Review: Beautiful Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 2, 2013
This was such a beautiful story. Beth Michele's second novel delivers ever feeling possible, Beth is an amazingly talented author that has become a fast favorite of mine. I can't wait to read more of her work, her stories are beautiful, with so much compassion, love, and happiness. I am a huge fan."You're the only one I've wanted, Cara, since the moment I first saw you... It's your eyes that invaded my dreams, your body that fulfills my fantasies, your beautiful spirit that's taken over my heart. It's you, Cara."In Lovely, we have the two main characters, Ashton "Ash" Taylor and Cara Hayward. Two very different people in their early twenties that for a beautiful relationship while dealing with a dark past and a scary future."I am a devoted son, responsible brother, trusted friend, excellent student, and a good f***. I've been told I'm talented. And I suppose things come easy to me. My life seems perfect."That was Ash. He is such a beautiful person. I have never read about a guy who was so devoted to his family. After losing his father "his hero" he lost a piece of himself.  He is a strong man and son on the outside, always being there for those who need him but who is there for him? Who shoulder can he lean on when he's the one always lending a shoulder. No one see's him for him, they see the tough exterior but there is something missing."I've felt like nothing for so long, Ash...You make me feel like I'm something...like I matter."When Cara was first introduced, I instantly feel in love with this girl. She hides behind these huge glasses, shielding herself from the world. Ash saw the same thing. He saw a beautiful girl with a big heart behind those glasses. With beautiful soft brown curls, beautiful brown eyes, he instantly knew she was different. Not different in a strange way like most saw her, but different in a way where he had to know her."Everyone has something different inside of them to share with the world, you just have to dig deep and find it."These two characters are so different but so very much meant for one another. They are brought together mainly from poetry. The words that Cara says to Ash wakes something up in him. Makes him feel like he is filling a whole that he didn't realize was empty. Their connection was something you can FEEL growing by the second. You want nothing more than the two of them to be together and be happy. But, life isn't always so easy and when life throws so very familiar and horrible situations at you, you need someone that is there to catch you when you fall. Cara is the one that can catch Ash and their story just gets more and more beautiful.I wasn't going to quote a poem from the story but I have to, this poem was so strong and deep that to me, it is something too important not to add in the review."Who knows what's hidden inside?What's trapped beneath the surface of a smileScratching and clawing to escapeI scream and no one hearsThere is desperationYet there is no escapeThere is only suffocation"This poem really got to me. You can tell Cara has been through some dark past times. She has reasons for hiding, reasons to not trust, reason to be different. Ash knows this, he can sense it, and he wants to be the one to bring Cara back to the light like she has for him. This poem to me is also was the point that Ash knew, Cara is it.Not only are the main characters so amazing in this but the secondary characters are as well. Ash has a beautiful family. His mother is such a sweet and caring person. After losing the love of her life, she is still the mother everyone wishes for. She is always there for her children and I admire her. Ash's siblings are also great. His relationship with the two of them seems to strange considering most siblings are at each other's throats but these three seem to have gotten so much closer after losing their father. His sister is sweet. She loves her brothers with everything she has. Colt, the youngest of the three is such a strong character and a big part in this book. He is dealt a pretty crappy hand and managers to still make the ones he love smile.I felt every emotion while reading this. I laughed, I got teary eyes and I most definitely swooned. Ash is such an amazing person. Going from having a flavor of the month to only Cara was so beautiful."When I look down, I noticed I'm not the only one excited about my date with Cara. Down boy, down."How Beth manages to get such funny lines in this story shows how talented she is. Ash is just perfect. I loved this story so much. It was as the title says Lovely. The story is a stand-alone and will leave you feeling all swoony and happy. Everything about this book was great and I again cannot wait to read more from Beth Michele. She is truly a talented author and has a beautiful mind.If you haven't yet, you should also read her other book, Love Love. Another beautiful story.