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Reflection
Her soul is fragmented; she is but an empty vessel. Jessica Hamid isn’t your average African American/Middle Eastern woman. She’s broken. As if her childhood wasn’t bad enough. Because of all the kids who teased her for having a big butt or being mean to her, hurting her physically and mentally, she chose never to deal with those issues to bury them deep down inside, locking away the key. And now after landing her dream job the insecurities she developed have come back to haunt her in ways no one could imagine. Something is coming for her; she has no idea.
To make matters worse, despite obviously hiring her because of her excellent writing skills her boss at Teen Savvy Magazine hates her style and her coworkers want nothing to do with her. In fact, the only one giving her any attention is the mysterious photographer, Mark, whose charm is more torment than pleasure to Jessica as she struggles to figure out if he is for real or just out for another piece.
This is a story of a woman who struggles with her own insecurities to break into the person she was meant to be. Will she overcome them and allow love to shine its light through her, or will she become the property of another, more sinister force, never able to reclaim her identity again?
Reflection is a page-turner not like any other. It’s a love story with a twist of fantasy, playing to the moral fibers of a person. The depth of the characters help create a three dimensional world. And the angst experienced by Jessica is felt by the readers on an intimate level, evoking many emotional responses along the way, from hurt and sadness to the funny moments when the ever clumsy Jessica makes a mess of things.
To make matters worse, despite obviously hiring her because of her excellent writing skills her boss at Teen Savvy Magazine hates her style and her coworkers want nothing to do with her. In fact, the only one giving her any attention is the mysterious photographer, Mark, whose charm is more torment than pleasure to Jessica as she struggles to figure out if he is for real or just out for another piece.
This is a story of a woman who struggles with her own insecurities to break into the person she was meant to be. Will she overcome them and allow love to shine its light through her, or will she become the property of another, more sinister force, never able to reclaim her identity again?
Reflection is a page-turner not like any other. It’s a love story with a twist of fantasy, playing to the moral fibers of a person. The depth of the characters help create a three dimensional world. And the angst experienced by Jessica is felt by the readers on an intimate level, evoking many emotional responses along the way, from hurt and sadness to the funny moments when the ever clumsy Jessica makes a mess of things.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2012
19 people want to read
About the author
Nadia Kim
6 books5 followersNadia grew up in the suburbs of Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. Since childhood she has gravitated to writing fiction stories.
In college Nadia pursued a career as a Photojournalist. She had many articles and photographs published by the college newspaper but ended up working for the Federal Government. With feelings that something was missing she sat down and talked about her inner desires to a good friend. That was when she was introduced to a book that would change her life. She read the book and knew it was not impossible to have a career as an author. She sat down and wrote her first novel in 30 days. Though it was not one to hit the shelves it was the spring board.
Nadia is a mother of three small children. In her spare time she is writing stories and helping those who seek out her services as a healer.
In college Nadia pursued a career as a Photojournalist. She had many articles and photographs published by the college newspaper but ended up working for the Federal Government. With feelings that something was missing she sat down and talked about her inner desires to a good friend. That was when she was introduced to a book that would change her life. She read the book and knew it was not impossible to have a career as an author. She sat down and wrote her first novel in 30 days. Though it was not one to hit the shelves it was the spring board.
Nadia is a mother of three small children. In her spare time she is writing stories and helping those who seek out her services as a healer.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 27, 2013
To be honest I didn't know whether I would like this book or not. The title, cover and covertext didn't attract me that much and I hate to say it but for me those things can make me buy books and read them. Now I have discovered once more that you can't judge a book by its cover (or title or covertext) and that's also the message this book tries to give to its readers!
My favorite genre still is chicklit. I love to clear my head and read some love stories without much depth. On the other hand I also like classic novels and stories because their characters seem more real and they really have something to say. Combine those two elements and you have "Reflections" by Nadia Kim. This author wrote a book where she combines a beautiful love story with some paranormal elements. These elements give the book a second layer in which we can learn several things about life.
In "Reflections" we meet Jess, a young woman who works for a teen magazine and loves her job. The only problem is that Jess is and has always been very insecure and this attitude doesn't really fit the world she lives in for her job. When she was younger she always was the center of ridicule. Most of the girls didn't want to be her friend because she was a little different and this made Jess horrible at finding new friends and truly trust them. When people acted like they liked her, they had other intentions most of the time (like really hurting her afterwards and laughing because she believed they wanted to be friends with her). That's why Jess is very closed and doesn't trust people around her, especially not when they're beautiful and work for a teen magazine.
Of course this makes her life difficult, because she really loves doing her job and is good at it. It becomes even more difficult when she meets the photographer (and owner) of the magazine, Mark. He really seems to like her, but Jess doesn't believe it at all. She already met some men in the past who liked it to trick a girl and make her believe they loved her before dumping her. Jess isn't going to let that happen again and keeps Mark as far away from her as possible. He, on the other hand, persists and makes Jess wonder if he really means it. Just when she starts to like him, he leaves because both of his parents died in an accident. Jess waits for him and hopes he will call her or email her, but she waits in vain and believes she's tricked once again.
When Mark finally returns to the magazine, it seems like he started a relationship with Jess's boss. At this point Jess really starts feeling depressed. All her hopes are gone and she starts having very strange dreams.
At the beginning Jess doesn't think much of these dreams. Everybody has strange dreams... But when those dreams start to get more real and frightening, she wants to learn more about them. Jess discovers she's in great danger and is followed by some sort of demons in her dream. Bad thing is these demons are more real then she thought in the beginning. For me these monsters, who try to get a grip on Jess's body, are the bad feelings she remembers from her past. The demons of her past keep following her, especially when she's insecure and hates herself once more. Just when Jess started to leave these monsters behind her because she fell in love with Mark, they started to follow her again because he left her. Just when she started believing somebody could really love her, she was dumped all over again. The demons start to catch up with her and it won't take them long to have her completely under control.
What Jess doesn't realise is that those demons have been there most of her life. They are the bad feelings she dragged along with her untill she met Mark. Can she leave them behind for the rest of her life or is she lost?
I'm not going to spoil the story for you, so if you'd like to discover how it all ends for Jess and Mark, you should really read the story. It's a beautiful one and it will keep you interested until the end (whether you like paranormal elements or not).
Enjoy it!
My favorite genre still is chicklit. I love to clear my head and read some love stories without much depth. On the other hand I also like classic novels and stories because their characters seem more real and they really have something to say. Combine those two elements and you have "Reflections" by Nadia Kim. This author wrote a book where she combines a beautiful love story with some paranormal elements. These elements give the book a second layer in which we can learn several things about life.
In "Reflections" we meet Jess, a young woman who works for a teen magazine and loves her job. The only problem is that Jess is and has always been very insecure and this attitude doesn't really fit the world she lives in for her job. When she was younger she always was the center of ridicule. Most of the girls didn't want to be her friend because she was a little different and this made Jess horrible at finding new friends and truly trust them. When people acted like they liked her, they had other intentions most of the time (like really hurting her afterwards and laughing because she believed they wanted to be friends with her). That's why Jess is very closed and doesn't trust people around her, especially not when they're beautiful and work for a teen magazine.
Of course this makes her life difficult, because she really loves doing her job and is good at it. It becomes even more difficult when she meets the photographer (and owner) of the magazine, Mark. He really seems to like her, but Jess doesn't believe it at all. She already met some men in the past who liked it to trick a girl and make her believe they loved her before dumping her. Jess isn't going to let that happen again and keeps Mark as far away from her as possible. He, on the other hand, persists and makes Jess wonder if he really means it. Just when she starts to like him, he leaves because both of his parents died in an accident. Jess waits for him and hopes he will call her or email her, but she waits in vain and believes she's tricked once again.
When Mark finally returns to the magazine, it seems like he started a relationship with Jess's boss. At this point Jess really starts feeling depressed. All her hopes are gone and she starts having very strange dreams.
At the beginning Jess doesn't think much of these dreams. Everybody has strange dreams... But when those dreams start to get more real and frightening, she wants to learn more about them. Jess discovers she's in great danger and is followed by some sort of demons in her dream. Bad thing is these demons are more real then she thought in the beginning. For me these monsters, who try to get a grip on Jess's body, are the bad feelings she remembers from her past. The demons of her past keep following her, especially when she's insecure and hates herself once more. Just when Jess started to leave these monsters behind her because she fell in love with Mark, they started to follow her again because he left her. Just when she started believing somebody could really love her, she was dumped all over again. The demons start to catch up with her and it won't take them long to have her completely under control.
What Jess doesn't realise is that those demons have been there most of her life. They are the bad feelings she dragged along with her untill she met Mark. Can she leave them behind for the rest of her life or is she lost?
I'm not going to spoil the story for you, so if you'd like to discover how it all ends for Jess and Mark, you should really read the story. It's a beautiful one and it will keep you interested until the end (whether you like paranormal elements or not).
Enjoy it!
October 16, 2012
Reading this blurb you could be forgiven for thinking this would be an office romance book, but this is so much more. I already knew from the author that this book had a fantasy element although there is no indication to that in the blurb. To begin with I did wonder about what the fantasy element would be. Then Jess started having very vivid dreams and just like that I was hooked.
Jess is an insecure young woman who as had a life time of ridicule she then lands a job working for teen savvy, although its her dream job her insecurities resurface as she as to spend each day been looked down at by her boss and colleagues when Mark Craig shows interest in her she is reluctant to let her guard down and trust him. He spends his days around models, what would he want with Jessica?
Her insecurities put her in more danger than she could ever imagine. even sleeping is dangerous. Jessica is a dream walker. her soul astral projects to an alternate universe while she sleeps. it is here she mets Angela and quickly forms a bond with her, but Angela warns her how much danger she is in. Jess needs to mend her soul if she is going to be able to save herself.
A compelling read, with characters I could empathise with demons that where truly terrifying and a guy that made me want to swoon oh and not forgetting the hot Italian I really enjoyed this story, very different to a lot of the fantasy books I have read lately. the end left me wondering if they will be a book two, if there is I will definitely be reading it.
Jess is an insecure young woman who as had a life time of ridicule she then lands a job working for teen savvy, although its her dream job her insecurities resurface as she as to spend each day been looked down at by her boss and colleagues when Mark Craig shows interest in her she is reluctant to let her guard down and trust him. He spends his days around models, what would he want with Jessica?
Her insecurities put her in more danger than she could ever imagine. even sleeping is dangerous. Jessica is a dream walker. her soul astral projects to an alternate universe while she sleeps. it is here she mets Angela and quickly forms a bond with her, but Angela warns her how much danger she is in. Jess needs to mend her soul if she is going to be able to save herself.
A compelling read, with characters I could empathise with demons that where truly terrifying and a guy that made me want to swoon oh and not forgetting the hot Italian I really enjoyed this story, very different to a lot of the fantasy books I have read lately. the end left me wondering if they will be a book two, if there is I will definitely be reading it.
November 20, 2013
Reflection by Nadia Kim is a story based on a young woman named Jessica (aka Jess) who works at a fashion magazine. Jess struggles, as most would working in the fashion industry, with body image. Besides her weight, Jess has to overcome her fear of letting love in. Her body and mind are at odds with each other. Jess starts dream walking and lures demons. Can Jess face her fears?
This book has a lot of good reviews on GoodReads, and I can see why. It definitely fits into my guilty pleasure genre with a hot romance, fashion, and paranormal elements. The romance element is true to my favorite K-Drama shows where a rich, handsome boy falls for the not-so-desirable girl. Well, we all know how big the paranormal fan club is. So, it covers all of the bases.
The pace is good. It has a pretty realistic flow to it, and the details are down through the whole meal. Jessica's love interest is the stylish photographer Mark. Jessica is quirky enough that she reminds me of Jess on New Girl, or maybe Betty from Ugly Betty.
In general, it's one of those books that you could easily read in one sitting. The story just flows. I like how the ending leaves room to transition into a story based on the paranormal element.
This book has a lot of good reviews on GoodReads, and I can see why. It definitely fits into my guilty pleasure genre with a hot romance, fashion, and paranormal elements. The romance element is true to my favorite K-Drama shows where a rich, handsome boy falls for the not-so-desirable girl. Well, we all know how big the paranormal fan club is. So, it covers all of the bases.
The pace is good. It has a pretty realistic flow to it, and the details are down through the whole meal. Jessica's love interest is the stylish photographer Mark. Jessica is quirky enough that she reminds me of Jess on New Girl, or maybe Betty from Ugly Betty.
In general, it's one of those books that you could easily read in one sitting. The story just flows. I like how the ending leaves room to transition into a story based on the paranormal element.
July 21, 2013
Although I can appreciate Ms. Kim's purpose in writing this book, I have to say that there were some issues with this book. (flow, dialog, character development). Other than that, this book was somewhat decent...
If you are someone who has self-esteem issues that are rooted in a painful past, then this book is worth reading, other than that, this book needs a good editor.
Giving this one, 2 stars.
If you are someone who has self-esteem issues that are rooted in a painful past, then this book is worth reading, other than that, this book needs a good editor.
Giving this one, 2 stars.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews