#LoriOttoChristmasSale 8.

Livvy (Choisie #4) 99¢ (R11.52ish)


Summary

MY REVIEW - everything you hoped for, and then some.

 

What a ride Lori Otto has taken us on! From sweet sixteen to first love, to heartache and breakups, we have seen Livvy through her journey to becoming a woman. And I am so damn proud of her! We've seen Livvy make some really bad decisions, and say some really hurtful things. We've seen how heartbreak can fuel her creativity. We've seen a teenager rebelling against her restraints, for good and bad. We've seen Livvy devastated. But all of this has, together with her loving family, and her wonderful boyfriend, helped make Livvy into the kind of woman we could all wish to be, and the kind of woman we would be proud to have as our daughter.

 

I truly think that this book is the pinnacle of Lori Otto's writing. And that's taking nothing away from Lori's previous books. They are in no way "less". But Livvy IS "more". I can't quite put my finger on it. Nothing in Livvy surpasses the emotion of Time Stands Still. There is nothing more beautiful than the words written in Dear Jon. Maybe it's just that we've been on this journey with Livvy and it means so much to get to the end with her. Lori's writing IS beautiful and the story told in Livvy IS emotional. Maybe it's just that everything that has made Lori's previous books so delicious to read is wrapped up with a pretty pink bow in Livvy. I don't know.

 

What I DO know is that if you have been on this journey with Livvy? This final installment will be everything you hoped for, and then some.

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#LoriOttoChristmasSale 7.

Dear Jon (Choisie #3) 99¢ (R11.52ish)


Summary

 

MY REVIEW - #teamChex

Once again Lori L. Otto delivers a story that reaches into every corner of your heart. The best part about Dear Jon is that we get to spend time in Jon's head, which really, is a great place to be.

Dear Jon follows the fallout from the end of Olivia, but from Jon's point of view. Now, let me just say that I spent a fair amount of time at the end of Olivia and in the beginning of Dear Jon being cross with Jon. That's not to say I dislike him, or that I don't understand where he's coming from, but spending so much time with Livvy, I'm very protective of her and in this case I expected more from Jon.

But that's just the point. With Lori Otto's writing we become very invested in each and every character. Their decisions affect us. And in the end, they are just people who also make mistakes. (Well. Maybe not Jacks... ;-)) Livvy and Jon think that Jon is super well adjusted and makes ALL the right choices and is always the responsible adult. We (and Livvy and Jon) forget that Jon is still young and sometimes (not often but sometimes) his youth does show.

 I know many readers have been unsure of Jon, but this book will make your minds up once and for all. Jon is a stellar young man, who feels things deeply, and who can make mistakes.

 

And he recognizes this by the end of the book. We can only hope that his actions have not broken him and Livvy for ever.

 

 

And that's the other wonderful part of this book. Yes, Livvy is the one who did the bad thing at the end of Olivia. Yes it's her actions that caused this break. But Jon's actions, or reactions, in the end threaten their happy ever after the most, in my opinion. And even though this book is from Jon's point of view, through Livvy's letters we see her struggle with her mistakes, and grow as a person and a young woman through her efforts to rectify those mistakes. Livvy makes the effort and we see this clearly through her letters. Jon sulks, mostly, and by the end of the book I think he comes to the same conclusion the reader (or at least me) does. Livvy has taken an awful moment and used it to examine herself as a person and then grow and move on as a better person. Jon sees this; we see this; and Jon recognizes his own part in all of this as well.

 

We also get to see some moments and memories that we have not been privy to before, in Livvy's life and in Jon's. And we get to see Jon's family, and how he is with his brothers and with his mother, which is equal parts adorable and heartbreaking. It's not all pretty, but it does all reinforce what a wonderful guy Jon is. And his brother's are going to be just as wonderful because of him. #teamWill

 

You cannot miss reading this book if you've read the first two books of the Choisie series. Dear Jon is an important piece of the puzzle, and an absolute joy to read.

 

 #teamChex #teamLion #teamJon #teamOtto #teamFollowYourHeart

 

 

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#LoriOttoChristmasSale 6.

Olivia  (Choisie #2) 99¢ (R11.52ish)

Summary

MY REVIEW - Real People

Which is my favourite book by Lori L. Otto? It's the Lori L. Otto book I'm reading at the time.

 Olivia continues the story of Livvy Holland, begun in the first book of the Choisie Series, Contessa. Ms Otto deftly shows the growth of Livvy into a mature and responsible adult, the growth in Livvy's relationship with her parents, her dad in particular, and the growth in Livvy and Jon's relationship.

 

 

Not everything is smooth sailing though. Livvy has to come to terms with a type of loss she's never had to face before and in the process she loses a part of herself. This crisis in Livvy's life, and her dealing-by-not-dealing is woven throughout the book, so that it's always there even if it's not obvious. Which is exactly how Livvy is experiencing it as well. Once again Lori Otto pulls the reader into the life of her characters so that you feel as if you are the one experiencing all the good, bad, happy, sad, silly, stupid and unforeseen things that happen in the story. And there are plenty of each and more.

Lori Otto writes people as they are. Real people. There is perhaps no huge drama or mystery or angsty romance, but it's life. The relatively small personal dramas and mysteries and romances feel as life altering as if they were happening to you. Lori writes people stories, not crime or fantasy or erotica. Just the lives of everyday people who you come to feel are people you know. You become invested in these characters and the choices they make. You feel happy and sad with them. You feel proud of and cross with them. And at the end of each book you want to know where the next stage of their lives will take them.

Olivia is no different. You will finish this book wanting to know where the next book will take Livvy. I can't wait!

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#LoriOttoChristmasSale 5.

Contessa (Choisie #1) 99¢ (R11.52ish)

Livvy Holland was adopted by a generous and wealthy couple as a child. Now sixteen, she is a burgeoning artist, encouraged by her mother and inspired by a man she was never able to meet. Feeling estranged from a loving father whose mind works much differently than her own, she questions whether or not she was paired with the right guardians. In her plight for independence, she reconnects with a fellow art student who grew up alongside Livvy.

Jon Scott has led anything but a privileged life. After his father passes away, he is left to care for his two half-brothers while his mother’s alcoholism threatens to tear his family apart. All he wants for himself and his brothers is a better life. His dreams for an Ivy League education are coming to fruition, thanks to a lifetime of hard work and ambition. This is not only important to Jon himself; he also knows that the man who will win Livvy’s heart has to be someone exceptional. Her father would accept nothing less–and Jon believes that Livvy deserves the best of everything, too.

That may be the only thing Jon and Livvy’s father agree upon.

Over the course of their courtship, these two teens will experience the bliss of true love, but their immaturity and differing lifestyles will also threaten to tear them apart. They both begin to question the other’s devotion and commitment; only time will tell if their first love is meant to last a lifetime. —summary courtesy of Lori L. Otto

 

 

  

MY REVIEW - Amazing coming of age story

 I really enjoyed this book. Lori L. Otto does an amazing job at taking us through a young girl's first love as well as her first real teenage rebellions. This book brought back a lot of memories for me.

 The family dynamic described in the book is also great. Parents can also make mistakes and Lori does not shy away from showing this. Raising a teenager seems to be to one of the most daunting things a parent can face and Lori shows this wonderfully too. The family fights are so heartbreaking, but the making up is so heartwarming. No family is perfect. Even the most picture perfect family has it's problems.

Teenagers always want to grow up too fast, and perhaps the thing I loved most about this book (and related to so much) was the pushing, pushing, pushing of Livvy, and to a certain extent Jon, and the struggle of Emi and Jack to give enough freedom but not too much. Both teens realised that they were asking for, perhaps, more than they could realistically handle. And I loved this growth of character.

 

The romance is sweet and envy enducing and the family life is wonderful and realistic. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone from the age of 16 and beyond.

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#LoriOttoChristmasSale 4.

Never Look Back (book three) 99¢ (R11.52ish)


To say Emi’s life over the past two years has had its share of peaks and valleys is an understatement – and her friends and family would agree. In the conclusion to Emi Lost & Found, Jack guides Emi through a year of self-discovery, and teaches her that faith in true love – and in soul mates – can yield happiness from even the darkest of places. —summary courtesy of Lori L. Otto

MY REVIEW - #teamJacks

 

HEA's do happen, even though they can happen in unexpected ways.

 

This last book in the trilogy takes us through Emi's final journey to get her HEA. There are stops and bumps and sharp turns along the way. But she gets there in the end. And Jackson Holland the second is there to help her. Jacks is a true knight in shining armour. I have an incredible crush on him. And the best thing about him? He's willing to help Emi on her way, even if her final destination does not include him.

 

 

 

(PS. Jacks is pretty close to perfect. But this book shows us he IS human. Wonderfully so.)

 

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#LoriOttoChristmasSale 3.

Time Stands Still (book two) 99¢ (R11.52ish)

No man could compete with Nate, Emi thought, until one night – one evening, one party, one journey, one second alters her course completely. That night, her brother’s best friend, Jack Holland, comes back into her life with a mission. In a year’s time, he slowly finds a comfortable place in Emi’s life, but only time will tell if it’s right for Emi – and enough for him. —summary courtesy of Lori L. Otto

 

MY REVIEW - A Six Star Rollercoaster Ride

This is the third book I've read in my entire life that made me cry. And it doesn't get easier on the second or third or fourth reading. Even though I know what's coming it didn't ease the heartache I feel while reading the first half of this book.

 

Lori L. Otto puts you in the mind of her character in such an effective way that you end up feeling the emotions she is describing, as if you were the character in the book. It's so real and you can relate so easily to the characters that any loss, happiness, excitement or despair the characters are going though, you go through yourself. It's a roller coaster experience but a worthwhile one. Loved this book in spite of (or maybe because of?) the sobbing.

 

 

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#LoriOttoChristmasSale 2.

Lost and Found (book one) 99¢ (R11.52ish)

  

After swearing off love with Emi in a silly high school pact, Nate has been seeing other women in hopes of finding one that evokes stronger feelings than the ones he’s been harboring for Emi since he was a teen. Over the span of a year, boundaries are crossed, feelings are confessed, and their unique friendship begins to blossom into something more. With a promising future ahead of them both, fate intervenes to bring two soul mates together. —summary courtesy of Lori L. Otto

 

 

MY REVIEW - Emotive Writing

 

I love this series so much, I now have all three books on my Kindle, iBooks, and two copies of each on my bookshelf. This first book really draws you into the rest of the series. Even though you may not like, or agree with, the main characters all the time, and even though you might want to slap them often, you become invested in them because they are such real characters.

 

These people could be your friends, people you grew up with. You love them and accept their flaws as part of them. Lori L. Otto's writing style is very emotive; you feel what the characters are feeling and go through their joys and sorrows with them. The characters are far from perfect, and their insecurities and bad decisions are frequently shown.

 

This book just left me wanting more, and I bought the second and third books before I had finished reading the first. A worthwhile addition to any bibliophile's collection. I've already re-read this first book twice and I know that I will come back and visit with these friends often.

Isn't it marvellous when a book keeps you thinking long after you've put it down?

 

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#LoriOttoChristmasSale 1

Not Today, But Someday (prequel) FREE

Nate Wilson knows he wants Emi Hennigan from the moment he sees her.  Emi knows that she needs Nate after one night together.  A life-ling friendship is born, and a pact is made to ensure that nothing will come between them. —summary courtesy of Lori L. Otto

 

MY REVIEW - Old Friends

I was thrilled when Lori L Otto started publishing this story to her blog. I am a great fan of the Emi Lost and Found Series, and having the opportunity to go back and see how Emi and Nate's story began was so exciting. We get an insight into Emi's vulnerability after her parents divorce and her basic distrust of men. We also get to learn why she doesn't like chocolate!

A peek inside Nate's head is always wonderful. A sensitive soul he's all tough on the outside with yummy soft mush on the inside. And he immediately feels something for Emi. This story shows that while their love story might not have been meant to be, their friendship truly was epic. They got each other. We should all be so lucky to have had one friend in our lifetime like that.

 
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