Cornerstone (Cornerstone, #1)

Jun 06, 2012 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Five Stars: This is an indie book that you must read!
Nalena walks home from school. She shifts her heavy backpack on her shoulder as she struggles to balance the three reams of paper in her other hand. She detests paper day. Every week she stops at the office supply store to pick up three packs of paper for her mother. Despite the fact that her home is filled with stacks and stacks of paper. Everywhere you look, including the oven and the furniture there are piles of papers. Nalena hates that he...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review is for the first three books in the Cornerstone series:

You know how there are indie authors who, by all rights, should be superstars? I heard that they have a secret club and that Misty Provencher is their club president. Her Cornerstone series is the most original YA I’ve read in a long time. YES! You read that right. The. Most. Original. And in a genre that is in desperate need of originality.

The Cornerstone series has been getting a lot of positive reviews, but I honestly didn’t e...more This review is for the first three books in the Cornerstone series:

You know how there are indie authors who, by all rights, should be superstars? I heard that they have a secret club and that Misty Provencher is their club president. Her Cornerstone series is the most original YA I’ve read in a long time. YES! You read that right. The. Most. Original. And in a genre that is in desperate need of originality.

The Cornerstone series has been getting a lot of positive reviews, but I honestly didn’t expect to lose two nights of sleep over it, and yet I found myself fully awake at 4 am holding a cup of tea in one hand and gripping my Kindle with the other. I almost squeezed the life out of my poor Ferguson. Cornerstone, then Keystone, then Jamb, all in less than two days. Every time I dared to think that it couldn’t get any better, Misty Provencher took things a step further.

Looking back, out of the three books, Cornerstone seems to be the weakest link. Provencher didn’t rush her worldbuilding or character building in the first book, which was later repaid with the sheer brilliance of Keystone and Jamb. Her worldbuilding is, admittedly, of the sink-or-swim variety, but that is my favorite kind if the new information is timed right. I was able to discover the community alongside Nalena, and the way in which Provencher did it achieved two important goals: first, she eased me into an extremely complicated, multi-layered world; and second, the confusion I occasionally felt matched Nalena’s confusion, and that made it easier for me to identify with her and like her all the more.

Truth be told, Nalena and I didn’t get along at first. She appeared to be weak and tended to get dizzy and faint a lot, and her ability to stand up for herself left a lot to be desired. I’m afraid I have very little patience for delicate flowers and it seemed that Nalena would be just the type of character I can’t stand. But as the story progressed, she found her footing and she slowly became a different person altogether. This was perhaps most evident in her relationship with Garrett. She never allowed him to take over her life (not that he ever tried to), choosing to question her feelings and build her independence instead. Their relationship is a beautiful, mature thing, something we don’t get to see often enough. Instead of losing themselves in each other, Garrett and Nalena found a way to function as two individuals who happen to be together. The difference is subtle, but it’s present in every decision they make.

With two characters like Nalena and Garrett and a complex, ever-expanding world, a lesser author would probably neglect the secondary characters, but Misty Provencher did the exact opposite. Garrett’s family, Addo Larry, other Alos and Contegos, each of them will become your best friend by the time you’re done with the first two books. In am fully invested in each of these characters and every time something happens to one of them, I lose a small piece of my heart.

Of course none of these books is without editing issues. Homophones are often misused (their instead of they’re and so on), but if that’s the price I have to pay for such a wonderful read, I’m happy to pretend not to notice. I’m sure these will be smoothed out in time anyway since Misty seems to be an author who approaches her work with utter seriousness and professionalism.

Cornerstone is now $0.99 for Kindle. I recommend getting a copy as soon as you can, it is quite possibly the best buy you’ll ever make. My 4.5 star rating is for the entire series: there were a few things I wasn’t happy with (the cliffhanger at the end of Jamb bothered me most of all), but there were also several breathtaking, unforgettable five-star moments.

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Jul 13, 2012 Candace rated it 5 of 5 stars

My goal has been to try to read more self published books this year but it's not always easy because I've tried to read quite a few that were horrible (mostly terrible editing) and I've read a lot that were good, but not quite amazing. I haven't read that many that totally blew my mind and this one did that. Totally and completely. Cornerstone had me riveted from page one as we are introduced to Nalena and her mother and her mothers paper hoarding. I immediately found this fascinating and I felt...more My goal has been to try to read more self published books this year but it's not always easy because I've tried to read quite a few that were horrible (mostly terrible editing) and I've read a lot that were good, but not quite amazing. I haven't read that many that totally blew my mind and this one did that. Totally and completely. Cornerstone had me riveted from page one as we are introduced to Nalena and her mother and her mothers paper hoarding. I immediately found this fascinating and I felt this was a clue to the future of the book. Especially when I learned that what her mother writes all over these papers is peoples names and something about them. To Nalena these are characters that her mother has come up with for stories that she never writes. And her mother keeps these stacks of papers everywhere, even in the oven (unplugged of course). And she does this writing compulsively all day long. She doesn't work, she doesn't do anything but write. While this could be a compulsive disorder I immediately knew there was more to it.

The story sucked me and held me the entire way through but don't expect to get answers right away. I suppose I grew frustrated because I needed to know more so badly but it wasn't really a bad thing either. I enjoyed the journey of getting to know Nalena and her mother as well as Garrett and his large and very quirky family. Clues are everywhere as you continue through the story and piecing them together was slow going but yet a fantastic ride. And the answers when they came were fantastic because this was a very unique take on something paranormal-like without really feeling paranormal. I don't know what else to call it though... But there's not a vampire, zombie or a werewolf in sight.

I thought that the romance might be insta-love but it wasn't! It was instant attraction but Nalena has a bit of a low self esteem and really doesn't believe that Garrett could ever like her. Garrett is different from other boys though and doesn't care one wit about what people think of him. He takes Nalena under his wing and while it appears that they are 'together' to the general population of the school, they aren't quite... not really. I loved all interaction with these two because the vibe between them is strong and Garrett just has this personality that you can't help but be drawn to. He's so hard to explain but he was so easy to 'get' as I was reading. He's not a bad boy, but he's not a 'goodie two shoes' either. One thing I can say is that he's so dreamy... He actually kind of reminds me a bit of Cricket in Lola and the Boy Next Door. Just personality wise as he didn't dress like him.

Oh, and I have to mention, editing in this one was perfect! If there were mistakes of any sort I didn't happen to notice them (which doesn't mean they weren't there, but they must have not been very obvious). This is also a clean read. There's kissing but that's about it. I don't recall any cursing.

I highly recommend this to YA readers as well as adult readers who are eager for something a bit different. Something paranormal-like but yet not really paranormal.

I must also note that I see this book has all high ratings. Right now I'm not seeing one review with less then 4 stars. As a reviewer I prefer to see a variety of ratings as it concerns me that maybe all the reviewers are family or friends of the author. I honestly have to give this one 5 stars because I loved it so much. Yes, it's not a completely perfect book, but because it captured me so completely and had me entranced the entire time I just can't give it less. But I purchased this book and had no prior contact with the author. It wasn't until I read it that I start corresponding with her just because I loved it so much and wanted to tell her so. My review is in no way biased, this is my complete honest opinion of the book and my guess is that the high ratings are because of the awesome'ness of the book. So you better get on reading it cause you're missing out!
You can find this review and others like it at http://www.candacesbookblog.com (less)

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Nov 12, 2011 K.W. McCabe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Misty Provencher has outdone herself with "Cornerstone", the tale of Nalena Maxwell. Nalena and her mother, Evangeline, live a life separated from others. Evangeline's obsession with writing stories- and never finishing them- causes an ever-growing pile of papers to overflow their house. Nalena grows more and more isolated from her peers until she meets Garrett. He reaches out to her, befriending her and saving her life when she is attacked and nearly killed. From that point on everything in her...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Shelly Crane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-books

I seriously, really enjoyed this book!

I've had so many people tell me to read it and finally had a minute to read, so I went for it. I'm so glad I did. The pacing was perfect, the dialogue was very believable and flowing, the Reese family is awesome! I loved them. The thought of having that many boys in one family (I have 2 of my own) makes me cringe, but they were an awesome family. I love it when books have good family values. And even all the crap that her mom did, whether is was warranted o...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Surin rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is an absolute gem! In a category that is riddled with stale old stereotypes and eye-rolling cringe worthy characterizations, Cornerstone reads like fresh flower growing in a spring morning. While I don't think the concepts are new (and really there isn't truly any new concept in the world anymore), somehow the way it's presented and written makes it extremely fresh. It has some flaws so my actual rating is closer to 3.5 than 4 BUT given that this is a indie self-published book I decid...more This book is an absolute gem! In a category that is riddled with stale old stereotypes and eye-rolling cringe worthy characterizations, Cornerstone reads like fresh flower growing in a spring morning. While I don't think the concepts are new (and really there isn't truly any new concept in the world anymore), somehow the way it's presented and written makes it extremely fresh. It has some flaws so my actual rating is closer to 3.5 than 4 BUT given that this is a indie self-published book I decided to rate it a 4 because more people seriously NEED to read this book.

If I had to describe the book it would be a WAY BETTER written version of Twilight. HAHAHHAHA no seriously, the romance in here is written a lot better (although it has the same tropes like drop dead gorgeous guy chasing a socially awkward girl, bullying because she's dating said gorgeous guy, etc... I could go on and on) and the world building for this is actually so much better (no it doesn't have vampires but it involves an ancient community).

The book starts off with just a brief introduction to Nalena and her mother's hoarding condition. Then it puts you right into the action and you have no clue as to what is going on (just like the main character herself) in the hands of a less skilled author, this could have ended up as a disaster but Misty Provencher dangles enough 'carrots' to keep the reader going on. This really kept the pace of the book going and I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know more about their world.

Speaking of which, the writing is very top notch which is highly impressive given that this is a self-published Indie book. Although there are some grammatical errors strewn throughout (like the infamous than vs then or their vs they're) but I can live with those things (Grammar Nazis be warned though!). The writing style reads like a contemporary YA fiction but the plot itself is actually more urban paranormal. I thought that was quite an interesting contrast and it reminded me a lot of Bridge to Terabithia. I guess it's because the contemporary elements play equal weight in developing the character (like how the main character has to deal with bullying from cheerleaders).

I also really like the characterization, Nalena (the MC) initially starts off quite docile and weak willed but I can understand where she's coming from as children are cruel and getting bullied does that to you. I really love how there's tremendous character growth in her but still at a realistic pace. She's still a bit apprehensive (socially awkward as well) but at the same time there's a quiet strength in her towards the end that wasn't present before. I really love how realistic the growth was and it makes me sympathize with her character even more.

I also love the Reese's! They're so fun and each of them are fully fleshed out and have such clear characterization I can see them in my head as real people. I use to know a family that had that many siblings and it reminded me of my time with them.

Now the only thing that I didn't like as much was the romance. While there were some parts that were extremely sweet and swoon worthy, there were some parts I felt that moved along a little too fast and some actions that were so cliche had it been written by a less skilled author I would have been rolling my eyes but somehow Misty makes palatable. The cliche stuff would be popular boy falls in love with social outcast girl, protecting her name and honor, saving her several times and the dreaded insta-love thingy (omg it sounds like Twilight right?!). Thankfully the insta-love is mostly on Garrett's part and I'm glad Nalena didn't head dive into it (she acknowledges the physical attraction but doesn't kid herself that she's in 'love' with Garrett). I still don't get how Garrett could have fallen so quickly in love with Nalena and I can't help but feel this nagging feeling that he has some kind of ulterior motive.

Garrett is also a strange character, he has some really swoon worthy knight in shinning armor moments and when you first are introduced he seems like genuinely nice and sweet guy. Then you get to know him a little better and he proceeds to exhibit some chauvinistic and immature tendencies. Like for example he simply introduces Nalena as his GF somewhere along the book (without consulting her) and always makes assumptions in their romance (and in a really smug way too) and seems to think that she's equally as head over heels as he is. Sorry Garrett as lovable as you are, you still need to work it ok! Then he throws a semi-hissy fit when Nalena clearly chooses her mother over him. It's all very strange because genuinely he is a nice guy but I suppose it makes Garrett real because he has these flaws? I'm very curious to see if there's any purpose to give him these character ticks and if they will play a bigger role in the upcoming books.

Overall a very great start to what appears to be a very intriguing series. I've been told that the 2nd and 3rd books are a lot more polished so I can't imagine what they'd be like if the first book is all ready pretty good.

It's going for 0.99 cents on Amazon, so whatcha waiting for! Get it!!!! :)
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Jan 04, 2013 Marie Loughin rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA paranormal romance readers

Shelves: paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy

Perhaps I am the wrong audience for this book. I love a good urban fantasy, but am not interested in romance novels. My teenaged daughter likes urban fantasy, though, so I took a chance and bought Cornerstone, hoping we might both enjoy it.

And indeed I did love, and I mean LOVE, the opening. The writing in the opening is fairly tight and engaging. The protagonist seems real to me. Her situation (living with a mother who writes so much that she can be qualified as a hoarder (of paper)) hooked me...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Lizzy Lessard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, paranormal, reviewed

Overall: As someone with first hand experience with a horder, this story definitely touched me on a personal level. It’s hard watching someone you love ruin their life (and your own) because they cannot overcome a psychological problem. I never had friends over my house (ever) so I never experienced the redicule that Nalena did from her classmates. Mine didn’t know what my home life was like living with someone that rather buy a new set of dishes than wash the two or three sets stacked in the ki...more Overall: As someone with first hand experience with a horder, this story definitely touched me on a personal level. It’s hard watching someone you love ruin their life (and your own) because they cannot overcome a psychological problem. I never had friends over my house (ever) so I never experienced the redicule that Nalena did from her classmates. Mine didn’t know what my home life was like living with someone that rather buy a new set of dishes than wash the two or three sets stacked in the kitchen sink. Nalena was more aware that her mother had problems than I did – for a time, I thought that it was normal to have half of the shower covered with empty shampoo bottles yellow and coated with soap scum. I’d like to personally thank the author for making it feel authentic, even if Nalena’s mother had better motives for her paper-filled house than the typical horder.

Characters: My absolute favorite character is Addo. He’s colorful personality (and clothes) shine in every scene he’s in. I couldn’t help but smile in one of the scenes where he makes cookies for Nalena, the majority of them are gone by the time she arrives, and slowly during the scene, the remainder of the cookies dissapear one bite at a time – and Addo acts like a druggie getting his high with every bite. And while this is going on, Addo is delivering very serious and life-changing news to Nalena. The contrast is startling, but presented amazingly well.

There is no instant love between Nalena and Garrett. She actually tells him off upon first meeting, expecting this popular guy to make fun of her like everyone else. For much of the novel Nalena is more furious with Garrett’s decisions than in love with him, but when they are together the chemistry is sizzling.

Plot: I think this story is more about Nalena’s relationship with her mother than Nalena discovering her powers. It’s definitely hard enough for a teenager to deal with the ridicule associated with living with a horder; it is even more difficult when that horder is actually hording for the sake of mankind. Nalena has no choice but to support her mother’s weird habits, even when it directly conflicts with the attention of a cute boy named Garrett.

I found myself equally frustrated as Nalena by the lack of answers for much of the novel. I understand that some things could not be revealed early, but it felt like the author was stalling at times – a lot of filler when all I wanted was to know WTF was happening. And that alone kept me from rating this book five stars.

Ending: Nalena chooses what I thought she would choose but definitely not for the same reasons. It’s a bittersweet ending, but a good place to pause the series.(less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-must-reads, aug-2012, indie-authors

I am so grateful to Misty for allowing me to be a part of this Blog Tour. I have to say that I love reading Indie books. There is such a rawness to it that draws you in and you can't put the book down. To me there is no censorship and I love that! Well enough blabbing on.

Nelena is a girl who is just trying to fit in at school. She is called names because her mother is a little quirky and collects papers and writes names and stuff all over them. Kids can be cruel and cruel they are to Nelena but...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Clare Davidson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Nalena Maxwell's life hasn't been fun. She loves her mother, even though she has filled their house with reams of paper with "characters" and their "stories" on. At school, she is known as 'The Waste', because a popular girl dropped by her house and saw the paper that covers nearly every inch of the floor.

School politics serves as a backdrop for this refreshing urban fantasy novel. In a market that is saturated with vampires and werewolves, Misty Provencher has created an original supernatural w...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Suzie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-contact-read-review, blog-tour-book, 2012

This book starts out with Nalena walking home from school after a stop at the office supply store. She stops to pick up 3 reams of paper from her mother. For some strange reason her mother writes but never finishes anything she started. She writes little bits of information that have no relevance or understand to anyone but her. Here is a little bit of information from the book:

“Christos DelMinos, 14, stabbed, instead of his 3 year old niece; Martin Fowler, 24, returned the money he’d stolen but...more This book starts out with Nalena walking home from school after a stop at the office supply store. She stops to pick up 3 reams of paper from her mother. For some strange reason her mother writes but never finishes anything she started. She writes little bits of information that have no relevance or understand to anyone but her. Here is a little bit of information from the book:

“Christos DelMinos, 14, stabbed, instead of his 3 year old niece; Martin Fowler, 24, returned the money he’d stolen but not all of it; Linda Hayes, 63, invited depressed neighbor in for long talk.”

Well maybe someone understand what Evangeline, Nalenas mother, is writing but Nalena does not. Or at least during the beginning she does not understand.

Nalena is called The Waste at school. At one time a so-called friend dropped by to see her and saw all the paper stacked in the duplex and assumed wrong. But we all know what happens when we assume something. Then a cranky old over-worked social worker thinks that Evangeline is not carrying out her parental responsibility in being a parent to Nalena. It seems like Nalena is just a lone out cast that no one wants anything to do with.

Nalena goes to the library after her bologna sandwich supper. While she is studying one of the popular guys at school comes over to sit at the table she is studying at. Of course Nalena is suspicious of him and wonders what he wants. Well for that information you need to read the book. Okay now I have to stop telling you about the book. If I keep writing I will give away the whole plot and then it would not be any fun to read the book.

This book is a great young adult read. The author catches the readers attention with the first page. Then the plot, oh wow. The plot is just so intriguing. It will grab your attention and keep you guessing on what is happening next.

While I will admit I do not normally read YA books this one is a great read for anyone. This book is the first in a series. The second book is titles Keystone. I do not know much about the second book in this series but I do know is that I will be looking forward to the release.

Thanks for a great read Misty.(less)

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May 16, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cornerstone at first seems like it's just your average, teenage girl that doesn't fit in and suddenly gets lucky when the popular guy starts to follow her around and ask questions/ Red Flags. She knows she's going to be the brunt of some cruel joke by some girls that don't like her. In fact, no one likes her. They call her the Waste because she lives with her mother in a home filled high with paper. Stacks upon stacks of paper that her mother writes on, stories she starts but never finishes. And...more Cornerstone at first seems like it's just your average, teenage girl that doesn't fit in and suddenly gets lucky when the popular guy starts to follow her around and ask questions/ Red Flags. She knows she's going to be the brunt of some cruel joke by some girls that don't like her. In fact, no one likes her. They call her the Waste because she lives with her mother in a home filled high with paper. Stacks upon stacks of paper that her mother writes on, stories she starts but never finishes. And once, a long time ago, when she was trying to make friends, a girl came by unannounced and saw all the paper, hence the name. Now Nalena doesn't know why Garrett is asking questions about her or showing up at her library table or defending her. And what's with this crazy stuff happening with her out of body experiences. And the man in the woods with the shovel trying to kill her? All very good questions that get answered in due time.

A lot of times when I'm reading, I skim books, especially long books because there are times when the character's mind wanders and it doesn't seem pertinent, or there are lengthy descriptions, but in this book, that never happened. Everything seemed to have meaning. The story line was original, though some might call it religious, I thought it more life affirming. There are supernatural powers and there are bad guys.

Mom and Nalena have been on there own forever, living on welfare and suddenly Nalena finds this whole big family living right under her nose and that there is a purpose to her mother's writing and that there is a community that would pay for her services. And then there is Garrett. Because of a perceived threat on Nalena and her mother Evangeline's life, the two move into the home of Garrett's parents. This is tough as Nalena is majorly crushing on Garrett and she is getting mixed signals from him. There are highs and lows for them throughout their time together But the romance is not rushed at all. It is slow and even when their feelings for each other are clear, Garrett wants to take things slow. Refreshing for YA!

Many lows come towards the end of the novel and there is a sneak peak into the second novel. If it's as good as the first it will be bought as soon as it is available. The author has a way with words, that I really enjoyed. Her metaphors like "my thoughts drift like feathers in a fan" and "but she laughs, a fluttery streamer of a laugh that doesn't float with me."

I really enjoyed the complexity of the novel and the side stories that went along with it. I can't wait to see where it's headed and I hope you'll take my advice and don't pass this one up! It's an awesome read!
Thanks Candace for asking me to help out and thanks Misty for writing such a great novel!
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May 14, 2012 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Misty Provencher is an amazing writer with a captivating writing style. Her characters are well rounded and her plot is well developed. Cornerstone was another suggestion I received from my aunt and I admit that I was immediately hooked. The story is fast-paced and has so many details that I can see myself discovering something new each time I read it. In regard to the characters, I really appreciate how Nalena and Garrett do not immediately fall in love and everything is happily ever after 30 p...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Tahlia Newland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, ya

This is a terrific young adult fantasy about a girl whose mother fills their house with realms of paper on which she writes countless ideas for stories but never finishes one. Their house is literally a storage facility for Nalena’s mother’s compulsion which has earned Nalena the nickname, ‘The Waste’ and a position on the bottom rung of her school’s social ladder. One day, Garrett, one of the most gorgeous boys in the school sits with her in the library and so begins a period of change where sh...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Patty Blount rated it 5 of 5 stars

I bought this book knowing nothing about it except for what Misty herself had posted on her blog... and what others were tweeting about it. After posting several chapters, she decided to self-publish and I rushed to buy it.

I got hooked at the first chapter. All those tweets were right - this is a uniquely compelling story.

Teen Nalena Maxwell has a tough life. Her mother is nuts and her dad is totally out of the picture. Because her mother hoards paper, everyone at school calls her The Waste. T...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Ashleigh Oldfield rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-fiction, modern-popular, young-adult

When I first stumbled across this book, I was a bit hesitant about reading it. I thought it might be like Twilight (I don't mind Twilight, but I wouldn't read it again either). I gave the story a go anyway, and instantly found that I couldn't look away from the screen. I was hooked and had to go and buy the ebook. I was definitely not disappointed with my purchase.

This story is a beautiful read. The characters are strong, identifiable and intriguing,the story is fast-paced and fascinating, and t...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Gloria Green rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cornerstone is a Must Read

I was totally captivated with this book. This story about a 17year old girl named Nalena pulled at my heart. Nalena is an outcast in High School. She's been raised by a single Mom that spends every waking moment writing what Nalena thinks are unfinished plot lines. Her Mom Evangeline can't throw out any of the pages she writes. It has cost Nalena her home, financial security and worst of all it's the reason she was given the nickname The Waste at school. When her Mom...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very interesting concept. I know, sounds like "It tastes interesting," said with a tongue in the cheek while you try to root the last offending flavor from your mouth, but that's not what I mean.

I mean it's an interesring world that pulls no punches. I mean that vampires don't sparkle and those who do evil in the world aren't given easy ways out. I mean the world is unique, special and worthy of me not putting down the book for 3 hours to ensure I finished it.

It's not a book for everyone - in fa...more

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Sep 27, 2012 rebecca bryant rated it 5 of 5 stars

Back in June I was lucky enough to win a copy of the book Cornerstone by Misty Provvencher from Beth @Living a Goddess Life and just recently got to sink my teeth into it. Categorized as a young adult fiction we are introduce to Nalena Maxwell, a girl who's been branded "The Waste" by the kids at her new school, due to her mom's obsessive paper hoarding. when Garrett a handsome and popular guy at school takes an interest in her things in her life change. she soon finds herself in a new and rathe...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Nalena lebt mir ihrer Mutter in einer Wohnung, die überquillt an Papier. Papier, das ihre Mutter mit Nahmen und Plots beschrieben hat. Ihr Haus haben sie schon verlassen, weil sie keinen Platz mehr hatten, auch Lagerräume sind schon voll mit den beschriebenen Blättern. Sie leben von der Wohlfahrt und nachdem eine 'Freundin' Nalenas Wohnung gesehen hat, ist sie die Paria in der Schule.
Als sich eines Abends der beliebte und gutaussehende Garrett zu ihr in der Bibliothek setzt, hält sie das alles n...more Nalena lebt mir ihrer Mutter in einer Wohnung, die überquillt an Papier. Papier, das ihre Mutter mit Nahmen und Plots beschrieben hat. Ihr Haus haben sie schon verlassen, weil sie keinen Platz mehr hatten, auch Lagerräume sind schon voll mit den beschriebenen Blättern. Sie leben von der Wohlfahrt und nachdem eine 'Freundin' Nalenas Wohnung gesehen hat, ist sie die Paria in der Schule.
Als sich eines Abends der beliebte und gutaussehende Garrett zu ihr in der Bibliothek setzt, hält sie das alles noch für einen schlechten Scherz, aber die Hintergründe sind viel komplizierter, als Nalena sich das erträumen kann.

'Conerstone' hat mich umgehauen! Und das liegt unter anderem am Schreibstil von Misty Provencher. Sie hat an manchen Stellen eine blumige Sprache, die aber nie ausufert oder kitschig wird. Zum Beispiel fühlt sich die Berührung von Garett wie indigo an. Man weiß sofort, was das bedeutet.
Nalenas ist 17 und genauso verhält sie sich auch. Sie ist nicht erwachsener, schlauer oder bedachter. Sie wird auch nicht wie eine Erwachsene behandelt. Ihre Befürchtungen über ihr Ansehen und die Beziehungen zu ihren Schulkameraden sind so echt skiziert, dass ich mich gut in meine Schulzeit zurückversetzt fühlte.
In anderen Büchern sind Teenies oft nur junge Erwachsene und verhalten sich manchmal einfach zu vernünftig oder erwachsen, stehen über den Dingen, die für Teenager wichtig sind. Hier ist das nicht so.
Die Parallel-Gesellschaft, die beschrieben wird, ist noch zu vage, aber liebevoll skuril beschrieben. Wenn der Anführer einer uralten Geheimgesellschaft zur Erhaltung des Fortschritts der Menschheit in einem Trailer-Park wohnt, ist das schon schräg und ungewöhnlich. Addo erinnert mich ein wenig an das Orakel aus Matrix. Er ist kein intellektueller, vergeistigter Mann, sondern mag Plätzchen und hat einen merkwürdigen Sinn für Humor. Wobei er genauso unverständliches Zeug von sich gibt, wie andere weise Menschen.

Alles in Allem kann ich 'Cornerstone' nur empfehlen! Ich werde mir auch demnächst das zweite Buch vornehmen. Bin schon gespannt, wie es weiter geht.

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May 02, 2012 Aimee (Coffee Table Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into when I first opened this up. To be honest, the whole paper hoarding thing was almost off putting, since my mom is a hoarder, just not a paper hoarder.. But really, it does have a place in the story, and once it starts to all make sense, the book really takes off.

This has a slight paranormal touch to it. This novel doesn't really go into the whole new world, but we learn right along with Nalena. Nalena was interesting. I kept wanting her to stand up for...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Emily Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya, unique-fantasy

Interesting fantasy with unique powers and concepts. There was a lot of meta-save-the-world stuff that I still don't get, but there is a lot of incorporation with spirituality and the dead and fields and memory, which I thought was all very neat. Fascinating, really!

I liked Nalena's non-perfect family and living situation, it gave her a lot of texture. She was a little passive at times, just going along with the flow and never asking questions. Her and Garrett had some great chemistry and their...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Kelli Spear rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW! I "won" this book from Misty herself on Twitter. I had no idea what it was about, only that it was a new YA series. I am *SO* glad I read this!

It's the story of Naleena Maxwell (Nali) who is an outcast in her school. Her mother is a paper hoarder/writer who never finishes a story. Or so we (and Nali) think. This is just the cover for a much deeper story. Somehow, our heroine manages to snag the attention of the most popular and attractive guy at school, Garrett. And let me say, there weren'...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Shelley (Bella) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mythology, ya-paranormal, ya-romance

What a stunning and completely enthralling debut! I loved everything about this story. EVERYTHING! The race Misty created in the Ianua... the idea of the community and all it encompasses is itself, a dream come true.
Misty's world building is complex,unique and beautifully portrayed. That's not to say this is a beautiful world we walk in to. Nalena has spent most of her life as an outcast. Her mother is thought to be insane, and after a school friend makes a surprise visit to her house, Nalena ha...more What a stunning and completely enthralling debut! I loved everything about this story. EVERYTHING! The race Misty created in the Ianua... the idea of the community and all it encompasses is itself, a dream come true.
Misty's world building is complex,unique and beautifully portrayed. That's not to say this is a beautiful world we walk in to. Nalena has spent most of her life as an outcast. Her mother is thought to be insane, and after a school friend makes a surprise visit to her house, Nalena has no hope of staying in the popular crowd. She's pretty miserable, but she loves her mom, so she endures the ridicule and pain.
And then Garrett walks in to the library and in to her life. Popular, jock, gorgeous. You get the picture. Surely he knows who she is. Everyone does, so why would he want anything to do with her? Is it a prank? A dare? Ha! Did you think I'd tell you more? Well, ok, maybe I will.
After she decides to let Garrett in, she discovers everything she's ever known is...yep, a lie. She doesn't have time to wallow. She's about to be thrown full force into a world she didn't know existed, with a guy she's so drawn to, but not sure she can trust. With friends she's pretty sure she can't. In fact, she's not sure she can trust anyone, including her mom.
With a good bit of coaxing, what she finds is an amazing community within a family she instantly feels connected to and finds love.
Oh, if only it was that easy.
Nalena finds herself part of a turbulent world where she discovers balance is everything...and everything is falling out of balance. Where does she belong and what part does she play in all this? Neither of these questions have simple answers.
This book is a thrill a minute. From Nalena's troubles at schools, to her finding out about her family's past; she finds out she's stronger than she ever imagined and there's so much more to this world than she could ever believed possible.
I absolutely loved Nali (as her mother calls her). Her narrative funny and touching. She has just the right amount of sass and she's loyal to a fault. I didn't just fall for her though, I actually fell for nearly everyone. Her mother is quirky and endearing. And more than meets the eye.
Garrett...ah, I could go on and on about Garrett. Let's just say he's beyond swoon worthy. His family is amazing. We should all have a family this wonderful. Close and connected, sweet, caring, fun and so entertaining.
His mother and father have a perfect marriage. His older brother is smart, kind..."a carbon copy of Garrett". His younger brothers provide much comedy relief. But the one I love the most is his little sister, Iris. She's simply adorable, and made me laugh out loud...and tear up a few times.
This is the core cast, but Misty gives us so much more and they're all as complex and entertaining. Some are convoluted, a bit obnoxious, while others are a bit frightening. Some pure evil.
Cornerstone will have you on the edge, clutching your chest and wishing and hoping that Nali can really find happiness with Garrett, as well as find peace within her own family.
You'll ache, you'll cry and you'll cheer, pulling for Nali (and Garrett), all the way.
A truly fantastic, exciting and engaging read.
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Aug 16, 2012 Cathlin rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this read. I've read a ton of paranormal stuff, and this was a fresh take on a superhero-esque race of people.

Nalena, has no clue who she really is. All she's ever known is that her mom is a paper hoarder who constantly has to write down names and little blurbs about people she has never even met. Her dad only exists in a picture (that's barely visible around all the towers of paper). At school she's known as "the waste" after a humiliating fall from popularity at the hands of th...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

The story starts out our heroine, Nalena. She is living with her mom who has a compulsion and a horder of paper with names and dates. This, as well as the harassment by bulling at school, helps us to understand how isolated Nalena feels and how strong she is by surviving everything and still finds ways to cope.

When we meet Garrett the world starts to evolve for Nalena and a world full of trusting people and important secret missons become the focus. I admit that during this time my emotions mirr...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Vered rated it 5 of 5 stars

Nalena is known as The Waste at school, because of her mother’s bizarre obsession with paper. But Nalena’s life gets a whole lot more bizarre when she receives a sign that she isn’t who she thinks she is. Neither is her mother. And that knowledge is going to change everything.

I loved Cornerstone. Seriously. Why? 1) While there are familiar elements in common with many other teen paranormal romance stories, there are also a lot of original ideas and unique characters. 2) Nalena is no wallflower....more

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Dec 20, 2012 Sophie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, kindle-fire-book

For the most part, I liked this book. I thought the author did a good job of world building, and I especially liked the way the story drew me in with its portrait of a young girl dealing with a situation that she thinks is one thing--her mother's hoarding problem--that turns out to be something quite different. I also liked the relationship between Nali and Garrett and enjoyed watching it develop. The author does a good job of describing the changes Nali undergoes and makes the reader care about...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-paranormal

A fascinating story built around ancient memories, those who transcribe and protect them, and the never ending quest for peace and knowledge. Cornerstone begins as the story of Nalena, a girl who is tolerant, but socially ostracized because of her mother's eccentricities. Convinced that no one will ever see beyond the stacks of paper that consume her house, and her life, Nalena wants to be invisible to those who taunt her. But one person refuses to see through her, Garrett Reese. Garrett seems i...more A fascinating story built around ancient memories, those who transcribe and protect them, and the never ending quest for peace and knowledge. Cornerstone begins as the story of Nalena, a girl who is tolerant, but socially ostracized because of her mother's eccentricities. Convinced that no one will ever see beyond the stacks of paper that consume her house, and her life, Nalena wants to be invisible to those who taunt her. But one person refuses to see through her, Garrett Reese. Garrett seems interested in knowing Nalena. The more she's around Garrett, the harder it becomes to remain invisible. When Nalena begins to notice remarkable changes in herself, and is harmed by an unknown person, she discovers that her mother may not be "crazy" and that Garrett Reese knows more about her than she ever imagined.

Going into Cornerstone, I had absolutely no idea of what to expect with the paranormal element. And honestly, I don't even honestly know what to say about it in my review. I don't want to go into all the details. I feel as if that would be spoiling the story, and taking half the fun in reading Cornerstone away. I will say that I have never read a story quite like this one. The paranormal is something completely unique to any book I've read before. Provencher does an excellent job of laying it out in such a way that it is detailed, smart, well-explained.

Cornerstone has an amazing cast of characters. Nalena is a girl that I just want to wrap up in love. She is a good daughter, always tolerant of her mother's quirks. She's a smart girl, she knows how to protect herself, especially her heart. When the hottest guy in school notices her, she's surprised and flattered, but is careful because of the torment she's endured. I love that she didn't throw herself at Garrett's feet; she makes him prove his worth. The further the story moves along, the more I loved Nalena.

I honestly felt sorry for Evangeline, Nalena's mom. She honestly wants the best for her daughter, but seems to be the source of all of her problems. But Evangeline has some serious secrets, and though I wish she would've been more upfront with her daughter, I can understand the need to keep your child safe. The Reese family was awesome. They were loud, loving, and loyal. I loved their closeness, their humor.

So...I have to swoon a little bit about Garrett. OhMyGosh! He was Perfect! Garrett is kind, caring, attentive, intelligent, athletic, supportive, and did I mention GORGEOUS? I have to admit, I'm crushing pretty hard on the poor guy. It's hard to find a balance of perfect without becoming boring or cheesy, but Provencher did a perfect job with Garrett. He's one of my new favorite Book Boyfriends.

I have to say, the ending of Cornerstone sucker punched me in the heart. I was shocked, saddened, and sobbing. And boy is Misty lucky that I had book two, Keystone, loaded and ready to go on my Kindle!

Cornerstone is an intricate, beautiful story that will appeal to your logic, and your heart.

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May 16, 2012 Captivated rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is definitely one of those books that had me HOOKED from the beginning. I found myself COMPLETELY rooting for Nalena and her mother--no matter how "excentric" she seemed at first. From the beginning I could see that Nalena was one of those protagonists who is believable and relatable even amidst a supernatural storyline.

What teenager HASN'T been embarrassed by a parent at some point? What teenager HASN'T felt like an outsider? Even amongst their own family? What teenager doesn't feel like...more

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