Review: A Breathtakingly Refreshing Journey
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 15, 2013
I fell in love with Julie Ann Knudsen’s series from book one. I find myself able to relate with the main character Willow Flynn. Following the first book of the series we follow the story of Willow as she experiences new things and grows and flourishes into a young woman compared to the child that she used to be. She has a new house, a new job, and her relationship with Michael grows and flourishes. After finishing with the first book in the series, In the Middle of Nowhere, I found myself captured by the storyline and what Willow goes through. Be it a run-in with mischievous teens or falling in love, I find myself unexplainably captivated by the story unable to put the book down.  Although I am far from being a teenage girl I can remember what it was like to be a teen – and I experienced many of the same things that Willow herself experienced. New love, working, younger siblings and the pull that I had to care for them … even today I find myself worrying about my siblings. Also – I can relate to Michael as I too am sickly. I can see why he feels the need to release and look past what is holding him back. I can understand his fate better than most and I find myself sympathizing with him as with Willow and her strength to be by his side. Unlike most stories that we read nowadays this story is refreshing and real. It isn’t some fairytale romance or a whirlwind sort of thing but an actual honest to goodness reality of what a teenager’s life might just be like. That is what I love most about Julie’s book. It is startlingly fresh and realistic as well as captivating and romantic. While the book is not intolerably long I wish there were more to it. It was so good that I would love to read more of Willows journey or even the story from Michael’s perspective. What will happen as they grow older? Will they stay together or will they ultimately fall apart? What will their lives bring them? I am left with all of these questions … but they are a good thing. It leaves me wanting more which I pray Julie delivers as she has a way with words that can leave you in tears or smiling as you read a paragraph. She is a true author with a story that touches deep down to your very soul. Well done Julie.