Review: BLOWN AWAY
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 27, 2014
SUMMER'S BOOK BLOG*ARC was kindly given to me by the author for an honest review*I am a quivering sobbing and happy at the same time mess thanks to this amazing novel by Jenn Foor.A beautiful, emotional, poignant story about a girl who has suffered and triumphed over what life has dealt her and about a boy who loved the girl so much that he became the man who walked away from his destiny. Fighting for his country in the way he should have fought for love.A story about three childhood friends who have shared many first times, joy, heartache, passion, love and betrayal.We are introduced to Katy in the seventh grade with her two best friends and twin brothers, Brooks and Branch. Experiencing together on a beautiful night a major milestone in a pre-teens life, the first kiss, a very sweet and tender moment. The next day they all also shared a major event together, one that shocked a nation, September 11th. From that moment on life changed for everyone, but especially Katy who lost her family on that fateful day. The attack on the Pentagon took her father and mother away in one split second.Lucky to have parents with such forethought as to entrust her in the care of their neighbors and longtime family friends, Katy moves into the home of the Valentine’s where she is surrounded by love and of course her best friends.Katy is beautiful inside and out and we watch her transform from the shy innocent pre-teen into the strong and able young woman. Life has not shown much mercy on this girl but with moments of perfect grace and joy it is her path. She is strong and funny as well as weak and sad; your heart will break for her as well as rejoice. Katy might have lost her biological family in a senseless loss but her adopted family fills the void in her as much as humanly possible, with their help she is able to find happiness again. However a decision made in the heat of the moment on the night of her wedding, caused by years of suppressed and hidden passion, her life is forever altered and the security and love she has depended on is gone.Branch Valentine starts off being the leader of this group of three. A beautiful boy who turns into a sexy young man. A preppy perfectly groomed athletic guy, he is perfect in every way except one. He is jealous and envious of a love he sees forming between two people and will stop at nothing to claim it as his own, in the process causing unimaginable pain and heartbreak.Brooks Valentine was the sweet and caring kid who over time became the total opposite of what he used to be. Burying his feelings so deep that he becomes a coward. He was the one person who understood Katy so well, knowing and anticipating her needs even before she realized it. He was the exact same in the physical sense to his brother but the polar opposite when it came to character. Brooks held Katy’s heart and misunderstands along with deceit kept them apart. While one brother was perceived to be the good one he was the wild one but was he really? Or was he the really the noble one?Secrets, lies, betrayal are all prevalent in this tale and with twists and turns, ups and downs, so are love, forgiveness and salvation.A beautiful heartbreaking love story about lives shattered and rebuilt, love lost and found, tragedy and blessings.Follow along on this journey with Katy as she starts to begin anew away from the only family she has ever known only to face a reality so harsh she is broken. Then to find salvation in the form a love returned from the past.The quest for love, happiness and home isn’t easy for any of the three best friends, decisions and lies told in the past make it hard to find redemption but they do, all in their own way. It will make you cry, laugh and with moments of intense passion make you blush. With a cast of fully developed characters, this is a book that will remain with you for a long time.Jenn Foor has delivered a breathtakingly poignant novel that is the must read for 2014.Will Katy find love in the arms of the brother who holds her heart?Will the damage of the lies and deceit be so great that it can’t be undone?Will Katy escape her reality and find salvation in her destiny.Read this amazing book and find out.