Running Barefoot

I honestly and truly believe that I have found one of the best books that I have read, and has become one of my favorites.

We start by meeting Josie Jensen at a very young age. Unfortunately for her, she finds sorrow and pain at such a young age. She basically has to grow up very fast and take care of her loved ones. But despite her troubles, she has a yearning and need for learning. She develops many talents. From understanding and mastering her need for music and playing the piano - to developing an unyielding love for reading and knowledge. 

Then we meet Samuel Yates. He is different in every aspect, so to speak. He is half white-half Navajo. He neither fits in the "white" world or in the "Navajo" world. He is judged and discriminated against where ever he goes. That is, until he meets 13 year old Josie on the back seat of a school bus. She gets picked on by an older boy, and Samuel kindly steps in. But quickly keeps to him self. 

Over time, they develop a "strange" friendship. I say "strange" because this happens while they read and analyze "Wuthering Heights" for an assignment that he has. Little by little, they become dependent on each other. 

I love how that friendship grows. It truly is beautiful in every sense. Josie teaches Samuel a lot. Most importantly how to let go of grudges and to be more than what every one else wants him to be. 

I like that she didn't take it any further with Josie being 13 and Samuel being 18. He joins the Marines right out of High School and is gone for several years. While he's gone, Josie falls in love again. Unfortunately for her, she experiences pain again. Samuel comes back after some time, and helps Josie like she did for him many years ago. 

The trials and troubles that they go through to get where they need to be amazes me. Thee were several times where I wanted to cry - some from heart ache, others from happiness. 

I love what Amy Harmon did with this. It's essentially what I look for in a book.  

Infinity + One

I do have to say that I'm in love. I'm in love with Amy Harmon. With her books. With her characters. I had completely forgotten how much I enjoyed her writing style. That is until I remembered that she wrote Making Faces, which happens to be one of my favorite books.

I was captured from the very beginning. I love how the main characters were almost like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. They went on a full adventure, without meaning to.

I love that Finn was a total math/number nerd. And Bonnie, well, she was a well know country singer. There was more that tied those two together, and it almost felt like it was their destiny. It was complete beautiful.

I couldn't get enough of them. I feel like the more you say about the story, the more you give away. And I honestly believe that this is one story that you should fully experience for your self.

A Different Blue

"Once upon a time there was a little blackbird, pushed from the nest. Unwanted. Discarded."

I think I was hooked with just reading the Prologue. I wanted - NO - needed to know what had happened to the little girl sitting in the car, while her mother was plotting who knows what.

I felt a lot of pain and sorrow through out the entire book. I'm not saying that it was a horrible book. All I'm saying is that I certainly captured my emotions.

We get to meet Blue Echohawk, a senior in high school. A possible 19 year old. She has no idea who she is or where she came from. All she knows is that James Echohawk became her world when he took her in at a young age. He taught her every thing that she knows but left her alone again at a young age.

Needless to say, Blue has suffered a lot. She also doesn't fit in. But that's because she wants it that way. That is until the new History teacher - Mr. Darcy Wilson - at only 23 years old decides that he wants to help her.

I love how he approaches the situation and how he handles it. He becomes her constant and is there to support her through her trials.

"What we believe affects our choices, our actions, and subsequently, our lives".

I love how she overcomes those trials. But I think what I truly enjoyed the most was how this story came to a full circle. That was a definite tear-jerker for me. When she finally found out the truth about her past and who she really was.

There was "some" romance in this book. But I like that it wasn't all about it completely. It was about that little Blackbird learning how to spread her wings and taking on the sky.

Ugly Love

Every time that I start one of her books I think that it won't be as good as her other work. I feel like such an idiot for thinking so. She has yet to disappoint me from the very first time that I picked up Slammed. I didn't think I could genuinely love an author as mush as I love her, for the work that she does.

She is absolutely amazing. You can definitely see how much she has grown Her work gets better and better. There is more beauty with each chapter that you read.

My goodness. My emotions were everywhere and nowhere while I was reading this. I felt so much for Miles. I loved reading his past. It was pretty intense for someone so young. I kept wondering why he was such a jerk and kept to himself. Once I figured it out, I hurt for him. I understood why he closed himself off, but at the same time, I didn't understand why he wouldn't allow himself to feel anything for Tate. I knew that she was reaching some part of him that had been lost.

Tate was awesome. She never truly gave up. I liked her character. I was pissed at her for accepting what  and how the "relationship" was originally offered to her. I understand why she did it though. She would rather have something than nothing at all.

Cap was one of those characters that was freaking hilarious. An 80 year old man that piloted the elevator in their building complex. I loved his sense of humor and his mart remarks.  I love that he was Tate's best friend and was there for her to help and support her.

 Overall, I absolutely love this book. Everything was perfect. From the way that she wrote Miles and Rachel to Miles and Tate. Everything was beautiful.

I was trying to figure out why Ugly Love. Until I finally understood it all. And it was Beautifully Heartbreaking...