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Sorrow Woods
“How did you even get here?”
I blink at him, confused by his question. “We live here.”
“You live here, in these woods?”
When Kaiden stumbles across Serena Scott whilst hunting in Sorrow Woods he thinks all of his birthdays have come at once. Finally, the girl that’s haunted and intrigued him and his parents for the last fourteen years is standing in front of him.
And she’s alive.
Serena should have known that he would shatter her life into a thousand pieces. It wasn't because of the gun, or the tattoos that snaked around his arm, but because he was the first boy that she’d ever set eyes on.
He wasn’t just any boy either; he was Kaiden Matthews.
He was dark, dangerous and strangely alluring.
And he was beautiful.
Serena’s life as she knows it is destroyed after Kaiden drops his bombshell. As the consequences of his actions begin to penetrate through into her life she vows to stay away from him, and while she might have been in his past, she refuses to be his future.
Kaiden knows that in order for either of them to salvage anything from the mess he’s made he needs to make sure the secrets of his past stay hidden, but as they start to rebuild their lives they find themselves stuck in a whirlwind of secrets and confessions that could threaten to break their already fragile relationship.
I blink at him, confused by his question. “We live here.”
“You live here, in these woods?”
When Kaiden stumbles across Serena Scott whilst hunting in Sorrow Woods he thinks all of his birthdays have come at once. Finally, the girl that’s haunted and intrigued him and his parents for the last fourteen years is standing in front of him.
And she’s alive.
Serena should have known that he would shatter her life into a thousand pieces. It wasn't because of the gun, or the tattoos that snaked around his arm, but because he was the first boy that she’d ever set eyes on.
He wasn’t just any boy either; he was Kaiden Matthews.
He was dark, dangerous and strangely alluring.
And he was beautiful.
Serena’s life as she knows it is destroyed after Kaiden drops his bombshell. As the consequences of his actions begin to penetrate through into her life she vows to stay away from him, and while she might have been in his past, she refuses to be his future.
Kaiden knows that in order for either of them to salvage anything from the mess he’s made he needs to make sure the secrets of his past stay hidden, but as they start to rebuild their lives they find themselves stuck in a whirlwind of secrets and confessions that could threaten to break their already fragile relationship.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
983 people want to read
About the author
Beckie Stevenson
13 books243 followersBeckie's real name is Rebecca, but she get’s called (and answers to) any of the following…Beckie, Bek, Becca, Rebecca, Pip, Pippy or Stevo.
Beckie is the author of 'Sorrow Woods,' the 'Existing' series, 'Noah and Me' and 'If Only...'
She is due to publish more YA, NA and Adult novels in 2015/16.
She lives in Staffordshire, England, with her partner and two children.
Beckie likes putting music on in the house and dancing around like a mad woman.
When she isn’t playing with her children, doing housework, dancing around the house like a mad woman, walking, cycling, reading or writing, then she can be found working in an investment bank. Or sleeping.
You can find Beckie here…
Twitter: @BeckieStevenson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BeckieStevensonAuthor
Instagram: BeckieStevo
Blog: http://beckiestevenson.blogspot.co.uk
Beckie is the author of 'Sorrow Woods,' the 'Existing' series, 'Noah and Me' and 'If Only...'
She is due to publish more YA, NA and Adult novels in 2015/16.
She lives in Staffordshire, England, with her partner and two children.
Beckie likes putting music on in the house and dancing around like a mad woman.
When she isn’t playing with her children, doing housework, dancing around the house like a mad woman, walking, cycling, reading or writing, then she can be found working in an investment bank. Or sleeping.
You can find Beckie here…
Twitter: @BeckieStevenson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BeckieStevensonAuthor
Instagram: BeckieStevo
Blog: http://beckiestevenson.blogspot.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 19, 2013
**ARC provided by an author in exchange for honest review**
Serena lives in the forest with her mother and very soon with her young sister. Without having any idea of what exist in the forest...till one day!
While she was playing with her sister, she met Kai. He cannot believe that those girls do not know at all what is happening outside the forest...
He is so impressed and he is spending hours and hours with them. He wants to learn everything their life, everything about them.
What will happen when Serena discovers that her whole life was based on a lie??
Don't miss this book!!
Sorrow Woods is a beautiful book, full of emotions!
You'll love Serena and Kai!
I love Serena for the first time I meet her!She was funny and I loved how she dealt with the whole situation!
Kai was hot!!I like that there is his POV in the book because we can see what he thinks!
My Kai and Serena:
Thank you Beckie for giving me the opportunity to read your book before its publication!!
For more reviews check our blog!
Serena lives in the forest with her mother and very soon with her young sister. Without having any idea of what exist in the forest...till one day!
While she was playing with her sister, she met Kai. He cannot believe that those girls do not know at all what is happening outside the forest...
He is so impressed and he is spending hours and hours with them. He wants to learn everything their life, everything about them.
What will happen when Serena discovers that her whole life was based on a lie??
Don't miss this book!!
Sorrow Woods is a beautiful book, full of emotions!
You'll love Serena and Kai!
I love Serena for the first time I meet her!She was funny and I loved how she dealt with the whole situation!
Kai was hot!!I like that there is his POV in the book because we can see what he thinks!
My Kai and Serena:
Thank you Beckie for giving me the opportunity to read your book before its publication!!
For more reviews check our blog!
July 30, 2013
***ARC kindly provided by the author for an honest review.***
4 Stars for Sorrow Woods by Beckie Stevenson
I want to start this review off by saying that Sorrow Woods by Beckie Stevenson is one of the most unique books I have had the chance to read recently. I went into this book not knowing much about the plot. The book blurb is pretty vague and since I received an ARC of this book, I didn't have the views/impressions from other reviewers in mind before I started reading. This is one of those books that I think it is best to go into blind. The mystery surrounding the characters and their circumstances hooks you and you spend the rest of the book trying to fit all the pieces together to see the larger picture.
With that in mind, I am going to keep my description of the plot short and sweet. Serena, her sister Elodie, and her mother live a pretty primitive and isolated life in Sorrow Woods. There is no electricity, running water, and no other people close by. In fact, their location is so remote, Serena and Elodie have never had the opportunity to meet anyone outside their immediate family until one day while playing in the woods, they run into Kaiden (Kai). This chance encounter with Kai triggers a chain of events that change their lives drastically.
Serena
Serena was a really refreshing character for me. She is strong, independent, intelligent, confident, resourceful, and has such an innocence about her. Although she has lived in isolation for most of her life, she is curious to explore the outside world and to experience the things that she reads about in all of her books. Meeting Kai in the woods has the potential to answer all her questions about the outside world and broaden her horizons.
Kaiden (Kai)
Kai is the traditional bad boy. He has tattoos, gets into fight, parties, is a total player, and is an asshole in general. While on a hunting trip in Sorrow Woods, he runs into Serena and her sister Elodie. Kai soon realizes that he knows a secret about Serena and he plans to use it to his advantage.
"I know her. I've seen her face a hundred times before. Her face has bored, intrigued, and damn-near annoyed me over the years."
Little does he know how much this intriguing girl is going to change his world by making him question himself as a person and whether or not he is truly living the life he wants for himself.
Overall
If I had to classify this book, I would say it is a Young Adult/New Adult romance. I will admit, it took a little while to get into this story, but all the mystery surrounding Serena, her family, and Kai sucked me in and I couldn't stop reading until I figured out what was really going on. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique story, with some mystery, a little romance, and some very memorable characters.
Another huge thing that I liked is the cover! It is absolutely beautiful!
Memorable quotes:
"I couldn't just forget about you. You got stuck in my head and you were all I could see when I closed my eyes. I had to come back and see you again." - Kai
*~*~*~*~*
"It changed me," I confess. "She changed me."-Kai
Thank you Beckie Stevenson, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book for you :)
4 Stars for Sorrow Woods by Beckie Stevenson
I want to start this review off by saying that Sorrow Woods by Beckie Stevenson is one of the most unique books I have had the chance to read recently. I went into this book not knowing much about the plot. The book blurb is pretty vague and since I received an ARC of this book, I didn't have the views/impressions from other reviewers in mind before I started reading. This is one of those books that I think it is best to go into blind. The mystery surrounding the characters and their circumstances hooks you and you spend the rest of the book trying to fit all the pieces together to see the larger picture.
With that in mind, I am going to keep my description of the plot short and sweet. Serena, her sister Elodie, and her mother live a pretty primitive and isolated life in Sorrow Woods. There is no electricity, running water, and no other people close by. In fact, their location is so remote, Serena and Elodie have never had the opportunity to meet anyone outside their immediate family until one day while playing in the woods, they run into Kaiden (Kai). This chance encounter with Kai triggers a chain of events that change their lives drastically.
Serena
Serena was a really refreshing character for me. She is strong, independent, intelligent, confident, resourceful, and has such an innocence about her. Although she has lived in isolation for most of her life, she is curious to explore the outside world and to experience the things that she reads about in all of her books. Meeting Kai in the woods has the potential to answer all her questions about the outside world and broaden her horizons.
Kaiden (Kai)
Kai is the traditional bad boy. He has tattoos, gets into fight, parties, is a total player, and is an asshole in general. While on a hunting trip in Sorrow Woods, he runs into Serena and her sister Elodie. Kai soon realizes that he knows a secret about Serena and he plans to use it to his advantage.
"I know her. I've seen her face a hundred times before. Her face has bored, intrigued, and damn-near annoyed me over the years."
Little does he know how much this intriguing girl is going to change his world by making him question himself as a person and whether or not he is truly living the life he wants for himself.
Overall
If I had to classify this book, I would say it is a Young Adult/New Adult romance. I will admit, it took a little while to get into this story, but all the mystery surrounding Serena, her family, and Kai sucked me in and I couldn't stop reading until I figured out what was really going on. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique story, with some mystery, a little romance, and some very memorable characters.
Another huge thing that I liked is the cover! It is absolutely beautiful!
Memorable quotes:
"I couldn't just forget about you. You got stuck in my head and you were all I could see when I closed my eyes. I had to come back and see you again." - Kai
*~*~*~*~*
"It changed me," I confess. "She changed me."-Kai
Thank you Beckie Stevenson, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book for you :)
July 1, 2013
Brilliant debut novel! A must read for all the YA & NA fans out there.
Who is this new author and why should I read her book? Let me tell you…
I did not know anything about Beckie or her style of writing when going into this book. All I knew was that the synopsis sounded intriguing. When she posted the Prologue and 1st Chapter I was anxious to see what this new author had in store for us. Let me just say that by the end of Chapter 1 my attention had been captured and I was excited to see where this story would take us.
You can read the Prologue and 1st Chapter at: http://beckiestevenson.blogspot.co.uk/
Sorrow Woods is a beautiful coming of age story about love, loss, hope and the power of family. What makes a person part of your family? Is it through blood, marriage or does the heart play an equal role?
The story begins on Serena’s 10th birthday. We get a glimpse into her home life and the circumstances surrounding her upbringing. On this day, Serena’s mother returns home after being away for 8 days. She has brought back a newborn baby that she presents to Serena as Elodie, her little sister.
Jump ahead to 6 years later and we find Serena playing in the woods with Elodie while their mother is once again away. As the girls are playing hide-and-seek they hear a loud noise that rings through the forest. Panicked, the girls flee for home. Unfortunately, they don’t make it there before running into a boy.
“How did you even get here?”
I blink at him, confused by his question. “We live here.”
“You live here, in these woods?”
Enter Kaiden Matthews.
The first thing I notice about the boy is that he’s wearing faded blue denim jeans and a white t-shirt that stretches tightly across the tops of his arms. He has short but messy black hair and deep brown eyes that sit wide in his head. In his hand, he holds a gun.
After a brief conversation with Kaiden, the girls hear another gun shot in the distance and run home. Little do they know, Kaiden followed them and is lurking outside their home. He observes them for a while before leaving.
Three days later Kaiden shows up at their house…and it is all downhill from there. Serena has no idea that this boy with tattoos and a loud mouth is about to turn her world upside down.
I stare at him and the way his clothes make his face look paler and his eyes two shades darker than when I last saw him. He doesn’t seem real. How can a boy look so magical and, interesting, yet utterly terrifying at the same time?
Kaiden Matthews is a lot of things: the black sheep of the family, tattooed, angry, impulsive and the exact opposite of Serena. He crashes into her life like a bull in a china shop shattering Serena’s world and everything she knows. Kaiden does not make excuses for who he is nor does he try to change. However, when he is around Serena he naturally acts like a better man. She brings out the best in him.
She turns her head, snaps her sparkling green eyes onto me, and smiles. I think she’s slowly starting to melt my cold, hard heart.
I loved Kaiden! I enjoyed watching him transform from a selfish and entitled boy to a loving and giving man. He went through so much with Serena. He battled his conscious and tried to do right by her. He was there for her every step of the way and it wasn’t always easy.
“I couldn’t just forget about you. You got stuck in my head and you were all I could see when I closed my eyes. I had to come back and see you again, just to make sure you were okay. That’s why I’m here. I’m not here to scare you or to take you, and I’m not lying to you. I’m here to be whatever you want me to be.”
Can I please tell you what a relief it is to read a book about a 17 year old heroine and not want to throttle her?! Serena is such a breath of fresh air! She is beautiful, smart, witty, strong, loving, mature, funny and has the biggest heart. She is protective over her little sister and loves her completely. She captivated me from the beginning and did not disappoint. She is nurturing, brave and constantly striving to do the right thing. I absolutely loved Serena!
I stand and watch her crying over the wolf and shake my head. She’s absolutely unbelievable. She killed the wolf, even though it could have easily killed her. I also can’t believe she just risked her life to save me. I shake my head again. I owe her my life.
Serena is more like a mother to Elodie than a sister. She watches over her and protects her. She feeds her, plays with her and educates her on life. She would give her life to save her sister. Elodie is the most precious thing to Serena.
Elodie asks question after question. She reminds me so much of myself when I was her age. When her eyelids start drooping, I put the book away and blow her candle out. I lean down and kiss Elodie on her forehead.
Elodie is the most adorable and funny little girl! She is only 6 but she sure is a little spitfire. She fiercely loves her big sister and is not afraid to speak her mind.
“We have five knives, two guns, and a big hole.”
I look up into her innocent blue eyes and try not to smile. “Erm, okay.”
“If you do anything bad, I will shoot you and put you in the hole.”
My only complaint is…I want more! It wasn’t too short but it definitely could have been longer. I loved the Epilogue but wish it would have went farther into the future.
All in all this was a beautiful and touching story. It hooked me from page 1 and held my attention all the way to the end. I completely fell in love with the characters. I can’t wait to read more from this author!!
ARC generously provided by author for an honest review
Who is this new author and why should I read her book? Let me tell you…
I did not know anything about Beckie or her style of writing when going into this book. All I knew was that the synopsis sounded intriguing. When she posted the Prologue and 1st Chapter I was anxious to see what this new author had in store for us. Let me just say that by the end of Chapter 1 my attention had been captured and I was excited to see where this story would take us.
You can read the Prologue and 1st Chapter at: http://beckiestevenson.blogspot.co.uk/
Sorrow Woods is a beautiful coming of age story about love, loss, hope and the power of family. What makes a person part of your family? Is it through blood, marriage or does the heart play an equal role?
The story begins on Serena’s 10th birthday. We get a glimpse into her home life and the circumstances surrounding her upbringing. On this day, Serena’s mother returns home after being away for 8 days. She has brought back a newborn baby that she presents to Serena as Elodie, her little sister.
Jump ahead to 6 years later and we find Serena playing in the woods with Elodie while their mother is once again away. As the girls are playing hide-and-seek they hear a loud noise that rings through the forest. Panicked, the girls flee for home. Unfortunately, they don’t make it there before running into a boy.
“How did you even get here?”
I blink at him, confused by his question. “We live here.”
“You live here, in these woods?”
Enter Kaiden Matthews.
The first thing I notice about the boy is that he’s wearing faded blue denim jeans and a white t-shirt that stretches tightly across the tops of his arms. He has short but messy black hair and deep brown eyes that sit wide in his head. In his hand, he holds a gun.
After a brief conversation with Kaiden, the girls hear another gun shot in the distance and run home. Little do they know, Kaiden followed them and is lurking outside their home. He observes them for a while before leaving.
Three days later Kaiden shows up at their house…and it is all downhill from there. Serena has no idea that this boy with tattoos and a loud mouth is about to turn her world upside down.
I stare at him and the way his clothes make his face look paler and his eyes two shades darker than when I last saw him. He doesn’t seem real. How can a boy look so magical and, interesting, yet utterly terrifying at the same time?
Kaiden Matthews is a lot of things: the black sheep of the family, tattooed, angry, impulsive and the exact opposite of Serena. He crashes into her life like a bull in a china shop shattering Serena’s world and everything she knows. Kaiden does not make excuses for who he is nor does he try to change. However, when he is around Serena he naturally acts like a better man. She brings out the best in him.
She turns her head, snaps her sparkling green eyes onto me, and smiles. I think she’s slowly starting to melt my cold, hard heart.
I loved Kaiden! I enjoyed watching him transform from a selfish and entitled boy to a loving and giving man. He went through so much with Serena. He battled his conscious and tried to do right by her. He was there for her every step of the way and it wasn’t always easy.
“I couldn’t just forget about you. You got stuck in my head and you were all I could see when I closed my eyes. I had to come back and see you again, just to make sure you were okay. That’s why I’m here. I’m not here to scare you or to take you, and I’m not lying to you. I’m here to be whatever you want me to be.”
Can I please tell you what a relief it is to read a book about a 17 year old heroine and not want to throttle her?! Serena is such a breath of fresh air! She is beautiful, smart, witty, strong, loving, mature, funny and has the biggest heart. She is protective over her little sister and loves her completely. She captivated me from the beginning and did not disappoint. She is nurturing, brave and constantly striving to do the right thing. I absolutely loved Serena!
I stand and watch her crying over the wolf and shake my head. She’s absolutely unbelievable. She killed the wolf, even though it could have easily killed her. I also can’t believe she just risked her life to save me. I shake my head again. I owe her my life.
Serena is more like a mother to Elodie than a sister. She watches over her and protects her. She feeds her, plays with her and educates her on life. She would give her life to save her sister. Elodie is the most precious thing to Serena.
Elodie asks question after question. She reminds me so much of myself when I was her age. When her eyelids start drooping, I put the book away and blow her candle out. I lean down and kiss Elodie on her forehead.
Elodie is the most adorable and funny little girl! She is only 6 but she sure is a little spitfire. She fiercely loves her big sister and is not afraid to speak her mind.
“We have five knives, two guns, and a big hole.”
I look up into her innocent blue eyes and try not to smile. “Erm, okay.”
“If you do anything bad, I will shoot you and put you in the hole.”
My only complaint is…I want more! It wasn’t too short but it definitely could have been longer. I loved the Epilogue but wish it would have went farther into the future.
All in all this was a beautiful and touching story. It hooked me from page 1 and held my attention all the way to the end. I completely fell in love with the characters. I can’t wait to read more from this author!!
ARC generously provided by author for an honest review
August 1, 2013
5 MIND BLOWING, UNPREDICTABLE, SIT ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT STARS
I can honestly say that no other book that I have read compares to this story...Such a unique beautifully written book which will stay in my mind for days to come..
At the beginning of the book I had no idea what the hell I was reading as the blurb to me seems so vague and doesn't really give much away, it's not until you get about half way through that you begin to understand the mystery that surrounds Serena, and from that point the story just takes off!!
Highly recommend..
I can honestly say that no other book that I have read compares to this story...Such a unique beautifully written book which will stay in my mind for days to come..
At the beginning of the book I had no idea what the hell I was reading as the blurb to me seems so vague and doesn't really give much away, it's not until you get about half way through that you begin to understand the mystery that surrounds Serena, and from that point the story just takes off!!
Highly recommend..
June 20, 2013
5 unbelievably, oh-my-God-it-was-sooooo-good stars!!!
**ARC received in exchange for my honest review**
WOW! WOW! WOW!
I don’t know if my review will do this book justice, but I’m going to go ahead and try.
First of all, I have to say that I’ve NEVER read a book that captivated me right from the prologue alone as much as this book did. Beckie Stevenson has done a fabulous job of inventing a story that weaves through the pages so beautifully and wonderfully that this book will stay with me forever. I LOVED how the story flowed with alternate POV’s. It was wonderfully refreshing reading from Kaiden’s POV as the story progressed, and I loved feeling/reading his torment as he dealt with the consequences of his decision.
So, let’s talk about the characters…. Serena, all that I can say about her is that even though she’s been through hell and back I wish I was her! Seriously, if I could be any girl in a book then I think I would want to be Serena Scott. I loved her from the word go and I loved everything about her. I don’t think I’ve gelled more with any other character as I have with Serena. I love that she asked the questions that we were all thinking. I loved that she dealt with the whole situation like a girl really would who had suffered what she had suffered. She was consistent and surprisingly funny.
Kaiden…. *fans face with paper*…oh boy, oh boy. He’s my new book boyfriend. He was such a tinker at the beginning and we all love a boy who is a little bit naughty, but I loved how we got to hear what he was thinking when it was his POV, but then read what he was actually saying in Serena’s, and I love that I feel like I’ve been in the mind of a boy. I don’t think any boy would disagree that this is how 17/18 year old boys actually think/act. I don’t know where Beckie Stevenson got her references from but I’d like to know him!
Elodie….she was so sweet and cute. I wanted to adopt her!
This book isn’t just NA romance, it’s so much more. It’s fun, witty and there’s an element of a twist in there that I wasn’t really expecting. This book made my heart do strange little jumps and squeezes, it made me laugh and it made me cry. What an emotional read!
That ending! Oh my days, I was literally in tears, but thank God that when I turned the page there was an epilogue and what an epilogue it was! Beckie Stevenson you nearly gave me a heart attack! I can’t tell you how much I love epilogues and this one was brilliant! It ended nicely and I don’t think there’s a sequel, but I would love to hear more of Serena and Kaiden’s story. If there isn’t a second book, then I’m still very satisfied with how this book ended. I think I would go as far as saying that the epilogue MADE the whole book.
Overall this book was nothing more than fantastic. What a superb debut novel. I can’t wait to read more books from Beckie Stevenson and I would recommend this book to everyone!
Well done Beckie. You have written a beautiful, exciting and emotional story about love, hate and everything else in between. Good luck with the release!
**ARC received in exchange for my honest review**
WOW! WOW! WOW!
I don’t know if my review will do this book justice, but I’m going to go ahead and try.
First of all, I have to say that I’ve NEVER read a book that captivated me right from the prologue alone as much as this book did. Beckie Stevenson has done a fabulous job of inventing a story that weaves through the pages so beautifully and wonderfully that this book will stay with me forever. I LOVED how the story flowed with alternate POV’s. It was wonderfully refreshing reading from Kaiden’s POV as the story progressed, and I loved feeling/reading his torment as he dealt with the consequences of his decision.
So, let’s talk about the characters…. Serena, all that I can say about her is that even though she’s been through hell and back I wish I was her! Seriously, if I could be any girl in a book then I think I would want to be Serena Scott. I loved her from the word go and I loved everything about her. I don’t think I’ve gelled more with any other character as I have with Serena. I love that she asked the questions that we were all thinking. I loved that she dealt with the whole situation like a girl really would who had suffered what she had suffered. She was consistent and surprisingly funny.
Kaiden…. *fans face with paper*…oh boy, oh boy. He’s my new book boyfriend. He was such a tinker at the beginning and we all love a boy who is a little bit naughty, but I loved how we got to hear what he was thinking when it was his POV, but then read what he was actually saying in Serena’s, and I love that I feel like I’ve been in the mind of a boy. I don’t think any boy would disagree that this is how 17/18 year old boys actually think/act. I don’t know where Beckie Stevenson got her references from but I’d like to know him!
Elodie….she was so sweet and cute. I wanted to adopt her!
This book isn’t just NA romance, it’s so much more. It’s fun, witty and there’s an element of a twist in there that I wasn’t really expecting. This book made my heart do strange little jumps and squeezes, it made me laugh and it made me cry. What an emotional read!
That ending! Oh my days, I was literally in tears, but thank God that when I turned the page there was an epilogue and what an epilogue it was! Beckie Stevenson you nearly gave me a heart attack! I can’t tell you how much I love epilogues and this one was brilliant! It ended nicely and I don’t think there’s a sequel, but I would love to hear more of Serena and Kaiden’s story. If there isn’t a second book, then I’m still very satisfied with how this book ended. I think I would go as far as saying that the epilogue MADE the whole book.
Overall this book was nothing more than fantastic. What a superb debut novel. I can’t wait to read more books from Beckie Stevenson and I would recommend this book to everyone!
Well done Beckie. You have written a beautiful, exciting and emotional story about love, hate and everything else in between. Good luck with the release!
July 22, 2013
4.5 stars
Holy Holy Crap!
This book started slowly, interesting but slowly....
A cabin in the woods...
2 BADASS GIRLS LIVING MY ANY MEANS NECESSARY... THEY ARE BOTH SOOO BADASS! I HAD A GIRL CRUSH ON SERENA, SERIOUS GIRL CRUSH ON HER! ESPECIALLY AFTER THE WOLF SCENE!! *FANS SELF*
KAIDEN... I LOVERED HIM... I REALLY DID... HE'S THINKS HE'S SO BADASS, BUT DEEP DOWN HE IS SUCH A MAN OF WORTH
THE ENDING WAS SOO GOOD! I LOVE HOW WE WERE KEPT ON OUR TOES RIGHT TILL THE BITTER END... SERIOUSLY SO GOOD!
RECOMMENDED READ TO EVERYONE
Holy Holy Crap!
This book started slowly, interesting but slowly....
A cabin in the woods...
2 BADASS GIRLS LIVING MY ANY MEANS NECESSARY... THEY ARE BOTH SOOO BADASS! I HAD A GIRL CRUSH ON SERENA, SERIOUS GIRL CRUSH ON HER! ESPECIALLY AFTER THE WOLF SCENE!! *FANS SELF*
KAIDEN... I LOVERED HIM... I REALLY DID... HE'S THINKS HE'S SO BADASS, BUT DEEP DOWN HE IS SUCH A MAN OF WORTH
THE ENDING WAS SOO GOOD! I LOVE HOW WE WERE KEPT ON OUR TOES RIGHT TILL THE BITTER END... SERIOUSLY SO GOOD!
RECOMMENDED READ TO EVERYONE
July 24, 2013
OH. MY. FREAKING. GOD.
*ARC COPY*
First off, thank you so VERY VERY VERY VERY much Beckie for the ARC copy! So in exchange, here is my honest review:
Speechless.... that's how this book left me. It should really come with a warning saying "CAUTION: BEST DAMN BOOK YOU'VE READ IN A LLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG TIME" because its true.
I thought I've read some pretty good books lately but not until this.... it just blew everything out of the water. I was not expecting to be swept off my feet but that is exactly what happened, I fell in love with the crazy situations, quirky characters and dazzling plot, captivating me with every word.
The characters felt real to me, their conversations never had that awkward forced feeling, they all fit well together and they were natural. In so many books the characters feel fake and awkward and I find myself saying "are you stupid? who in their right mind would act like that?" but I never once questioned the motives of these characters because... they felt real.
Serena is a great main character, she was such a strong person, I couldn't help but like her. Her devotion to her sister Elodie and the situation they were in was truly amazing, she never felt sorry for herself or got embarrassed for asking necessary questions. She was blunt, honest, carefree and simply a fun person, she didn't let anything hold her back and didn't attempt to be anything but herself. I love how she always kept going, never once giving in to self pity, being an amazing strong character throughout the whole book.
Kaiden.... :) gotta love Kai. He was quite the troubled character but that made me like him even more. He wasn't perfect and yet he wasn't completely "bad boy" flawed either. He had a temper and made mistakes. We all do. I think I liked him so much because he wasn't the perfect book boyfriend, he was so unbelievably real. He acts differently towards the different people in his life, he tries to please his mother, he shows his true self to the girl he really cares about, his jealousy, his anger, envy, pride, need to get ahead, love, compassion.... he is so complex and yet that's what real people are. They are complex, a whirlwind of never ending emotions constantly twisting and changing, forcing us to make choices that don't really make sense at the time and yet doing it because it seems right.... that's reality.
I also loved Angela and Auden... They turned out to be really great and supportive, goodness, I fell in love with them right away as well.
On another note: Serena and Kaiden's relationship was beautiful, it didn't feel rushed or forced, it progressed naturally with the book along with the evolution of the characters. The pacing of the book was perfect, it flew without being too fast but didn't drag in the slightest. It moved from one world to the other with perfect ease and no hesitation... It was perfect with the alternating views, it really helped me get to know Selena and Kaiden better, to know the inner workings of each of their minds and their take on each situation without being overbearing and predictable. I loved not knowing what was going to happen next, leading me straight to the bittersweet ending... goodness, I'm in love with this book.
The only bad thing I have to say about this book is... I read it too fast. I already miss the cute conversations and easy relationships. I REALLY friggen hope there is another. HEAR THAT BECKIE?! There better be another!!!!!!!!!
This is a must read, I recommend to all.
*ARC COPY*
First off, thank you so VERY VERY VERY VERY much Beckie for the ARC copy! So in exchange, here is my honest review:
Speechless.... that's how this book left me. It should really come with a warning saying "CAUTION: BEST DAMN BOOK YOU'VE READ IN A LLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG TIME" because its true.
I thought I've read some pretty good books lately but not until this.... it just blew everything out of the water. I was not expecting to be swept off my feet but that is exactly what happened, I fell in love with the crazy situations, quirky characters and dazzling plot, captivating me with every word.
The characters felt real to me, their conversations never had that awkward forced feeling, they all fit well together and they were natural. In so many books the characters feel fake and awkward and I find myself saying "are you stupid? who in their right mind would act like that?" but I never once questioned the motives of these characters because... they felt real.
Serena is a great main character, she was such a strong person, I couldn't help but like her. Her devotion to her sister Elodie and the situation they were in was truly amazing, she never felt sorry for herself or got embarrassed for asking necessary questions. She was blunt, honest, carefree and simply a fun person, she didn't let anything hold her back and didn't attempt to be anything but herself. I love how she always kept going, never once giving in to self pity, being an amazing strong character throughout the whole book.
Kaiden.... :) gotta love Kai. He was quite the troubled character but that made me like him even more. He wasn't perfect and yet he wasn't completely "bad boy" flawed either. He had a temper and made mistakes. We all do. I think I liked him so much because he wasn't the perfect book boyfriend, he was so unbelievably real. He acts differently towards the different people in his life, he tries to please his mother, he shows his true self to the girl he really cares about, his jealousy, his anger, envy, pride, need to get ahead, love, compassion.... he is so complex and yet that's what real people are. They are complex, a whirlwind of never ending emotions constantly twisting and changing, forcing us to make choices that don't really make sense at the time and yet doing it because it seems right.... that's reality.
I also loved Angela and Auden... They turned out to be really great and supportive, goodness, I fell in love with them right away as well.
On another note: Serena and Kaiden's relationship was beautiful, it didn't feel rushed or forced, it progressed naturally with the book along with the evolution of the characters. The pacing of the book was perfect, it flew without being too fast but didn't drag in the slightest. It moved from one world to the other with perfect ease and no hesitation... It was perfect with the alternating views, it really helped me get to know Selena and Kaiden better, to know the inner workings of each of their minds and their take on each situation without being overbearing and predictable. I loved not knowing what was going to happen next, leading me straight to the bittersweet ending... goodness, I'm in love with this book.
The only bad thing I have to say about this book is... I read it too fast. I already miss the cute conversations and easy relationships. I REALLY friggen hope there is another. HEAR THAT BECKIE?! There better be another!!!!!!!!!
This is a must read, I recommend to all.
July 8, 2013
4.5 Stars
I enjoyed reading Sorrow Woods. It was unlike any other book I’ve read recently. I was hooked from the beginning and was anxious to unravel this mystery! Who is Serena? What happened to her and why does she live in the woods? I don’t want to give away anything that wasn’t revealed in the blurb so that anyone who reads this will have the full experience. I just have to say that it was all consuming and you will not be able to put this down!
Serena
Serena is the lovable heroine of the story. She reminds of me Katniss with her resourcefulness and independence but with innocence so rare, it almost doesn't exist. It was an emotional journey seeing how she handled the challenges that came with the revelation that her world might not be what it seems.....She came out stronger and wiser beyond her years.
Kaiden
Kaiden was as much as mystery to me as Serena. He has his secrets and there were many instances where I questioned his intentions. As the story progress, you realize that he’s just misunderstood and is just as lost as Serena in the real world.
This is a story about love, life, forgiveness, change and most importantly the meaning of family.
I don't know what else I can say without giving away the story so I won't say anymore. This is a story I will remember for a long time and I urge everyone to pick it up!
Thank you Beckie for sharing this story with us! : D
ARC provided by author for an honest review
I enjoyed reading Sorrow Woods. It was unlike any other book I’ve read recently. I was hooked from the beginning and was anxious to unravel this mystery! Who is Serena? What happened to her and why does she live in the woods? I don’t want to give away anything that wasn’t revealed in the blurb so that anyone who reads this will have the full experience. I just have to say that it was all consuming and you will not be able to put this down!
Serena
Serena is the lovable heroine of the story. She reminds of me Katniss with her resourcefulness and independence but with innocence so rare, it almost doesn't exist. It was an emotional journey seeing how she handled the challenges that came with the revelation that her world might not be what it seems.....She came out stronger and wiser beyond her years.
Kaiden
Kaiden was as much as mystery to me as Serena. He has his secrets and there were many instances where I questioned his intentions. As the story progress, you realize that he’s just misunderstood and is just as lost as Serena in the real world.
This is a story about love, life, forgiveness, change and most importantly the meaning of family.
I don't know what else I can say without giving away the story so I won't say anymore. This is a story I will remember for a long time and I urge everyone to pick it up!
Thank you Beckie for sharing this story with us! : D
ARC provided by author for an honest review
January 11, 2016
Just finished Sorrow Woods and I just have to say what a fantastic debut novel by Beckie Stevenson . It's not very often that a book grabs me within the first few pages but this one did. It's such an original fascinating story and I just could not put it down.
It's the story of Serena who lives in the woods with her mother and sister Elodie, oblivious to the trappings of the outside world. Until one day a young tattooed mysterious guy enters their lives and nothing will be the same again for all of them. I'm not going too deep into the story as the plot twists and turns and you wonder where it will be going next. This book will be added to my favourite list, a well deserved 5 star rating.
It's the story of Serena who lives in the woods with her mother and sister Elodie, oblivious to the trappings of the outside world. Until one day a young tattooed mysterious guy enters their lives and nothing will be the same again for all of them. I'm not going too deep into the story as the plot twists and turns and you wonder where it will be going next. This book will be added to my favourite list, a well deserved 5 star rating.
November 16, 2014
**ARC provided by an author in exchange for honest review**
“How did you even get here?”
I blink at him, confused by his question. “We live here.”
“You live here, in these woods?”
When Kaiden stumbles across Serena Scott whilst hunting in Sorrow Woods he thinks all of his birthdays have come at once. Finally, the girl that’s haunted and intrigued him and his parents for the last fourteen years is standing in front of him.
And she’s alive.
Serena should have known that he would shatter her life into a thousand pieces. It wasn't because of the gun, or the tattoos that snaked around his arm, but because he was the first boy that she’d ever set eyes on.
He wasn’t just any boy either; he was Kaiden Matthews.
He was dark, dangerous and strangely alluring.
And he was beautiful.
Serena’s life as she knows it is destroyed after Kaiden drops his bombshell. As the consequences of his actions begin to penetrate through into her life she vows to stay away from him, and while she might have been in his past, she refuses to be his future.
Kaiden knows that in order for either of them to salvage anything from the mess he’s made he needs to make sure the secrets of his past stay hidden, but as they start to rebuild their lives they find themselves stuck in a whirlwind of secrets and confessions that could threaten to break their already fragile relationship
Does it sounds as misterious to you? I really don't know what to expect and it makes reading book sweeter. I'm keepink my fingers crossed that it'll be as good as my previous read.
AFTER THOUGHTS
Rating: 3,75 stars
Mysterious. Dark. Unique.
Captivating blurb of Beckie Stevenson’s novel quickly caught my attention, so I knew that after setting my eye on Sorrow Woods for the first time there won’t be any way of me not reading it. Almost instantly after I got my copy I dived in, I was so thrilled to have a chance of meeting Serena and Kaiden’s story before everybody else.
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect so my imagination was running overdrive, which unfortunately was a big mistake. I have to confess I thought Sorrow Woods isn’t contemporary book, which led me to believe that it is something entirely else. I’m still not sure if my expectations didn’t change my way of looking at Sorrow Woods, for what I am really sorry. If I haven’t thought it’s historical romance or fantasy I would love it way much more.
Serena, her sister Elodie and Mother live in the woods, far away from civilization, electricity, school and everyday problems. The girls don’t know how normal world looks like, because they have never seen the city and everything they know is from reading their precious books and newspapers. Their Mother comes to city for supplies but besides that they do nothing more than live in a shack.
One day, when Serena is almost seventeen years old and her mother has gone to the city for supplies, she and Elodie meet Kaiden. The first boy they have ever seen. He’s hunting in the woods when he realize that he’s observed. Their encounter is a first sign of big changes that Serena and Elodie will have to face. I can’t say anything more to not give minor spoilers.
Why have I thought it’s not contemporary? The answer’s simple: living in woods without modern technology and hunting gave me impression of another world, realm or something like this. THE. BIGGEST. MISUNDERSTANDING. EVER.
It totally spoiled my fan! I was so… disappointed? No, it’s not the right word, because I enjoyed reading Sorrow Woods. The story isn’t bad at all, plot is well built, characters interesting, setting unique, romance is really sweet. So why am I feeling this hunger for something more?!
I’m pretty sure most readers will immensely enjoy reading Stevenson’s novel. And I would too, if I haven’t let my crazy imagination of not ordinary tale eat half of my brain!
Overall, this book is pretty kick ass. Fans of something not ordinary will have a blast reading this young adult novel (I think it’s more ya than na) with mysterious plot as well as interesting romance. For me, unfortunately Sorrow Woods is a missed opportunity for great read and it’s all my fault.
“How did you even get here?”
I blink at him, confused by his question. “We live here.”
“You live here, in these woods?”
When Kaiden stumbles across Serena Scott whilst hunting in Sorrow Woods he thinks all of his birthdays have come at once. Finally, the girl that’s haunted and intrigued him and his parents for the last fourteen years is standing in front of him.
And she’s alive.
Serena should have known that he would shatter her life into a thousand pieces. It wasn't because of the gun, or the tattoos that snaked around his arm, but because he was the first boy that she’d ever set eyes on.
He wasn’t just any boy either; he was Kaiden Matthews.
He was dark, dangerous and strangely alluring.
And he was beautiful.
Serena’s life as she knows it is destroyed after Kaiden drops his bombshell. As the consequences of his actions begin to penetrate through into her life she vows to stay away from him, and while she might have been in his past, she refuses to be his future.
Kaiden knows that in order for either of them to salvage anything from the mess he’s made he needs to make sure the secrets of his past stay hidden, but as they start to rebuild their lives they find themselves stuck in a whirlwind of secrets and confessions that could threaten to break their already fragile relationship
Does it sounds as misterious to you? I really don't know what to expect and it makes reading book sweeter. I'm keepink my fingers crossed that it'll be as good as my previous read.
AFTER THOUGHTS
Rating: 3,75 stars
Mysterious. Dark. Unique.
Captivating blurb of Beckie Stevenson’s novel quickly caught my attention, so I knew that after setting my eye on Sorrow Woods for the first time there won’t be any way of me not reading it. Almost instantly after I got my copy I dived in, I was so thrilled to have a chance of meeting Serena and Kaiden’s story before everybody else.
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect so my imagination was running overdrive, which unfortunately was a big mistake. I have to confess I thought Sorrow Woods isn’t contemporary book, which led me to believe that it is something entirely else. I’m still not sure if my expectations didn’t change my way of looking at Sorrow Woods, for what I am really sorry. If I haven’t thought it’s historical romance or fantasy I would love it way much more.
Serena, her sister Elodie and Mother live in the woods, far away from civilization, electricity, school and everyday problems. The girls don’t know how normal world looks like, because they have never seen the city and everything they know is from reading their precious books and newspapers. Their Mother comes to city for supplies but besides that they do nothing more than live in a shack.
One day, when Serena is almost seventeen years old and her mother has gone to the city for supplies, she and Elodie meet Kaiden. The first boy they have ever seen. He’s hunting in the woods when he realize that he’s observed. Their encounter is a first sign of big changes that Serena and Elodie will have to face. I can’t say anything more to not give minor spoilers.
Why have I thought it’s not contemporary? The answer’s simple: living in woods without modern technology and hunting gave me impression of another world, realm or something like this. THE. BIGGEST. MISUNDERSTANDING. EVER.
It totally spoiled my fan! I was so… disappointed? No, it’s not the right word, because I enjoyed reading Sorrow Woods. The story isn’t bad at all, plot is well built, characters interesting, setting unique, romance is really sweet. So why am I feeling this hunger for something more?!
I’m pretty sure most readers will immensely enjoy reading Stevenson’s novel. And I would too, if I haven’t let my crazy imagination of not ordinary tale eat half of my brain!
Overall, this book is pretty kick ass. Fans of something not ordinary will have a blast reading this young adult novel (I think it’s more ya than na) with mysterious plot as well as interesting romance. For me, unfortunately Sorrow Woods is a missed opportunity for great read and it’s all my fault.
August 2, 2013
The book keeps you entranced from start to finish... the story is different and it's well written that it captures your heart. You heart will melt for Serena and Emma... and for Kaiden. I love how the story goes for all the characters in the book. If you want something different, I highly recommend you read this book.
July 21, 2015
This book is unlike anything I have ever read. Serena lives in the woods with her sister Elodie and their mother. They have never met anyone else and live a very rustic life. Kaiden was supposed to hunting with his father and his father’s friends. He gets separated from the group and finds the girls running in the woods. They don’t know what to think of Kaiden as they have never seen a boy before. He fallows them back to see where they live. He knows as soon as he sees Serena that she is the person who has haunted his family and his parent’s close friends. Serena was taken from her parents when she was 2 and half and has no clue. Kaiden comes back and stays with them for a few days while the girls “mother” is gone to the city to get supplies. Kaiden tells the police that he has found Serena. They raid the house in the woods and take the girls to the hospital so they can reconnect with their real families. Serena is so mad at Kaiden. How could he lie and pretend to be her friend and then do this to her. Her whole life has been a lie and she feels betrayed by everyone. Kaiden has never felt the way he does about Serena about anyone else before. When he is around her he is just himself. He doesn’t have to pretend to be something or someone else. She accepts him the way he is and he gets a fresh slate with her. He is the bad boy; he gets in fights and doesn’t always do the right thing. In fact telling the police he found Serena is the only good thing he has done in his life. Serena gets butterflies in her stomach and feels so strong when she is around Kaiden. Will they be able to get over everything that has happened? Will Serena adjust to a normal life? This book was an emotional rollercoaster. So much happens during the book. I felt so bad for Serena. Her life is ripped apart when she learns that she was kidnapped as a child. She has read lots of books so she knows somethings. But reading about something and doing it is two different things. Kaiden just wanted to do the right thing. However meshing the way he acts around Serena and the way everyone else expects him to act is hard. He loves the way he is when he is around Serena but how does he go about changing so that he is like that all the time. He friends and family are used to him acting a certain way. Serena’s parents are trying to get to know her again. They aren’t sure how hard to push certain things and how to act around her really. Then there is the woman who kidnapped her and Elodie. She is still out there. Will she try to take her again? Would Serena go with willing? I really liked this book. The ending took me by total surprise and think I stopped breathing at one point. Reading about everything Serena has to go through and how she stays strong is amazing. Kaiden realizes how stupid somethings he has done are and how is doesn’t like the person he is when he isn’t with Serena is great. He wants to be this better person all the time. This person she deserves. I will be looking for other books by Beckie Stevenson to read. This book is amazing and inspiring. It’s wonderfully written. The characters have depth. I felt like I was pulled in and had to keep reading.
I was given this book in return for an honest review.
I was given this book in return for an honest review.
July 24, 2015
This book took me by surprise. In the best possible way. I had never read anything by this author before, but after reading the blurb I was intrigued. And my curiosity paid off.
This is not your typical story. It's actually almost like two stories to be honest. And the fact that it shifts back and forth between Serena and Kaiden's POVs supports that. The first part of the story lets you into Serena's life. You meet her in the woods and see her day to day life. Serena is almost a contradiction. She is 16, but she has so many responsibilities between taking care of her 7 year old sister Elodie while her mother is away for weeks at a time, to taking care of their home in the woods. She is strong and caring and intelligent. But then you see how sheltered she is from the real world (to the point that she's not even entirely sure of what country she lives in) and you realize that she is also VERY naive, and in some aspects almost child-like. And this is how Kaiden stumbles upon her. Literally. Their first meeting is interesting in that she's never seen anyone besides her sister and her mother before (besides in her books and magazines) let alone a guy and you can tell from Kaiden's demeanor and inner dialogue that he knows her. But despite his knowledge of who she is (which you don't necessarily find out right away) he is utterly captivated by her. She captures his attention. She is so completely different from any girl he's ever met before (even if you were to take away the whole born and raised in the woods factor) and he wants to get to know her. Which is exactly what he does. And Serena has no objections. Both her and Elodie pick his brain about the outside world and give him a taste of their world. And Serena begins to build a friendship with him. And then it's all smashed to smithereens.
“I stare at him and the way his clothes make his face look paler and his eyes two shades darker than when I last saw him. He doesn't seem real. How can a boy look so magical and interesting, yet utterly terrifying at the same time?”
This is where the second part of the story comes in. It is all revolving around the after effects of Kaiden's tragic revelation. After that Serena's world turns completely upside down and you watch her strength in trying to pick up the pieces and put herself back together. And Kaiden's role as the instigator, he becomes a friend and the rapidly growing feelings between the two of them serve as a salve for her broken life.
“Ssh," he almost whispers. "I heard you Serena." He snakes his arm around my back and roughly pulls me into him. "I get that I scare you and that you don't really like me. I understand that's how you feel, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to accept it.”
I am purposely trying to be vague, because that fact that I didn't expect it to play out the way it did was one of my favorite parts about the story and I don't want to take that away from any future reader. I also discovered that this was Beckie Stevenson's first novel, which totally blows me away. But I will say after this I am pretty sure I will pick up anything that comes off of her fingertips.
This is not your typical story. It's actually almost like two stories to be honest. And the fact that it shifts back and forth between Serena and Kaiden's POVs supports that. The first part of the story lets you into Serena's life. You meet her in the woods and see her day to day life. Serena is almost a contradiction. She is 16, but she has so many responsibilities between taking care of her 7 year old sister Elodie while her mother is away for weeks at a time, to taking care of their home in the woods. She is strong and caring and intelligent. But then you see how sheltered she is from the real world (to the point that she's not even entirely sure of what country she lives in) and you realize that she is also VERY naive, and in some aspects almost child-like. And this is how Kaiden stumbles upon her. Literally. Their first meeting is interesting in that she's never seen anyone besides her sister and her mother before (besides in her books and magazines) let alone a guy and you can tell from Kaiden's demeanor and inner dialogue that he knows her. But despite his knowledge of who she is (which you don't necessarily find out right away) he is utterly captivated by her. She captures his attention. She is so completely different from any girl he's ever met before (even if you were to take away the whole born and raised in the woods factor) and he wants to get to know her. Which is exactly what he does. And Serena has no objections. Both her and Elodie pick his brain about the outside world and give him a taste of their world. And Serena begins to build a friendship with him. And then it's all smashed to smithereens.
“I stare at him and the way his clothes make his face look paler and his eyes two shades darker than when I last saw him. He doesn't seem real. How can a boy look so magical and interesting, yet utterly terrifying at the same time?”
This is where the second part of the story comes in. It is all revolving around the after effects of Kaiden's tragic revelation. After that Serena's world turns completely upside down and you watch her strength in trying to pick up the pieces and put herself back together. And Kaiden's role as the instigator, he becomes a friend and the rapidly growing feelings between the two of them serve as a salve for her broken life.
“Ssh," he almost whispers. "I heard you Serena." He snakes his arm around my back and roughly pulls me into him. "I get that I scare you and that you don't really like me. I understand that's how you feel, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to accept it.”
I am purposely trying to be vague, because that fact that I didn't expect it to play out the way it did was one of my favorite parts about the story and I don't want to take that away from any future reader. I also discovered that this was Beckie Stevenson's first novel, which totally blows me away. But I will say after this I am pretty sure I will pick up anything that comes off of her fingertips.
July 7, 2013
I honestly dont know where to start with this book, it has literally let me speechless, and that in itself is nigh on impossible. This book was perfect. There is nothing I can criticise, there is nothing I would change, there is nothing I would add. It had everything!
The subject matter is completely new (to me), the writing style is flowing, flawless and absolutely fan-bloody-tastic! I don't even want to write a synopsis of the story, it doesn't deserve to be shortened. It is what it is in every perfect word, to remove any of those would be a sin. Beckie Stevenson held me captivated from page one, she drew me in from the 1st to the last word. Time no longer existed for me outwith the timeframe of the book. I wanted to be running through the woods, jumping off cliffs into lakes, seeing boys for the first time, I even wanted to kill that chicken! I want to be Serena (that's all she will ever be to me) and coming from a girl who couldn't even camp that a saying a lot! I wanted to be Serena before and after! For the character to remain strong, true to herself yet completely different in the 2 parts of this book is down to the exquisite writing skills of Beckie Stevenson, i am in awe of her, she is my new writing hero!
I knew what Kaiden was going to do, I wanted him to! i didn't want him to, I was so torn! I hated him, I loved him, he was so strong but so unsure, he was the ying to her yang. He was her rescuer but she was his saviour. And he was fit, toned, hot and a bad boy, seriously what more could you want!!!
I don't want to talk about 'mother', I know she was essential but I am so glad that she was only included as a necessity, albeit a pivotal character, not as the story. Eloide is a testament to Serena, her character was age perfect, her lines are classic and I love how her life remains intertwined with Serena's. Their bond is unbreakable, their story unique, their love unbreakable.
This book addressed such a forbidden subject. It's something every parent dreads, warns their children about but never expects to happen. For those of us in the uk (and maybe further, I don't know) Madeleine McCann will never be forgotten, and for me this story brought all my emotions from the time back into the forefront of my mind. I didn't know what I wanted to happen with this story but the author guided me perfectly through the mydrid of my emotions.
I don't want this book to be over and now that it is I'm quite lost. The author immersed me in the story, I was literally there every step of the way, and I cant wait to read more from her. I think I might have a new book crush!
The subject matter is completely new (to me), the writing style is flowing, flawless and absolutely fan-bloody-tastic! I don't even want to write a synopsis of the story, it doesn't deserve to be shortened. It is what it is in every perfect word, to remove any of those would be a sin. Beckie Stevenson held me captivated from page one, she drew me in from the 1st to the last word. Time no longer existed for me outwith the timeframe of the book. I wanted to be running through the woods, jumping off cliffs into lakes, seeing boys for the first time, I even wanted to kill that chicken! I want to be Serena (that's all she will ever be to me) and coming from a girl who couldn't even camp that a saying a lot! I wanted to be Serena before and after! For the character to remain strong, true to herself yet completely different in the 2 parts of this book is down to the exquisite writing skills of Beckie Stevenson, i am in awe of her, she is my new writing hero!
I knew what Kaiden was going to do, I wanted him to! i didn't want him to, I was so torn! I hated him, I loved him, he was so strong but so unsure, he was the ying to her yang. He was her rescuer but she was his saviour. And he was fit, toned, hot and a bad boy, seriously what more could you want!!!
I don't want to talk about 'mother', I know she was essential but I am so glad that she was only included as a necessity, albeit a pivotal character, not as the story. Eloide is a testament to Serena, her character was age perfect, her lines are classic and I love how her life remains intertwined with Serena's. Their bond is unbreakable, their story unique, their love unbreakable.
This book addressed such a forbidden subject. It's something every parent dreads, warns their children about but never expects to happen. For those of us in the uk (and maybe further, I don't know) Madeleine McCann will never be forgotten, and for me this story brought all my emotions from the time back into the forefront of my mind. I didn't know what I wanted to happen with this story but the author guided me perfectly through the mydrid of my emotions.
I don't want this book to be over and now that it is I'm quite lost. The author immersed me in the story, I was literally there every step of the way, and I cant wait to read more from her. I think I might have a new book crush!
August 3, 2013
4.5 stars (seriously, why can't we do half stars on here??) I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it captured my attention right from the get-go and it kept me guessing as to what exactly was going to happen... which is saying a lot for me as i have a tendency to guess storylines/plot points/twists and etc. So never being "sure" how things were going to play out, kept me on my toes and enthralled :) Also, i really liked that the story didn't just have a different voice between the two narrators (Kaiden was gruff whereas Serena was innocent), there was a completely different way in which the story was viewed therefore told... I always read Serena's in a more proper, matter-of-fact, almost "clipped" tone where as Kaiden was more of the "well, eff it all" tone. *sigh* bad boys
As for the moments of British poking through with these American characters, they weren't all that frequent and they never distracted me from the story at hand, they would simply make me giggle and wish i were British (seriously, why don't we say "gutted"? The imagery with that word is just spectacular with the feeling you're trying to convey)
I'm withholding the half star purely from pouting that there were no sexy times... i really wanted Kaiden to teach Serena some things... but that would have made the book too long without it seeming rushed... but still, i'm pouting ;)
As for the moments of British poking through with these American characters, they weren't all that frequent and they never distracted me from the story at hand, they would simply make me giggle and wish i were British (seriously, why don't we say "gutted"? The imagery with that word is just spectacular with the feeling you're trying to convey)
I'm withholding the half star purely from pouting that there were no sexy times... i really wanted Kaiden to teach Serena some things... but that would have made the book too long without it seeming rushed... but still, i'm pouting ;)
July 8, 2013
Many thanks to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
There are many times when new authors come to the table with tired stories and overused ideas. Beckie Stevenson has thought up a fresh, new idea with fun, relatable characters. The biggest difference between her and those other authors, as I have stated below in my pre-review, is that she put her heart and soul into it, and it drips onto every page. She made you want to keep reading to see what was going to happen to Serena and Kaiden in this new world Serena hardly knew existed, which makes the story fresh and intriguing.
We start with young Serena and a new addition to her small family of just her and her mother. Her mom goes to town for three weeks at a time and generally brings back supplies, but this time she brings back a little sister for Serena. Years later we see how close Serena and her sister are, and it leaves a heartwarming feeling seeing them bond together. But things are going to change once Kaiden sees these two young girls running around in the woods.
Kaiden can't help but to become smitten when he sees Serena for the first time. Being a guy, he certainly doesn't label it that, but he is fascinated by Serena and he wants to learn more. Even as he heads back to civilization he can't stop thinking about her.
Some hard decisions have to be made, and they turn Serena's world upside down...making her despise Kaiden-weeeellll, not despise necessarily, she just thinks she does ;) I couldn't help but smile as Kaiden showed Serena around modern society-he doesn't want to like her, but feels an uncanny need to protect and spend time with her. A victim of his own past, he doesn't think he deserves her. What he doesn't know is that she likes him for who he is and doesn't judge based on someone's past. Whether or not they figure out each other's feelings? You have to read to find out.
Sorrow Woods is a strong story about family and trust, forgiveness and betrayal-what you are willing to do to make things right, even if doing the right thing doesn't make you feel good. A coming of age story that is about learning who you can trust and what life is all about. Serena is dropped into a world she knows nothing about, yet she lives every day with a smile on her face and does what she can to make the most of her new life. People need to be on the lookout for this author's stories, because they will inspire and they are filled with heart. Keep her on your radar, you surely don't want to miss any of her upcoming novels-I won't. :)
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Rating not set in stone....will review on Monday. :) a strong second half: you can tell Beckie put her heart and soul into the story and I love that she followed her dreams and put together a promising debut novel- Bravo Bex!
There are many times when new authors come to the table with tired stories and overused ideas. Beckie Stevenson has thought up a fresh, new idea with fun, relatable characters. The biggest difference between her and those other authors, as I have stated below in my pre-review, is that she put her heart and soul into it, and it drips onto every page. She made you want to keep reading to see what was going to happen to Serena and Kaiden in this new world Serena hardly knew existed, which makes the story fresh and intriguing.
We start with young Serena and a new addition to her small family of just her and her mother. Her mom goes to town for three weeks at a time and generally brings back supplies, but this time she brings back a little sister for Serena. Years later we see how close Serena and her sister are, and it leaves a heartwarming feeling seeing them bond together. But things are going to change once Kaiden sees these two young girls running around in the woods.
Kaiden can't help but to become smitten when he sees Serena for the first time. Being a guy, he certainly doesn't label it that, but he is fascinated by Serena and he wants to learn more. Even as he heads back to civilization he can't stop thinking about her.
Some hard decisions have to be made, and they turn Serena's world upside down...making her despise Kaiden-weeeellll, not despise necessarily, she just thinks she does ;) I couldn't help but smile as Kaiden showed Serena around modern society-he doesn't want to like her, but feels an uncanny need to protect and spend time with her. A victim of his own past, he doesn't think he deserves her. What he doesn't know is that she likes him for who he is and doesn't judge based on someone's past. Whether or not they figure out each other's feelings? You have to read to find out.
Sorrow Woods is a strong story about family and trust, forgiveness and betrayal-what you are willing to do to make things right, even if doing the right thing doesn't make you feel good. A coming of age story that is about learning who you can trust and what life is all about. Serena is dropped into a world she knows nothing about, yet she lives every day with a smile on her face and does what she can to make the most of her new life. People need to be on the lookout for this author's stories, because they will inspire and they are filled with heart. Keep her on your radar, you surely don't want to miss any of her upcoming novels-I won't. :)
*******************
Rating not set in stone....will review on Monday. :) a strong second half: you can tell Beckie put her heart and soul into the story and I love that she followed her dreams and put together a promising debut novel- Bravo Bex!
July 9, 2013
I was very excited to receive this ARC! I saw the blurb and thought "well... this is going to be a different book." So many of the things we read end up being the same thing. But this story was not.
Serena and Elodie live in the woods. They are living their lives carefree and without question. That is until they run into Kai. Kai isn't one the readers fall in love with right away. But as the story moves on, you can't help but love the person he becomes.
Sorrow Woods is a book about love, family, truth, and above all being yourself and finding your way there. If you are looking for something new and fresh then I would definitely recommend this book. Great first book Beckie! The writing was awesome and the story was captivating! Bravo!
Serena and Elodie live in the woods. They are living their lives carefree and without question. That is until they run into Kai. Kai isn't one the readers fall in love with right away. But as the story moves on, you can't help but love the person he becomes.
Sorrow Woods is a book about love, family, truth, and above all being yourself and finding your way there. If you are looking for something new and fresh then I would definitely recommend this book. Great first book Beckie! The writing was awesome and the story was captivating! Bravo!
July 28, 2013
I started this book bases on a recommendation. I must say I was not disappointed. It was out of my norm that I have been reading lately but I was pleasantly surprised. Once I started this one earlier today I knew it would be one of those I would have to complete before being able to sleep. Beckie Stevenson managed to have me hooked from the beginning with this. The twist and turns throughout the book will keep you intrigued. There was one point that I had to stop and just walk away because I was crying so hard I could not focus on the words. I love when a book makes me feel all the emotions I felt while reading this story. This one deserves a spot on my favorites shelf.
August 2, 2013
OhMyGod. This is definitely one of my all time favorite book. I love the characters, the story line, and basically everything. I love how this book has everything in it for the mood. It makes you laugh, cry, and feel joy. I love how the author(Beckie Stevenson) portray Serena. I like that even though Serena grew up not knowing that much about the real world, she tried hard to adapt to her new life style/surroundings in a positive way. Also I like how Serena isn't depicted as a withering violet. She is a strong person/character and would do anything to make everyone she loves happy. I'm really happy how the book turned out and I hope there might be a book 2.
Read
August 5, 2013I'm actually quite speechless with this book.
A 5 star for sure....
A book that is true or could be a true story because I know this happens and it's so terrifying I can't even being to imagine.....omg.
Let's just say I'm leaving this review and just telling you to read it, not because the summary is secretive, but because it opens your eyes to the world around you.
A 5 star for sure....
A book that is true or could be a true story because I know this happens and it's so terrifying I can't even being to imagine.....omg.
Let's just say I'm leaving this review and just telling you to read it, not because the summary is secretive, but because it opens your eyes to the world around you.
July 23, 2013
This had me from the beginning, it truly was different than anything I have read. Hats off to Beckie's style of writing.
August 4, 2013
WHAT A MASTERPIECE.
If you want a different kind of love story, you should read this. Can't stop all my feels.
If you want a different kind of love story, you should read this. Can't stop all my feels.
July 22, 2013
Wow! Couldn't put it down!
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July 28, 2013❤❤❤ it, fantastic story
February 13, 2014
Refreshing, interesting with strong female character.
April 15, 2017
I struggled with how to rate this one. The first half of this book is one of the most fascinating stories I have ever read. Like Kaiden, I was completely immersed in Serena and Elodie's world. The writing style is so compelling, and the pace of the story is perfect. The progression of the sexual tension is also incredibly exciting, even when it's one sided. That is an astounding accomplishment on its own. The author created amazing chemistry between Kaiden and Serena right from the beginning. I realize now that part of that was due to what a unique character Serena was and how fascinated he was by her.
Unfortunately, Serena later loses her uniqueness and becomes a regular girl in love. Considering the physical prowess she displayed in the first part of the story, I was expecting her to become an amazing athlete or to do something extraordinary. I still highly recommend this book for the thrilling first half of the story, but the end didn't fulfill the potential of these characters.
Unfortunately, Serena later loses her uniqueness and becomes a regular girl in love. Considering the physical prowess she displayed in the first part of the story, I was expecting her to become an amazing athlete or to do something extraordinary. I still highly recommend this book for the thrilling first half of the story, but the end didn't fulfill the potential of these characters.
July 28, 2013
Where to begin? Sorrow Woods is absolutely riveting. I could not put it down and read it in one sitting! Serena is almost 17 years old when she meets Kaiden while he is hunting in the woods near her home. He is the first guy she has seen...ever. At first she is scared of him, and at times she has good reason to be frightened, but eventually she begins to trust him and they become friends. Then Kaiden breaks the news to Serena about her tragic past and tries to do the right thing, turning her world upside down. Luckily he is there to help her right it too. Their relationship is a roller coaster of love and hate and confusion, but they sort of figure out what they want eventually. It figures that the one girl NOT trying to change the 'bad boy' is the one that melts his heart. I think probably Serena needed to be found by Kaiden as much as he needed find her, even if he resented her for a bit. The ending has me going a little crazy because I was so desperate for things to work out between these two characters. I would have cried a lot at the end of this book, except that I just knew it had to work out somehow and held out hope for a happy ending! I loved the characters and the story! Little Elodie/Emma was such a funny character and offset some of the more dramatic and sad scenes. I loved that!
As I usually do, I enjoyed getting to see a little bit inside both Kaiden's and Serena's heads and hearing their thoughts on what was going on throughout the story instead of just one perspective. Even though a central element in this book, what happened to Elodie and Serena, is not particularly unique, I feel like Beckie Stevenson did something a little different/more with how the story played out and how characters reacted. It was not overly predictable and the bit at the end there did almost have me running around going crazy for a minute. Overall I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good YA read.
**I received a copy of this book for an honest review**
As I usually do, I enjoyed getting to see a little bit inside both Kaiden's and Serena's heads and hearing their thoughts on what was going on throughout the story instead of just one perspective. Even though a central element in this book, what happened to Elodie and Serena, is not particularly unique, I feel like Beckie Stevenson did something a little different/more with how the story played out and how characters reacted. It was not overly predictable and the bit at the end there did almost have me running around going crazy for a minute. Overall I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good YA read.
**I received a copy of this book for an honest review**
August 5, 2013
Firstly id like to thank Beckie Stevenson for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review
Thank you Beckie for taking pity on me after i begged you for a copy because if you hadn't i would have left this on my to-read shelf for god knows how long and would have kicked myself for it, so you saved me days of self loathing LOL.
This was a wonderful book about a young girl named Serena who's world gets turned upside down by a boy named Kaiden and thrust into a life whe was meant to live but was stolen from her. She must find the strength to sort between the thruths and lies told to her throughout her life while trying to fit into a place she has only read about in books.
I liked Serena and thought even from a young age she was starting to recognize things weren't quite right with her life and although she has lived apart from civilisation all her life she adjusts well and realises that just because her surroundings are different doesn't mean she is. An example of this is when she says:
I can only imagine what Angela and Auden went through and can't believe Lydia (the crazy B***H) did everything out of a warped sense of jealousy and entitlement. Oh and id also like to state for the record i still wanna round house kick Anastasia in the face. I was so glad we got that juicy little bit in the epilogue because i had being dieing for it since Kaiden and Serena met. Highly Recommend
Thank you Beckie for taking pity on me after i begged you for a copy because if you hadn't i would have left this on my to-read shelf for god knows how long and would have kicked myself for it, so you saved me days of self loathing LOL.
This was a wonderful book about a young girl named Serena who's world gets turned upside down by a boy named Kaiden and thrust into a life whe was meant to live but was stolen from her. She must find the strength to sort between the thruths and lies told to her throughout her life while trying to fit into a place she has only read about in books.
I liked Serena and thought even from a young age she was starting to recognize things weren't quite right with her life and although she has lived apart from civilisation all her life she adjusts well and realises that just because her surroundings are different doesn't mean she is. An example of this is when she says:
I glance at myself in the mirror and notice that my green eyes sparkle, just like they did when we were in the wookds. I'm still me. I'm still serena. I'm just cleaner, have nicer smelling hair and now know that i've bee lied to most of my life
I can only imagine what Angela and Auden went through and can't believe Lydia (the crazy B***H) did everything out of a warped sense of jealousy and entitlement. Oh and id also like to state for the record i still wanna round house kick Anastasia in the face. I was so glad we got that juicy little bit in the epilogue because i had being dieing for it since Kaiden and Serena met. Highly Recommend
August 23, 2013
A stunning debut novel about love, mystery and suspense
what would you do if everything you believe was all a lie.....
Serena spends all her life living in the woods with her mom and her sister Elodie apart from everyone else thinking it's normal.
Kaiden, while hunting with his dad comes face to face with the girl he has come to hate and who everyone's been looking for for fourteen years.
Are you happy here?
I'm not unhappy
I love everything about this book, it continues to intrigue me making new want to know what happen next.
A refreshing ya read because it has an equal share about love, coping/adjustment and of suspense.
A minor observation though, I just find it quite unbelievable where Selena knows everything thru reading, including how to operate a shower yet is not aware that she has to cover get nipples and wear knickers especially when raining.
Still, overall I would say this book was a page turner, although I was kinda hoping the epilogue be extended for a couple more pages but nonetheless, it was still perfect.
Two thumbs up!
what would you do if everything you believe was all a lie.....
Serena spends all her life living in the woods with her mom and her sister Elodie apart from everyone else thinking it's normal.
Kaiden, while hunting with his dad comes face to face with the girl he has come to hate and who everyone's been looking for for fourteen years.
Are you happy here?
I'm not unhappy
I love everything about this book, it continues to intrigue me making new want to know what happen next.
A refreshing ya read because it has an equal share about love, coping/adjustment and of suspense.
A minor observation though, I just find it quite unbelievable where Selena knows everything thru reading, including how to operate a shower yet is not aware that she has to cover get nipples and wear knickers especially when raining.
Still, overall I would say this book was a page turner, although I was kinda hoping the epilogue be extended for a couple more pages but nonetheless, it was still perfect.
Two thumbs up!
August 6, 2013
Loved it! This is a truly unique story, very different from all other YAs out there. Even though I could kinda guessed how those girls ended up in the woods, it's still very mysterious. Where did their mother go? How did she make a living?
Romance wise, it's sweet and it felt real. I especially loved the parts where Kaiden was hanging out with Serena and Elodie in the woods. They had so much fun together, and you could see that he's falling for her. I <3 <3 <3 bad-boy-turned-good story, especially one that's because of a girl. I also loved being in Kaiden's head. For me, story almost always becomes much more interesting when it's told from a guy's POV.
Besides an interesting premise and a unique backdrop, it also has some strong characters. Serena is my favorite female character by far, out of all books that I've read lately. She's strong, smart, honest, innocent, resourceful, and beautiful. And, she has a good heart. She didn't whine about her situation, but did her best to adapt, and did a pretty good job at that too.
Also pretty good characterization of the villain. You can truly see how deranged she is, and yet in her unique way, she did love Serena, I think.
Oh and the ending....phew... scared the crap out of me.
Romance wise, it's sweet and it felt real. I especially loved the parts where Kaiden was hanging out with Serena and Elodie in the woods. They had so much fun together, and you could see that he's falling for her. I <3 <3 <3 bad-boy-turned-good story, especially one that's because of a girl. I also loved being in Kaiden's head. For me, story almost always becomes much more interesting when it's told from a guy's POV.
Besides an interesting premise and a unique backdrop, it also has some strong characters. Serena is my favorite female character by far, out of all books that I've read lately. She's strong, smart, honest, innocent, resourceful, and beautiful. And, she has a good heart. She didn't whine about her situation, but did her best to adapt, and did a pretty good job at that too.
Also pretty good characterization of the villain. You can truly see how deranged she is, and yet in her unique way, she did love Serena, I think.
Oh and the ending....phew... scared the crap out of me.
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