fan will be able to enjoy this book.

Rating: Worth Your Time (4 Stars)

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Review - Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

Title and Author: Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: August 15th, 2009

Paperback/Hardcover: 296

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Summary

I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him.

Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever.

Review:

Angels are popular right now but Heavenly isn’t your usual fantasy story. Jennifer Laurens’ version of who guardian angels are is actually very believable.

Heavenly is Zoe’s story. She a teenager struggling with a few issues like learning to deal with her autistic sister and drug-addicted brother. Her parent’s obviously care about their children but they are oblivious to the kids’ struggles.

Zoe parties hard and drinks more than she should until she meets Matthias, a young man who seems to always show up when her sister is in danger.

In the beginning of the book Zoe is very self-centered. She enjoys partying and hooking up with random guys. The drinking and party are a means to escape her problems, though. After she meets Matthias, Zoe changes and becomes a better person. She cares for her family and it’s obvious she just wants to help them.

Matthias is a great character. He’s a wonderful guardian angel! He’s sweet and caring and very patient.

The relationship between Zoe and Matthias develops nicely. It’s nice being able to see Zoe change and become a better person due to Matthias good influence.

I was immediately drawn into this story and enjoyed reading about Zoe’s life and her struggles. Plus the portrayal of a family raising a child with autism is very realistic.

The ending of Heavenly surprised me a lot and I think it will surprise you as well. I can’t wait to read the next book of the series now so I can find out what will happen.

All in all Heavenly is a very well written book that deals with some important issues such as drug and alcohol addiction and autism. I would recommend this book to any Young Adult Paranormal fan.

This is not your typical angel story and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Rating: Worth Your Time (4 Stars)

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Jennifer Laurens

As you know, this weekend's posts are dedicated to Jennifer Laurens and her books.

Reviews and an interview as well as a giveaway will be posted soon so watch out for that. :)

For now, let's get to know Jennifer Laurens and her books.

 








Author's Bio:

"Jennifer, aka JM Warwick was born and raised in Southern California and her hometown of Palos Verdes Estates flavors her books: A Season of Eden and An Open Vein. She doesn't limit herself to writing one genre, and was the first to author four romance novels centered around the popular sport of ballroom dancing. Now, she focuses on writing young adult. She has YA novels published under her YA romance name of Jennifer Laurens: Falling for Romeo, Magic Hands, Nailed and the Heavenly series: Heavenly ( 2009) Penitence (2010) and Absolution (2010) A Season of Eden and Overprotected. Two are under her other YA author name: JM Warwick - A Season of Eden and An Open Vein. Jennifer lives in Utah and has 6 children."

"I've written since junior high school. An only child, I grew up writing big stories about big families. I also write YA under the name of JM Warwick. My hometown of Palos Verdes, California figures in much of my work, as does my current home of Pleasant Grove, Utah and other favorite places. I love to travel.

They say "write what you know" and I do. I am a mother, I have six children, five cats and a huge doberman/dane dog. I have a supportive husband and we've been married 25 years. Our lives, though challenging with a handicapped child who has autism, are centered in our family.

My life experiences have worked into all of my novels. Some more heavily than others, but parts of me are in each story. I love stories rich in family drama, where family members overcome obstacles through love and miracles."

Jennifer Laurens Books:

Title and Author: Magic Hands

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: Feburary 1st, 2007

Paperback/Hardcover: 216

Genre: Young Adult 

Cort, the high school senior jock seems to have it all -- except a summer job. When he lands one doing women's nails, his eyes are opened to the catty, back-stabbing world of females. Girls he thought he knew and trusted turn out to shock and use him. He gets to know Rachel, an elusive girl the others gossip about, a girl with secrets. From her he learns there is more to life than weekend partying and social status, and one of the secrets she shares with him will change his life forever

Title and Author: Falling For Romeo

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: October 1st, 2007

Paperback/Hardcover: 216

Genre: Young Adult 






John can have any girl he wants. Jennifer's never been kissed.
Everybody thinks he's perfect. She's got issues with pride and jealousy.
They were best friends-once. Now, they're playing Romeo and Juliet. Virgin lips Jennifer must have her first kiss on stage with John, the guy every girl in school wants. The pressure and tension build along with each staged kiss. Both are shocked when feelings bloom. Can either tell which kisses are real and which are for show?

 


Title and Author: An Open Vein

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: October 1st, 2007

Paperback/Hardcover: 224

Genre: Young Adult 




He's a doctor, of course I trust him. Or at least I did, once.
I haven't eaten since yesterday. He had scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. The smell seeps at me from beneath the locked door. The gnawing in my stomach never goes away but it's not from lack of food. Up until yesterday, I've been able to eat. Until yesterday, I was able to do almost anything I wanted within the two thousand square feet of this place.
Things are different now.

 
Title and Author: Nailed

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: September 22nd, 2008

Paperback/Hardcover: 236

Genre: Young Adult 


One girl. Two guys. Who says three's a crowd? When Mandy takes an unusual summer job-in construction-she has to prove she's just one of the guys. But she gets more than she bargains for being the only girl on the job. The mixture of hot guys, sunscreen, raw wood and testosterone proves to be an elixir she can't protect her heart from. Brooding Boston and flirty AJ find themselves looking at Mandy as more than just a girl who holds a hammer. Mandy soon finds herself not only lost in a whirlwind of a male-dominated world, but also the center of an inadvertently "constructed" love triangle. Mandy must choose between two guys who want her heart. But what's a girl to do when she wants them both?

Title and Author: A Season of Eden

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: October 20th, 2008

Paperback/Hardcover: 248

Genre: Young Adult 

He's my teacher. I shouldn't be alone with him. But I can't help that he's irresistible.
I let the door silently close at my back. He stared at me, and a taut quiet stretched between us. "I like hearing you play," I said, moving toward him. He turned, in sync with my slow approach. He looked up at me but didn't say anything. I rested my clammy hand on the cold, slick body of the baby grand. "May I?" The muscles in his throat shifted, then he swallowed. "Eden." My knees weakened, like a soft tickling kiss had just been blown against the backs of them. "Is it okay?" I asked. His gaze held mine like two hands joined. He understood what I was really asking. "Let me stay," I said. "Please." "You're going to get me in trouble," he said.

Title and Author: Heavenly

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: August 15th, 2009

Paperback/Hardcover: 296

I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him. Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever.

Title and Author: Penitence (Heavenly 02)

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: April 29th, 2010

Paperback/Hardcover: 322

 
Seeing good and evil spirits is a gift Zoe guards with her life.Despite her guardian angel's disappearance, Zoe forces herself to accept that she still has a purpose-but how does she carry the weight of her brother's drug abuse, the hardship of living with an autistic sister, and a best friend who's obsessed with a guy who only wants Zoe?
She's never felt more alone.
When a mysterious spirit appears, Zoe thinks she has a new guardian angel. Instead, her brother's addiction worsens, her parents are on the brink of separation, and her best friend tries to kill her. The spirit she thinks is her new guardian isn't there to protect her: he's out to destroy her family and seize Zoe's soul. . . for Hell.
Will Matthias' return mean that he is Zoe's guardian angel again? Or is their love the reason the jaws of Hell now gape open?

Title and Author: Absolution (Heavenly 03)

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: October 1st, 2010

Paperback/Hardcover:






Zoe’s secret is out. And the powers of Hell are ravenous to claim her soul. Her brother, Luke, knows her secret: that she sees both good and evil spirits. Her boyfriend knows. At least Matthias is her guardian angel again. But now Hell’s most ruthless leader will stop at nothing to have her soul.
Albert, Matthias’ father, is relentless in his hunger for Zoe. He wants to destroy Matthias and will use Zoe to do so.
The battle between Heaven and Hell tests everything Zoe has. As she witnesses everyone important in her life suffering, she’s brought to the ultimate choice: will she sacrifice her soul to save the ones she loves?

Title and Author: Overprotected

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: April 29th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 243

Ashlyn: A lonely society princess living in New York City.
Daddy hired you to be my bodyguard.
Colin: Childhood enemy, now her protector.
Daddy thought I’d be safe. He thought I’d never fall in love. He thought he could keep me forever.
Charles: obsessed with keeping her safe, keeping her his, he hires the one person he knows she could never fall in love with: Colin.
Daddy was wrong.

You can find Jennifer at:

Official Website
Facebook
Twitter

Review - A Season of Eden by Jennifer Laurens

Title and Author:  A Season of Eden by Jennifer Laurens aka J.M. Warwick

Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing

Publication Date: October 20, 2008

Paperback/Hardcover: 248

Genre: YA, Romance

Summary:

He's my teacher. I shouldn't be alone with him. But I can't help that he's irresistible.
I let the door silently close at my back. He stared at me, and a taut quiet stretched between us. "I like hearing you play," I said, moving toward him. He turned, in sync with my slow approach. He looked up at me but didn't say anything. I rested my clammy hand on the cold, slick body of the baby grand. "May I?" The muscles in his throat shifted, then he swallowed. "Eden." My knees weakened, like a soft tickling kiss had just been blown against the backs of them. "Is it okay?" I asked. His gaze held mine like two hands joined. He understood what I was really asking. "Let me stay," I said. "Please." "You're going to get me in trouble," he said

Review:

The description of this book immediately intrigued me. It deals with a taboo relationship between a young teacher and a student (the student is 18 and the teacher is only 22).

I love the kind of stories you know the characters aren’t supposed to be together but can’t help being drawn to each other. This is that kind of story.

Most of the story happens during Eden’s senior year in highschool and it’s obvious how her relationship with James (the teacher) helps her grow up and become a smart young woman instead of a spoiled teenager.

Eden is the “agressor” is this story while James is somewhat innocent and all around adorable. I couldn’t help immediately liking him.

The romance between Eden and James was very well written. The whole book is a big seduction and it’s all about the anticipation of the moment they will actually get together.

All in all I really enjoyed reading A Season of Eden. The plot is interesting, the book is well written and the way the relationship between a teacher and a student was portrayed was very refreshing. Plus, I really liked the ending, even though I was left hoping for more.

Give this one a shot! :)

Rating: Worth Your Time

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