Title: No Place Like Home
Author: DeAnna Holland
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Range: New Adult
Publishing Date: March 25th,
2014
“Whether the system
works or it doesn’t, it didn’t work for me…”
Having just aged out of
foster care, eighteen-year-old Jules finds herself homeless and broke. Shortly
after her eighteenth birthday, she’s sent packing with very little money and
very few personal belongings. However, with her social worker’s help, she finds
a place that she can call home—temporarily. But growing up in foster care has
left her emotionally scarred, and opening up to people and letting them in is
not something she ever wants to do again.
Until she meets Jake. The attraction is almost instant, and he is someone she can definitely see herself falling for. But Jules quickly discovers that everything is not always as it seems, and people are rarely who they appear to be. After learning the truth about Jake, she wants nothing more to do with him. But Jake is captivated by Jules—not just because of her mesmerizing hazel eyes, but because she has unwavering strength despite the unfortunate life she’s had—and he’s not letting go that easily. He’s determined to win her heart, and with each passing day he shreds more of her resolve. With Jake’s help, Jules soon discovers that—even though she has spent most of her life parentless and homeless—there’s no place like home…
Until she meets Jake. The attraction is almost instant, and he is someone she can definitely see herself falling for. But Jules quickly discovers that everything is not always as it seems, and people are rarely who they appear to be. After learning the truth about Jake, she wants nothing more to do with him. But Jake is captivated by Jules—not just because of her mesmerizing hazel eyes, but because she has unwavering strength despite the unfortunate life she’s had—and he’s not letting go that easily. He’s determined to win her heart, and with each passing day he shreds more of her resolve. With Jake’s help, Jules soon discovers that—even though she has spent most of her life parentless and homeless—there’s no place like home…
My Review:
I get tired of New Adult books rather easily, and one of my
biggest turn-offs is the orphan angle.
It seems like a device that is used to death by authors who don’t want
to mess with the family dynamic, which can be difficult to write, so they skip
it, making the main character an orphan.
I thought that’s where this one was going, but the orphan on social
services angle played a major part in the plot of this story and ended up being
a major thematic element that was very well done. Also a portion of the proceeds of the work go
to causes that help troubled teens. That
was pretty awesome.
The characters are all deliciously flawed, and Jake is
totally drool worthy. Of course, he’s
half my age, which makes me a total perv, but whatevs. The plot unfolded smoothly, with barely any
issues, and I caught myself getting invested in the story, making few notes for
my review. I had a hard time rooting for
Jules, but I think I’m just a little too hard on my female characters and need
to get over that. She has a hard time
letting people in, with all of her trust issues, and she seemed a little fickle
to me. Again, I’m hard on the female
characters, probably because I have such a hard time making them likeable in my
own writing, so I’m quick to point out flaws with others.
Overall, a very good NA romance with some heavy thematic
elements. Well done, Ms. Holland.
Book Links
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/422581
DeAnna
Holland is the pseudonym for Brittany Holland, writer and mother of two.
Brittany currently resides in Middle of Nowhere, USA (aka Louisa, Virginia),
with her family. She’s always had a passion for romance, and when she’s not
reading it, she’s writing it! For more information, check out her blog
at: www.deannaholland.blogspot.com, and you can find her
on Facebook (www.facebook.com/deannahollandwrites)!!!
Social Media Links
Wow... you scared me a little with your first sentences but I can breathe now.
ReplyDeleteReally appreciate it your time for read and review this book, and your thoughtful review.
You're very welcome! I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and thank you!
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