Heavenly (Heavenly, #1)

Dec 01, 2011 JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, angels-sigh, loaned-out, books-everyone-should-read, read-in-2011

Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens has been a book I have eagerly been anticipating to read. I had read several wonderful reviews. Let me tell you Jennifer Larens did not disappoint with Heavenly, this book exceeded my expectations.

There are so many things I would like to share however I will keep them at a minimum so I don’t spoil this book for anyone. I would like to share, what usually draws me into a book is the romance between the characters however this family’s struggles is what kept me turning...more Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens has been a book I have eagerly been anticipating to read. I had read several wonderful reviews. Let me tell you Jennifer Larens did not disappoint with Heavenly, this book exceeded my expectations.

There are so many things I would like to share however I will keep them at a minimum so I don’t spoil this book for anyone. I would like to share, what usually draws me into a book is the romance between the characters however this family’s struggles is what kept me turning the pages. Now don’t get me wrong I loved the romance in this book however it was so much more. I was able to connect with each character as a parent, as a child and as parent of a kiddo who has some special needs.

Zoe, the main character of this book and narrator, is an amazing young woman. Her character was so well written and drew me in from the start. It was lovely to see how much she changed from the beginning of the book to the end. The way she cared for her family and those in need stole me heart. She transformed from a party girl to a wonderful young woman, not that there is anything wrong with a party girl. I was in awe of her special gift, which I won’t say much about because I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone. She was by far my favorite character and one I feel like I know so very well.

Abria, Zoe’s little sister with special needs pulled at my heartstrings. I found myself thinking about her when I wasn’t reading the book. As a parent I wanted to help take care of her needs. Abria is what made the book feel so real to me. There are so many families with an autistic child or special needs; this book is life, reality!

As for the romance….. well of course there was romance. The relationship between Zoe and Matthias was sweet and pure. Oh do I love Matthias. He not only is beautiful he is such a gentleman and well for lack of a better word heaven sent. I wish we all had a Matthias in our lives and well, who knows, we may just.

If you were considering reading this book I say READ IT! It is a wonderful book and a page turner that flows seamlessly. I will warn you though… the end is a bit of a cliffhanger make certain you have the next book on hand before finishing.
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Dec 06, 2010 Inspired Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

Giveaway open until 12/16 Heavenly, Penitence or Absolution:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....

4.5 Stars
I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed reading Heavenly. Although classified as fantasy, Jennifer Lauren's version of "guardian angels" is a version I can believe actually exist.
See my full review:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....

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Mar 22, 2009 Mirrormarie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book blew my mind. I read it in one sitting, I was so enthralled. It captures so well the struggle of a family dealing with an autistic child, as well as teenagers who abuse drugs and alcohol. I speak from experience when I say that this novel described with perfect accuracy the struggles, heartache, and emotions a family like Zoe's would live through. Her relationship with Matthias is beautiful - fulfilling the need within all humans to be loved for who they are, even with all their flaws...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Darkfallen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-n-reviewed

First I wanna say a special thanks to Jennifer Laurens for giving my this copy for review. I have had Heavenly on my TBR for a LONG time and when she asked me to review it I jumped at the chance...so Thank You!

So like I said I have been wanting to read this for close to forever now, so I naturally wanted to love it. But in the beginning it was quite the opposite of love I was feeling. Zoe is a 18 yr old teenage girl whose little sister, Abria, is autistic. But in the beginning Zoe just came off...more First I wanna say a special thanks to Jennifer Laurens for giving my this copy for review. I have had Heavenly on my TBR for a LONG time and when she asked me to review it I jumped at the chance...so Thank You!

So like I said I have been wanting to read this for close to forever now, so I naturally wanted to love it. But in the beginning it was quite the opposite of love I was feeling. Zoe is a 18 yr old teenage girl whose little sister, Abria, is autistic. But in the beginning Zoe just came off as mean, and heartless when it came to her sister. The resentment Zoe felt for all the struggles that came along with living with Abria really grated with me. In fact I almost threw the book down and walked away...I just couldn't do it. But like I said I have really wanting to read this so I scoured pages upon pages of reviews on Goodreads, only to find out that 90% of the population LOVED this book. So I thought to myself...why don't I? With shear determination I decided that I was not giving up on this book. I was going to find out why so many people love this story.

And...I...Did!

You are taken through a rough journey about a family that it falling apart. Due to the struggles and the strain of living with someone with autism they all start to unravel. Zoe turns to drinking, and hooking up with guys. Luke, her 16 yr old brother, turns to smoking pot, and eventually selling Lortabs to supply his habit. All the while both of the parents seem to overlook their older children, grasping at straws, just praying for the strength to make it through another day. It isn't until Matthias, Abria's guardian angel, steps in the picture that things start to change. Abria clams down from his touch, making everyone else's life that much easier, but Zoe can see Matthias when no one else can...

The relationship between Zoe and Matthias had me laughing out loud on more then one occasion. Zoe and her thoughts kept getting her in trouble. I also love the way Zoe kept trying to save her brother from the mistakes he was making once she got herself straightened out. I will say that this was a little to clean cut for me. I mean there is definitely some twists and turns you won't see coming and OMG the ending is fantastic in the most tragic way, but the way Zoe stops drinking and becomes the good girl, Luke stops smoking pot, gets a job, does his homework. The way their parents actually start to take stock in their older children's lives and everyone just seems, all of a sudden, So Happy Together, seems a little forced to me. I just don't see it going down that way in the real world. This is very much one of those books that is sending the message Put your faith in God and everything will work out. So if that's your kind of thing I say go for it, you'll prolly love it! I'm just not one of those girls. But overall this was a good read, with the most awesome twist at the end...a twist that made me cry.(less)

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May 17, 2011 Ren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: YA fans

Shelves: angel, high-school-theme, family-theme, young-adult, reviewed, request, 4-stars, work

Read paperback version and write the review in my own languange, Indonesia

Zoe merasa kehidupannya tidak sama lagi setelah kelahiran adik perempuannya Abria. Abria yang autis membuat keluarga Zoe sangat protektif terhadapnya, dan membuat hubungan Zoe, adik laki-lakinya Luke, dan orangtua mereka menjadi renggang, karena orangtua Zoe lebih memfokuskan perhatian mereka terhadapa Abria. Untuk mengisi kekosongan dalam hidupnya, Zoe melakukan satu-satunya hal yang dia tahu : berpesta dan hura-hura.

Su...more Read paperback version and write the review in my own languange, Indonesia

Zoe merasa kehidupannya tidak sama lagi setelah kelahiran adik perempuannya Abria. Abria yang autis membuat keluarga Zoe sangat protektif terhadapnya, dan membuat hubungan Zoe, adik laki-lakinya Luke, dan orangtua mereka menjadi renggang, karena orangtua Zoe lebih memfokuskan perhatian mereka terhadapa Abria. Untuk mengisi kekosongan dalam hidupnya, Zoe melakukan satu-satunya hal yang dia tahu : berpesta dan hura-hura.

Suatu hari, saat Zoe menemani Abria bermain di taman, dia kehilangan Abria. Panik karena tahu Abria adalah anak autis yang tidak bisa diam, Zoe mencari ke penjuru taman, dan mendapati Abria bersama dengan seorang laki-laki, yang memanggil adiknya “Miss Abria”. Keanehan terjadi, karena hanya Zoe dan Abria yang bisa melihat laki-laki itu, yang belakangan memperkenalkan dirinya sebagai Matthias.

Matthias memberitahu Zoe bahwa dia adalah “guardian angel” dan dia ditugaskan sebagai pelindung Abria. Zoe, yang sedikit shock dengan keberadaan Mathhias, mendapati bahwa sang adik Luke, ternyata mengalami ketergantungan terhadap obat-obatan. Belum lagi, sahabat karibnya, Britt, yang tidak mengacuhkan dirinya setelah berpacaran dengan laki-laki populer di sekolah, Weston. Dan, teman baru Zoe, Chase, yang mengaku bahwa dia mengetahui keberadaan “guardian angel” dan ingin mengetahui lebih dalam tentang Matthias. Seolah belum cukup, orangtua Zoe mengetahui ketergantungan Luke terhadap obat-obatan dan kegemaran Zoe yang suka minum-minuman keras.

Lelah dengan semua masalah yang menimpanya, Zoe mendapati keberadaan Mathhias menenangkannya, walaupun dia hanya bisa bertemu Matthias saat bersama Abria. Sedikit demi sedikit keadaan keluarga Zoe mulai membaik, dan Matthias tidak hanya menjadi “guardian angel” Abria, tapi juga “guardian angel”nya. Zoe kemudian menyadari bahwa dia mencintai Matthias, namun Matthias tidak merespon, hanya memanggil namanya “Zoe” sebagai jawaban. Saat itulah Zoe menyadari bahwa dirinya dan Matthias tidak bisa bersatu karena kehidupan mereka yang berbeda.

Untuk sebuah YA, Heavenly merupakan awal yang bagus untuk sebuah buku dengan genre ini. Dan juga keberanian Jennifer Laurens, sang pengarang , untuk membuat suatu karakter yang terkena autisme (dalam hal ini Abria) dan how to deal with autism character.

Jadi pengen baca lanjutannya, Penitence dan Absolutely (sayang aku ga dikasih bukunya, hmpfh =)) )(less)

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Mar 04, 2009 Rachel Wilkes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is amazing. I read it in a day and a half. One word: REAL.
Often times I've found myself reading YA books where you get the feeling the author hasn't even TALKED to a teenager/young adult in ten years, let alone knows enough to write for them. This book has an amazing story, characters you won't forget and leaves you thinking about it. This book is far from just fluff, so if that's what you're looking for, don't read it.
All in all, five stars. The book didn't try too hard like so many...more

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Feb 17, 2009 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book. I totally didn't see the ending coming. Just what I needed.

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Jan 26, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finished this book a few days ago and have been having trouble really putting my feelings about his book into writing. I was so touched by this book. Each character felt so real, like I could meet them anywhere. I could feel how connected the author is to the story making it much more than just a story rather a movie unfolding before my eyes. Each person was so well defined, it was not like just the main people were defined but each and every person. When there was pain, I felt it like I was i...more

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Mar 11, 2009 J Joyce rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

one of the best books I've ever read. The story, the language, the characters, are so real you really feel for all of them. Its kind of Twilight Done Right, if you ask me. A forbidden love story with some REAL meat.

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Jul 02, 2011 Jade Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rated-a

Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/

I really was a bit dubious about this book as I was really worried that it would just be another book about a human falling in love with an immortal, full of angst about how they can never be together, with another whiny heroine crying over a guy she met two days before.

Okay, so Zoe is a bit whiny but in all fairness she has every right to be, her sister is autistic, her brother is addicted to drugs and Zoe feels like she's got to deal with ev...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Gillian Cohen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I could not put HEAVENLY done and when my sister told me how she thoroughly enjoyed the book I had no regrets that I would be lost in the world of Zoe and Matthias :)

From the period that I am living at the moment i could relate to Zoe in away of blaming her autistic sister for the changes that have taken place in her but no matter how angry she got at her parents, brother or sister she always loved them and that for me as a family person is the most important factor and it helps me carry the hop...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Mindy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to read this YA book because it seemed to have a storyline I had thought up back when Twilight was so popular. It is essentially about a girl falling in love with an angel. It was a fast read. I didn't love it or hate it. I thought it was okay. The writing is typical for YA books (not noteworthy). Some things that fell short for me was the relationship between the two main characters seemed unsubstantial, maybe a little lustful, which was hard to imagine with an angel. Also, the convers...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Pamela Todd rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, romance, ya-mg, paranormal

In an age where YA has become a universal phenomenon, it can be increasingly difficult to produce a book completely original. But that is exactly what Jennifer Laurens has done.

With a trend comes the risk of being compared to other authors, other stories. The rise in popularity of the angel novels has seen many new takes on the creatures, but I can honestly say, hand over heart, that none have been done that can even be compared to Heavenly.

Though obviously a paranormal novel, this book felt so...more

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Feb 11, 2011 fennie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, fantasy, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. the more i think about this book, the more i like it - it's an interesting premise (although i'm not sure how i feel about the whole family members as guardian thing) with real, believable characters and a kick-ass main character whose personality isn't all that far from my own. not to say that my life is anything like zoe's, but i 'clicked' with her (if that's possible with a character) once i was able to read her thoughts and feelings in regard to her family, struggles and friends.

i'm sorry t...more the more i think about this book, the more i like it - it's an interesting premise (although i'm not sure how i feel about the whole family members as guardian thing) with real, believable characters and a kick-ass main character whose personality isn't all that far from my own. not to say that my life is anything like zoe's, but i 'clicked' with her (if that's possible with a character) once i was able to read her thoughts and feelings in regard to her family, struggles and friends.

i'm sorry to say that i am not in love with matthias - he seems too stilted, too naive in certain areas and too knowledgeable in others. my biggest issue is the fact that he falls in love with zoe. it makes perfect sense why zoe falls for him (chase makes his case, which is a legitimate one), but there's no basis behind matthias's feelings. yes, zoe's interesting and feisty and demanding and sassy, but what is it about her that makes him fall for her?

i was slightly reminded of 'sleepless' where a guy from the past (prohibition era-ish) comes back supernaturally and is learning about new technology and is amused by new-fangled things. i'm not sure that that type of storyline works well with me - it's cute at first, but then i tire of it quickly.

as for the plot, it was decent - nothing earth-shattering. the ending threw me for a loop for a bit, but i also was expecting it. i'll admit i was pulling for chase, because for some reason i wanted some sense of reality in this book. i didn't want it to be possible for zoe and matthias to be together at all. but this is only the first in a trilogy, meaning there's more to explore and more drama to be had.

on a side note: i'm glad that the author placed such heavy focus on the importance of family. despite all of the problems and trouble that zoe's family goes through, you can see that her parents are truly trying and aren't merely absent or too wrapped up in their own lives. at the same time, it's sad to see what can happen in a family when the parents are too focused on one of the children; the others get overlooked, which could potentially send them spiraling into bad habits.(less)

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Jan 12, 2011 Missy (Missy's Reads & Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It took me a few pages to actually get into Heavenly, but once I was snagged - I was there for the rest of the book. Heavenly was a great read with real-life issues packed into the story to make it relatable to anyone that may pick up this book.

I think the best part for me was the characters. They were flawed and sometimes made the worst decisions ever, but their actions and solutions were all very realistic. I loved Zoe and could definitely relate to her. I don’t know if I agreed with every dec...more

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Dec 18, 2010 Elise (Bookish Delights) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Heavenly was a true delight to read! Very authentic. I would categorize Heavenly as realistic fiction with hints of the paranormal. The struggles that come with raising a child with autism is highlighted in this book. There is an incredible depth to this story, whose solid foundation comes from the fact that Laurens has a lot of personal experience with raising a child with autism. What I loved about this book was that it’s more than just a paranormal romance between Zoe and Matthias, who is the...more Heavenly was a true delight to read! Very authentic. I would categorize Heavenly as realistic fiction with hints of the paranormal. The struggles that come with raising a child with autism is highlighted in this book. There is an incredible depth to this story, whose solid foundation comes from the fact that Laurens has a lot of personal experience with raising a child with autism. What I loved about this book was that it’s more than just a paranormal romance between Zoe and Matthias, who is the guardian angel of Zoe’s autistic sister Abria. There is much more substance to the book. It zooms deep into heart of the family’s issues revolving around Abria’s autism. The characteristics of autism, the details of what goes on inside this autistic household, the effects of autism on this family, as well as how individual family members unfortunately cope in negative ways (Zoe: partying/drinking and her brother Luke: drugs/pot), are all shown with such pure honesty and realism that you can’t help but be disheartened by what is going on. Especially how non-autistic children get unintentionally overlooked, since the autistic child requires so much care and attention. This story will definitely tug at your emotions. But on a brighter side, this story shows you the inspiring resilience of the human spirit when faced with difficulties and also teaches you that there is always room for personal growth - no matter how small. The family clings to hope and faith that they can eventually mend their broken family.

I also enjoyed the romantic aspect of the story. Aside from partying and drinking, spending time with Matthias is another escape from Zoe’s stressful life at home. So to her, being with Matthias is that much more heavenly when they are together. Their relationship develops organically in a very realistic way and over time. I loved how Matthias’ inner qualities - his intelligence and philosophical nature, being caring and protective - are qualities that Zoe is attracted to more than just his dreamy physical appearance, and this is the strong basis for them bonding so well. Their chemistry is easily visible. Heavenly establishes Zoe and Matthias’ love, but questions such as “Can they even be together?” and “What will the consequences be?” are some things that keep your interest as you are reading the story. As expected with many paranormal romances, there are obstacles to face in Heavenly as well. Who said loving a guardian angel was easy! The ending was a complete surprise, I didn’t see it coming. I am curious and excited about where the story will go from here. I will definitely be continuing the series to find out how the story unfolds. Penitence is book two and Absolution is the final book in the Heavenly series.

Honestly, there was hardly anything that I disliked about Heavenly, but if I had to nit-pick, Zoe reprimands her brother Luke for how he deals with his family issues, when she was coping in a negative way as well. But this just shows that she loves her brother and doesn’t want him to ruin his life, even if she is dealing with things in a bad way.

Heavenly is more of a slower paced book, which was fine because I was interested in what I was reading and it allowed me to really digest the information. I think what made me attached to Heavenly was the fact that I have autistic cousins, so I was able to really relate to this book. It was nice knowing that my aunt and uncle and I (when I visit) have witnessed and experienced the same kinds of issues that Abria’s family experiences in Heavenly. And it reaffirms that we are not alone in having to deal with the struggles that autism places on a family. I highly recommend this book, not only to people who are dealing with autism in their family, but to others who want to learn more about it. And for those who crave paranormal romances, while you may find this one to be a little more subtle and innocent, it is definitely more profound than many paranormal romances I have read, making it one to not be forgotten.

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Nov 12, 2010 Cassandra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received this book for review from the lovely and generous Jennifer Laurens who is an indie author. I was first introduced to Jennifer’s work by Tynga who mentioned Jennifer on her blog. I started looking into Jennifer’s work, reading reviews and I just had to get my hands on a copy of Heavenly. I was lucky enough to win one in Jennifer Blogger contests.

Jennifer puts so much emotion into the book that we feel exactly how Zoë and Luke feel with the stress of having an autistic sister. My heart...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, angels

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH BOOK 1 (HEAVENLY) AND BOOK 2 (PENITENCE)

I LOVE these books!!! They became so addicting to me, that when I finished the second one I was so annoyed I didn't have the 3rd right away to finish the series!
The characters are well fleshed out and rich. There are plenty to work with on this canvas.

Here's a look at who is who.

Zoe- She is the main character, and it's through her eyes we experience everything. In the beginning you won't like her very much. She says and does thin...more

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Sep 17, 2010 Soycazadoradesombrasylibros rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finish

A veces en nuestras vidas, estamos solos y perdidos y justo cuando has perdido la fé en todo
y en todos, aparece alguién que te puede salvar, y te hace ser mejor persona.
Me ayudó a sentir emociones,tales como el amor y el dolor....aunque veaís que hay angel de por medio...Este libro ha sido emocionante para mí ,me ha hecho,llorar más de una vez. Mathias ayuda a Zoe a ver las cosas de manera diferente, muchas veces necesitamos a ese alguién.
El lenguaje del autor es único, os daréis cuenta si lo le...more

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Aug 20, 2010 Kristina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When I read the description I KNEW I had to read this book. Of course it was for the emotional connection I would feel ...relating to a family that had a child with special needs (which is not always physically noticeable to everyone)
Mostly what I felt was compassion, familiarity and tiredness with their circumstance. I soo have known the feeling of having my own son disappearing on me. I would love to know that there IS a guardian angel out there that is protecting him, and it would take a lot...more When I read the description I KNEW I had to read this book. Of course it was for the emotional connection I would feel ...relating to a family that had a child with special needs (which is not always physically noticeable to everyone)
Mostly what I felt was compassion, familiarity and tiredness with their circumstance. I soo have known the feeling of having my own son disappearing on me. I would love to know that there IS a guardian angel out there that is protecting him, and it would take a lot of the worry away!
As I type this tonight (and this is why I am motivated to type this tonight) I have heard the words ‘love you’ of course not clearly....(but the intention and sound was there) spoken by my son (3.3years) to me for the first time . And I have been tearing up and crying about it for the last 2 and ½ hours. The feeling of knowing that words are trapped somewhere in your child’s head is frustrating and heartbreaking... And it’s those simple little words that when you hear them brings tears to your eyes.
What I wouldn’t do to hear what went on inside his head!! To know what he is feeling!! How he sees the world through his eyes!
So for all of those reasons and many more..... How did I feel about the families choices they made... I felt scared!!!! Scared because that is the elephant in the room.... to wonder how my daughter will develop.. When there is a lot of attention on the other sibling... Do I wonder whether she feels ignored? Whether she will rebel...YES! And it’s incredible confronting to read a story like this... thinking how will we be in years to come.
So for those reasons I understood why Zoe, her brother, her parents were the way they were. And which made Zoe and Matthias love story even more powerful!
It is a love story that pushes the boundaries that surround its characters. It’s a love story that makes you believe the impossible is possible.
I love how Jennifer has made this very real, and very relatable!
And even though you can feel the writing building and you know something will happen...it still leaves you gasping and sobbing when it happens! (For good and not so good reasons!)
And it was a story that had me putting it down..only to reach for the 2nd book Penitence straight away.

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Jun 23, 2010 Lindsey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hey Jennifer, I finished reading Heavenly last night and wanted to tell you how much i loved it. I hope how and what i wrote expresses my true appreciation for this novel the way i intended!

Heavenly, was a majestic and passionate novel, with a captivating and easy to read story line. The fragile relationships between the characters play a massive role in constructing the narratives mood.

My strongest like in this novel was the relationships and how honest they were. The relationship with Abria w...more Hey Jennifer, I finished reading Heavenly last night and wanted to tell you how much i loved it. I hope how and what i wrote expresses my true appreciation for this novel the way i intended!

Heavenly, was a majestic and passionate novel, with a captivating and easy to read story line. The fragile relationships between the characters play a massive role in constructing the narratives mood.

My strongest like in this novel was the relationships and how honest they were. The relationship with Abria was one of my favorites, because I appreciated how realistic it was. Zoë felt unconditional love for her sister but at the same time she felt jealous and frustrated. Which id imagine is how a real life teenager would probably feel.
I literally adore Matthias, his humble and sensitive attitude made him even more loveable. It was inevitable for every reader to fall in love with him as Zoë did, because like Chase said – first he was the knight and shinning armor, then he became much more. I really hope that this is one relationship that will make it through the thick and thin that I have feeling will be coming in the second edition.
Though the relationship with Matthias is the most loveable, my top favorite was Zoe’s relationship with her brother Luke. This is one that I personally thing has so much potential. I can relate to Zoe and Luke as well, because strangely enough I have a brother with an addiction to weed. I kept desperately hoping Zoe would turn around to Luke and try comforting him- giving him a shoulder to cry on and try to talk to him rather then try and yell the addiction out of him. Though I was left at the end of this novel satisfied with where they stood for the time being, I can tell nevertheless that this will be a relationship that will struggle throughout the series.
Everybody in the world has that one promiscuous friend who will put themselves before anybody else, everybody has that friend who will inevitably choose a boy over her friends. It’s a sad fact but its reality, id have preferred if Britt hadn’t turned into a bit of a bitch- but then again im one of those glass half full type of people!

The ending of this installment was fascinating, it left me on the edge of my seat with tears in my eyes and an ach in my heart, but relieved about her finally being able to BE with Matthias. It summed everything up in a neat tidy bow but will so much potential for the next installment. I red the first part of Penitence so im in small knowledge that her time with Matthias doesn’t last long, but all the same im glad it ended with it.

I am eager to read the next chapter in this inspirational and emotional story. I hope that the relationships that have been created in Heavenly grow more intense, but mainly I hope that Penitence captures the same bond of love that is carried throughout the pages of Heavenly. Jennifer, this is a beautiful piece of art, that touch my heart! I will put this up there with my favorite novels and wait patiently for the second addition to come to Australia; of course I have to wait for Heavenly to get here first!

Well done and thank you for enlightening me with this magnificent adventure(less)

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May 19, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, books-i-own-kindle

Zoe is 18 years old and her family life has fallen apart since her 5 year old sister Abria was diagnosed with autism. Abria is unable to talk and has no idea of danger - she loves to run and takes off with no notice, she loves to climb and she is facinated with windows. Keeping her out of harms way is a full time job for the whole family. Zoe's parents spend so much time dealing with Abria that Zoe & her brother Luke feel left out. Zoe deals with this by partying, drinking and hooking up wit...more Zoe is 18 years old and her family life has fallen apart since her 5 year old sister Abria was diagnosed with autism. Abria is unable to talk and has no idea of danger - she loves to run and takes off with no notice, she loves to climb and she is facinated with windows. Keeping her out of harms way is a full time job for the whole family. Zoe's parents spend so much time dealing with Abria that Zoe & her brother Luke feel left out. Zoe deals with this by partying, drinking and hooking up with random guys for attention. Luke on the other hand has started smoking weed.

Zoe has confilicting emotions about Abria, she hates the way all their lives have changed because of her but she also loves her & wants to protect her. Jennifer Laurens' gives us a fascinating insight into life with a family member who has autism. You can tell she has first hand experience of this (she is a mother of 6, with 1 child who has autism) from the way she writes.

Zoe also worries about Luke and his addiction to drugs. She doesn't know how to deal with these issues and feels she has no one to talk to about them so she uses alcohol to anesthetise her pain. When she meets Matthias she is suspicious at first but finds he has a soothing influence on both Abria and herself.

I've been really struggling with my review for this book. On one hand I really liked the the idea of the story and found it interesting to learn more about autism. Heavenly is well written and it is easy to relate to Zoe's feelings about both Abria and Luke. I quite liked Matthias although at times he drove me crazy by answering most of Zoe's questions with "what does your heart tell you" - I felt like if I read that sentence one more time I could scream.

When Zoe was in danger I found myself on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen and was disappointed to find how she escaped was completely glossed over. There were a few interesting twists though, particularly at the end of the book - I really didn't see that coming.

At the back of the book there is a preview of a sequel to Heavenly but I can't find any more information on that so I'm not sure when it will be being published. I thought the ending to Heavenly wrapped up well so it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Overall I found the book was easy to read but it didn't have me gripped as much as I expected it would. I don't think it will be one I will be reading again but I'm glad I did read it. I think perhaps it would have been better to get this one from the library though.(less)

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May 19, 2010 Cleverly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was taken away be Heavenly. Zoe may have been to outsider's a typical teen but she was so much more at heart. Having to deal with distant parent's due to her little sister having Autism and the care she required. Zoe found ways to release her frustration, anger and hopelessness. When life starts to break at all angles as if you dropped a mirror and shattering into dozens of pieces. Can that mirror be put back together? Abria may have Autism but she is beautiful at heart. Matthias was sent to b...more

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Mar 31, 2010 Lilibeth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Zoe's life has been difficult ever since her little sister, Abria was diagnosed with Autism. Zoe tries to avoid her little sister but helps out when absolutely necessary--or if she got paid for it. When Abria runs away like usual under Zoe's watch she starts to freak out a bit. Until, of course, a man holding Abria appears out of nowhere and gives her such a penetrating stare that Zoe immediately feels at ease. Even though she doesn't know why. Matthias.

Going home to the unpredictable rants of A...more Zoe's life has been difficult ever since her little sister, Abria was diagnosed with Autism. Zoe tries to avoid her little sister but helps out when absolutely necessary--or if she got paid for it. When Abria runs away like usual under Zoe's watch she starts to freak out a bit. Until, of course, a man holding Abria appears out of nowhere and gives her such a penetrating stare that Zoe immediately feels at ease. Even though she doesn't know why. Matthias.

Going home to the unpredictable rants of Abria and their brother Luke's addiction, Zoe doesn't have an outlet for all the baggage that she carries at home except escaping to the horrendous parties that in the end make her feel pitiful. When things start to get even more out of control, Matthias, Abria's guardian angel begins to make more and more appearances. Through emotional roller coaster rides, we as readers, get a view of the inside life of familial instability, with the lessening pressure of a bit of a fantasy rush.

Reading Jennifer Laurens fourth novel, I had some expectations ready to be met once I had read one of the books under her alias JM Warwick, A Season of Eden. A Season of Eden was an incredible read about forbidden love, and as I read the summary of this book, I thought the same. However, from the very beginning I got the impression that this was going to be completely different and Laurens' didn't disappoint. Zoe's constant frustrations seemed so real and palpable, I believed I was going to start spewing off in anger myself. Filled with multiple high points in the plot, Heavenly was a jab-packed page-turner that had me opposing the necessity of sleep.While it had its slight rough edges like many books that take on many event plays in their plots, Laurens' had skillful twists and turns that made Heavenly a fantastic, sentimental read.

My favorite character in the entire novel had to be Chase, the intelligent big-eyed geek, that shared Zoe's gift in seeing guardian angels. It seemed like he was the bit of stability Zoe could use in a sea messed with partying. Him and Matthias of course. Zoe and Matthias' romance connection starts off with penetrating gazes and soulful smiles, that soon bloom off into something more titillating.

Recommended to all, not only YA, for a romantic read that leaves you aching with a want unquenchable.(less)

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Aug 18, 2009 Insert Book Title added it · review of another edition

Heavenly was kind of hard to get into at first. The main character seemed a little self centered and was always thinking badly about her autistic sister. As I read further, however, I began to see how hard it was to take care of someone with a mental disability. Zoe's feelings and thoughts were normal and you could tell she did not mean them. They were brought on by stress and seeing her parents having to give up their whole lives for this one little girl. I so badly wanted to comfort Zoe as she...more

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Jun 20, 2009 thebookblogger rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What Zoe discovers changes her world in ways she never thought possible. Matthias is a guardian angel, and he isn't the only one. Guardian angels walk the earth, unseen to those that aren't open to seeing, and protect their chosen. And in her messed up life, she finds herself develop an unspoken attraction to her sister's angel, Matthias.

The romance in this book is refreshing. I loved reading the scenes in which Zoe and Matthias were interacting. The connection always seemed to be there.

Another...more

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May 08, 2009 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this book. I really liked the fact that although the little sister had autism, the family was together. I can only imagine (and the book gave an excellent illustration) of how difficult and challenging it must be to keep a family together with the amount of stress that there was, but they did. I loved the fact that they went to church and were really a unit. Most YA books don’t incorporate the family unit as well as this book did. I could really relate to the relationshi...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Dani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ok I'm in a hurry here, so here's the rundown from the book publisher.....
I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him.

Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias,...more Ok I'm in a hurry here, so here's the rundown from the book publisher.....
I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him.

Zoe's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoe lost in her broken life. Zoe escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoe's autistic sister. After Zoe is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever.

My take on the book:
This book was a very good story. A spin on the whole guardian angel thing which seems to be popular lately. The story is spun into a new light with a guardian who used to live as a human at one point in time and in the case of Matthias, he was born in 1907 and lived for 20 years during the roaring 20's before he was stabbed to death. He and his father used to run an illegal establishment in the basement of a church where they sold illegal alcohol and nights with women. His job now is to take care of Abria who has autism.
Zoe doesn't know why she can see Matthias and at first people think she's crazy because only her and Abria can see him. She thinks he's a stalker and realizes that he's not going to hurt her or Abria. He admits that he's there to care for Abria and help take care of her. Zoe realizes he's something akin to a Guardian Angel but not necessarily a real Angel.
Zoe has to deal with not only Abria having autism and completely taking over the families time and energy and wearing the family down, but she also has to deal with her brother Luke who has an addiction to drugs, and Zoe doesn't realize that she has her own addiction to alcohol as well.
Matthias' presence in Abria's life is helping the family to cope with the problems because his presence helps Abria calm down instead of being rambunctious and doing all the dangerous things she does. He soon becomes Zoe's guardian as well due to an unforseen circumstance that occurs. It's as simple as, they accidentally touch. He's only allowed to touch the person he's taking care of and has carefully kept his distance from Zoe but an accident happens and in one simple moment he now has to take care of Zoe as well. He only appears when one of those he takes care of is in danger of seriously getting hurt.
Zoe soon falls in love with Matthias and realizes that it would be amazingly difficult to make a relationship work with someone who doesn't even live in the same realm as she does but she knows she's never felt that way about anyone before and she's in love. She even works up the courage to tell him and is hurt by his response to her admitting it.
Anyway, something terrible happens to Zoe, she's in a car accident and Matthias was there with her in the car when it happened. He's there with her in the hospital and when she goes to Paradise, which is the in between, of life and death, Matthias admits to her that he's in love with her too.
Yes, I know. I'm a damn sucker for a Happily Ever After. This book had its parts where I did cuss at the characters and wanted to bang Zoe's head into a wall for being so damn stuck up and stupid but hey, we all aren't perfect and I know I've done some messed up stuff in my own life too so, the fictional character is only human right? LOL Yeah I know, my logic is off but hey it works for me. So, I think if you want some happy ending lovey dovey make you want to kiss your loved one after kind of book then this one will help you out there. Get to reading!

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Mar 14, 2011 Aik Chien 인첸 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Zoe is falling apart. She lives the life of a walking corpse. On the outside, she looks just like any normal teenager, but on the inside, she feels empty. Abandoned. Her sister Abria is an Autistic child who has speaking disorders and the attention level of 5 seconds. Her brother Luke is drowning himself in drugs. To run away from the harsh realities, she parties and searches for casual relationships.

But everything changes when she meets the mysterious Matthias, who, according to himself, is a g...more Zoe is falling apart. She lives the life of a walking corpse. On the outside, she looks just like any normal teenager, but on the inside, she feels empty. Abandoned. Her sister Abria is an Autistic child who has speaking disorders and the attention level of 5 seconds. Her brother Luke is drowning himself in drugs. To run away from the harsh realities, she parties and searches for casual relationships.

But everything changes when she meets the mysterious Matthias, who, according to himself, is a guardian sent to look after Abria. She feels happy, joyful and loved for the first time since Abria's Autism diagnosis. However, she seems to be the only person who can see Matthias. It does not take too long for her to realize that she is in love with him. Or is it?

I did not know what to expect before started reading Heavenly. But it turned out to be quite good as I could totally relate to Zoe's mental condition, behaviour and thoughts. I did not see her as an undignified teen, but rather a poor girl who was suffering from stress and hungered for the attention and care of her parents. After observing the difficulties faced by the family to take care of little Abria in turns, even though I knew deep down that what Zoe and Luke did was wrong, I couldn't help sympathizing them. It's not entirely their fault to crumble when they had to shoulder such huge responsibilities. But still, according to the social norms of the society, they were not entirely blameless either.

The presence of Matthias really lighted up the whole story. Zoe's tainted soul now yearned for forgiveness and goodness. She started to change, little by little, towards the better. And little Abria seemed to be still and quiet like a normal little girl when Matthias is present. Zoe started to learn about love, compassion and forgiveness. She saw through Luke's current self, only to discover the lost, helpless little boy within. It was a great experience to read about a family that holds on to each other in many ways, in which love reigns over all other things.(less)

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Aug 28, 2010 Bailey (IB Book Blogging) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I had to choose just one word to describe this book, it would be: AMAZING. From the very first page, I was enthralled by the world of Heavenly and I couldn't stop reading until the very last page.

Zoe is a well-rounded girl who has her fair share of problems. She feels ignored by her family because of her autistic sister and uses alcohol to escape the pain. She feels so frustrated that life has dealt her with an autistic sister and wishes that her family could go back to being the way it was b...more

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