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Never Say Never
Amanda goes through her young life having to survive experiences that nobody should have to. She was always quiet and found it easier to keep to herself, rather than share herself with the world. She struggled with being open and talking to anyone about what was invading her life. In her heart she believed it was much easier to keep her secrets to herself. Sometimes sharing your deepest and darkest with someone you love is the only way to free yourself.
Will she ever be able to find that someone? Do the trials of her adolescence make her stronger in the end? Or will her world be turned upside down and she’ll be crushed under the weight of her love for another? Can she recover from the unthinkable? Will Amanda be able to pull though and find the one thing she’s always longed for and never really had…love?
Will she ever be able to find that someone? Do the trials of her adolescence make her stronger in the end? Or will her world be turned upside down and she’ll be crushed under the weight of her love for another? Can she recover from the unthinkable? Will Amanda be able to pull though and find the one thing she’s always longed for and never really had…love?
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 2, 2014
This story is about a girl Amanda who has an extremely hard life growing up. She deals with her mother being a drug addict, seeing her mother in and out of abusive relationships and having a dad who denies her when she was small child. Then she meets Brad who she thought loved her but he only hurt her in the worst way that you could hurt a young girl. Her life was a big mess. But she pulls herself together and moves on. Her family starts to finally get their life on track and she then meets Chris and they fall head over heels for each other. You really fall in love with the relationship that Amanda and Chris have. This book makes you really feel for Amanda and all that she has gone through in her life. I will say I had tears in my eyes a few different times during this book.
This is Melinda Sutherland’s first book and I think she did a great job!! This book is a BIG cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens
This is Melinda Sutherland’s first book and I think she did a great job!! This book is a BIG cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens
July 29, 2013
Its a book that stays with you. This book took me back to how naïve and vulnerable young women can be. Its written in a way you feel a part of the story. You go through the emotions with Amanda, you cry with her, smile with her, and want to comfort her in hard times. This isn't some over the top story, its real.
I am a cliffhanger addict.....I love a well written cliffhanger and this one gives it to you. I'm so ready for more!
I am a cliffhanger addict.....I love a well written cliffhanger and this one gives it to you. I'm so ready for more!
Want to read
September 3, 2013Amazon Freebie 9/2/13
September 25, 2015
Alert: a little spoiler in the review
OMG!!!!!!! Let me start by saying I am an "older" reader and while I have a young teenage daughter and these kinds of things go through my head daily hoping what Brad did to her would not happen to my daughter, I was very happy that Amanda seeked help through therapy and was able to move on with her teenage years and found a young man who cared for her very well and took their time getting to know one another. I don't like giving away spoilers but when Chris was sick for more than a few days, I got worried, really worried. And then bam, she leaves us with a HUGE cliffhanger. UGH!!! I really really love this story and cannot wait for the continuation, so hurry up Melinda!!!! Oh and Brad, he really needs to have the decency to abide Amanda's wishes and leave her alone, as much as he wants to say he's sorry. Sorry doesn't give her back what he took from her.
OMG!!!!!!! Let me start by saying I am an "older" reader and while I have a young teenage daughter and these kinds of things go through my head daily hoping what Brad did to her would not happen to my daughter, I was very happy that Amanda seeked help through therapy and was able to move on with her teenage years and found a young man who cared for her very well and took their time getting to know one another. I don't like giving away spoilers but when Chris was sick for more than a few days, I got worried, really worried. And then bam, she leaves us with a HUGE cliffhanger. UGH!!! I really really love this story and cannot wait for the continuation, so hurry up Melinda!!!! Oh and Brad, he really needs to have the decency to abide Amanda's wishes and leave her alone, as much as he wants to say he's sorry. Sorry doesn't give her back what he took from her.
August 1, 2013
This story is about a girl Amanda who has an extremely hard life growing up. She deals with her mother being a drug addict, seeing her mother in and out of abusive relationships and having a dad who denies her when she was small child. Then she meets Brad who she thought loved her but he only hurt her in the worst way that you could hurt a young girl. Her life was a big mess. But she pulls herself together and moves on. Her family starts to finally get their life on track and she then meets Chris and they fall head over heels for each other. You really fall in love with the relationship that Amanda and Chris have. I will say I had tears in my eyes a few different times during this book.
This is Melinda Sutherland’s first book and I think she did a great job!! This book is a BIG cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens.
This is Melinda Sutherland’s first book and I think she did a great job!! This book is a BIG cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens.
March 12, 2014
The idea and the storyline were good. The characters were interesting and people you wanted to connect to, unfortunately it just wasn't written the best way. There were a lot of strange errors in wording, grammar, spelling and editing. It didn't flow like a novel either. It felt more clinical than that...like a journal almost, but not as good because you couldn't tell where the journal ended and the interaction began. It was very choppy. The best part of a novel is the way you connect with the characters, feel what they are feeling and go through their lives with them. This style of writing makes that difficult. I almost think if this had been written as a series of letters in a journal it would have made a huge difference. I am curious what happens considering the huge cliff hanger- I hate cliff hangers.
October 2, 2013
Stars: 4
First, let me warn you….. There is a serious, smack-you-right-in-the-face cliffhanger…. I am in total denial right now. The ending has left me sitting on pins and needles waiting to know what will happen in the next book! It makes me want to go back and re-read the last several pages just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming (I tried pinching myself but apparently I am awake)!
The story begins with Amanda seeing a therapist regarding her issues she has gone through/experienced. Amanda, unfortunately, has seen and experienced more than any child should ever have to. Her mother is a recovering addict who goes from one abusive relationship to the next. In my opinion no child should ever have to see their mother being abused by a man. Her mom is the first one to encourage her to write her feelings down in a journal.
“You know honey, you can write your feelings down and you don’t need to let anyone see them. You can just write and then throw them away, keep them, or whatever you want.”
Amanda’s therapist also has her keep a journal because she doesn’t really want to talk about all the things in the past. You find out about a lot of her past experiences as she is writing them down in the journal. To say it is heartbreaking that one child had to experience and witness so much would be an understatement. You really feel for Amanda because life isn’t fair but at the same time how much can one person handle.
Amanda has two of the best friends in the world, Ann and Mark. They will do anything and everything for her. I think we all need friends like them! The best thing is even if what they do or say will make Amanda upset or mad they do it anyway because they are doing it in her best interest. When you have a friend that will put your best interest first… KEEP THEM!
With growing up you experience relationships and the trials that come with them. After multiple warnings from friends Amanda gets involved with an older guy named Brad. Brad is referred to as a total player but Amanda wants to give him a shot and they develop a relationship. He always says things that make her feel special and they don’t have a completely physical relationship but they have messed around. One day all good things must come to an end and Brad hurts Amanda…. Can she ever forgive him for what he has done? Will she ever be able to trust a guy again?
Several years later during her senior year Amanda meets Chris. Not only did Amanda fall in love with Chris but so did I!!!! HEHEHEHE! He is so wonderful to her and always makes things so fun. You fall in love while you read about them falling in love. It brings back so many old memories of first loves and high school times. Chris is definitely a swoon-worthy boyfriend.
“You are amazing Christopher.”
“You just stole that word right from my mouth. Sorry I didn’t speak sooner, but you took my breath away.”
One quote that I absolutely loved was actually told from Chris’s mom to Amanda.
“I remember the day he came home from school and told us, ‘Mom…Dad I met the love of my life today in the library at school. She is beautiful and her name is Amanda Nelson. He’s truly never been as happy since he started dating you.”
I want this to be a spoiler free review so let’s just say that there are a couple more events that occur that will leave the reader hanging on to the edge of their seat. You are left wandering what will happen next!!! I cannot wait until the next book comes out!
First, let me warn you….. There is a serious, smack-you-right-in-the-face cliffhanger…. I am in total denial right now. The ending has left me sitting on pins and needles waiting to know what will happen in the next book! It makes me want to go back and re-read the last several pages just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming (I tried pinching myself but apparently I am awake)!
The story begins with Amanda seeing a therapist regarding her issues she has gone through/experienced. Amanda, unfortunately, has seen and experienced more than any child should ever have to. Her mother is a recovering addict who goes from one abusive relationship to the next. In my opinion no child should ever have to see their mother being abused by a man. Her mom is the first one to encourage her to write her feelings down in a journal.
“You know honey, you can write your feelings down and you don’t need to let anyone see them. You can just write and then throw them away, keep them, or whatever you want.”
Amanda’s therapist also has her keep a journal because she doesn’t really want to talk about all the things in the past. You find out about a lot of her past experiences as she is writing them down in the journal. To say it is heartbreaking that one child had to experience and witness so much would be an understatement. You really feel for Amanda because life isn’t fair but at the same time how much can one person handle.
Amanda has two of the best friends in the world, Ann and Mark. They will do anything and everything for her. I think we all need friends like them! The best thing is even if what they do or say will make Amanda upset or mad they do it anyway because they are doing it in her best interest. When you have a friend that will put your best interest first… KEEP THEM!
With growing up you experience relationships and the trials that come with them. After multiple warnings from friends Amanda gets involved with an older guy named Brad. Brad is referred to as a total player but Amanda wants to give him a shot and they develop a relationship. He always says things that make her feel special and they don’t have a completely physical relationship but they have messed around. One day all good things must come to an end and Brad hurts Amanda…. Can she ever forgive him for what he has done? Will she ever be able to trust a guy again?
Several years later during her senior year Amanda meets Chris. Not only did Amanda fall in love with Chris but so did I!!!! HEHEHEHE! He is so wonderful to her and always makes things so fun. You fall in love while you read about them falling in love. It brings back so many old memories of first loves and high school times. Chris is definitely a swoon-worthy boyfriend.
“You are amazing Christopher.”
“You just stole that word right from my mouth. Sorry I didn’t speak sooner, but you took my breath away.”
One quote that I absolutely loved was actually told from Chris’s mom to Amanda.
“I remember the day he came home from school and told us, ‘Mom…Dad I met the love of my life today in the library at school. She is beautiful and her name is Amanda Nelson. He’s truly never been as happy since he started dating you.”
I want this to be a spoiler free review so let’s just say that there are a couple more events that occur that will leave the reader hanging on to the edge of their seat. You are left wandering what will happen next!!! I cannot wait until the next book comes out!
October 15, 2013
Life hasn’t been easy for Amanda. She has seen and experienced more in her life than most teenagers. Her mother is a recovering addict, going from one abusive relationship to the other. Always putting her needs above her daughter’s. Amanda has found a way to push through it all.
At the encouragement of her mother, Amanda starts to see a therapist. You see, Amanda’s mother is turning her life around and wants to help Amanda deal with all of the ‘damage’ in her young life. At the advice of her therapist, Amanda starts to journal her thoughts and feelings. It’s a way to find healing in all the hurt.
While hanging out with friends, Amanda meets Brad. He’s handsome and very interested in Amanda. Despite warnings from her friend Mark that he was ‘bad news’, Amanda and Brad decide to explore a relationship. Then the unexpected happens. Something that will change Amanda forever.
With a strong support system composed of her mother, therapist, and her friends…Amanda does her best to put the past behind her. During her senior year, she begins talking with Chris. He is everything that a girl dreams of in a boyfriend. He goes above and beyond to prove just how special Amanda is to him. To two embark on a touching romance.
Then - the unexpected happens. Chris is sick and needs to be hospitalized. Amanda is by his side every step of the way. While at the hospital - her biggest fear comes to light. Her past rears it’s ugly head again. The secret she has carried with her can no longer remain hidden. How will this revelation affect the future for these two?
Never Say Never has a great story plot. The relationship between Chris and Amanda is compelling. With the cliff hanger ending, you will be screaming for more.
Despite the great story plot, there were some extreme editing issues. Typically, I can ignore a few grammatical errors, but this book has several places that it distracts from the story. Several times, I found sentences that just didn’t make sense at all. After several re-reads, I realized that the sentences were in fact parts of another ‘whole’. It looked as if the author had two trains of thought and didn’t ‘erase’ one of them when writing the story. The blend of the two left you questioning what was meant at the time. Sadly, I have never pointed out ‘mistakes’ such as this in any of my reviews. However, this time I feel it was a distraction from the story. This is probably one of those times that it would have had a huge impact if beta readers were used during the writing/publishing process.
Now with that said, I do not mean it ‘negatively’….I think if some editing was done and the book was re-released - there would be greater ratings for this book. (It affected my rating for the story).The story plot is strong and compelling ….both reasons readers will find the book appealing. Despite my assessment of the errors, I would definitely read the next book to find out what happens to Amanda and Chris.
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC for my honest review!
At the encouragement of her mother, Amanda starts to see a therapist. You see, Amanda’s mother is turning her life around and wants to help Amanda deal with all of the ‘damage’ in her young life. At the advice of her therapist, Amanda starts to journal her thoughts and feelings. It’s a way to find healing in all the hurt.
While hanging out with friends, Amanda meets Brad. He’s handsome and very interested in Amanda. Despite warnings from her friend Mark that he was ‘bad news’, Amanda and Brad decide to explore a relationship. Then the unexpected happens. Something that will change Amanda forever.
With a strong support system composed of her mother, therapist, and her friends…Amanda does her best to put the past behind her. During her senior year, she begins talking with Chris. He is everything that a girl dreams of in a boyfriend. He goes above and beyond to prove just how special Amanda is to him. To two embark on a touching romance.
Then - the unexpected happens. Chris is sick and needs to be hospitalized. Amanda is by his side every step of the way. While at the hospital - her biggest fear comes to light. Her past rears it’s ugly head again. The secret she has carried with her can no longer remain hidden. How will this revelation affect the future for these two?
Never Say Never has a great story plot. The relationship between Chris and Amanda is compelling. With the cliff hanger ending, you will be screaming for more.
Despite the great story plot, there were some extreme editing issues. Typically, I can ignore a few grammatical errors, but this book has several places that it distracts from the story. Several times, I found sentences that just didn’t make sense at all. After several re-reads, I realized that the sentences were in fact parts of another ‘whole’. It looked as if the author had two trains of thought and didn’t ‘erase’ one of them when writing the story. The blend of the two left you questioning what was meant at the time. Sadly, I have never pointed out ‘mistakes’ such as this in any of my reviews. However, this time I feel it was a distraction from the story. This is probably one of those times that it would have had a huge impact if beta readers were used during the writing/publishing process.
Now with that said, I do not mean it ‘negatively’….I think if some editing was done and the book was re-released - there would be greater ratings for this book. (It affected my rating for the story).The story plot is strong and compelling ….both reasons readers will find the book appealing. Despite my assessment of the errors, I would definitely read the next book to find out what happens to Amanda and Chris.
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC for my honest review!
November 14, 2014
Hmmmn, how to start... I enjoyed this story there were a few hang ups for me which I will explain in a bit but overall I think this was a good first book for Melinda Sutherland. Amanda and Chris as well as some of the supporting characters are very refreshing individuals if you will.
Amanda is your fairly average girl next door, pretty, fun, smart, youthful and likes to enjoy her life. She can be somewhat timid and a little awkward but her character has genuine sincerity. In the first half of the book we get tons of information and insight into Amanda's past and what she has had to deal with and overcome. We learn she is a deeply emotional person but doesn't like to share alot of intimate details about herself. She is also very self-aware. She knows how she feels and though she may not express it to others all the time, in her heart she knows what makes her upset, or scared or worried or happy and this is easily shared with the reader through Amanda's journal entries and inner dialogue.
When Amanda reaches her Senior year the story takes on a different pace. In this part of the book we are actually living through the moments if you will as Amanda lives them versus being told what has happened to her. I enjoyed this half of the book immensely. I liked the pace of the story and the deeper exploration of Amanda's feelings and the relationship she forms with Chris.
AND Chris, what a gem. So screw what you know about young/new adult romance. I loved how this book did not follow the norm of the bad boy player that gets the girl. Chris is nothing like that. He is polite, respectful, gorgeous, sweet and compassionate. He is patient with Amanda and truly cares for her. Their relationship is heart-warming to see develop.
So what were some of my quips with the book? I think it mostly dealt with the first half of the book. The narration by Amanda about her past seemed a bit rushed. There were some moments that I felt could have been a bit more explored especially emotionally. Amanda by no means is a weak individual and its very clear that Melinda wanted to make her strong and determined. A person that would not let the past define her future, which is admirable. However I think as a reader in order to get that connection we needed to experience a little more emotion, a little more angst from Amanda's past. Instead of a retelling of some situations I wanted to experience it with Amanda to understand how it impacted her and how she was steadfast in overcoming it. Overall I really liked this book, the cliffhanger is a doozy haha! But I am eager to see what the next book will have in store for Amanda and Chris.
Amanda is your fairly average girl next door, pretty, fun, smart, youthful and likes to enjoy her life. She can be somewhat timid and a little awkward but her character has genuine sincerity. In the first half of the book we get tons of information and insight into Amanda's past and what she has had to deal with and overcome. We learn she is a deeply emotional person but doesn't like to share alot of intimate details about herself. She is also very self-aware. She knows how she feels and though she may not express it to others all the time, in her heart she knows what makes her upset, or scared or worried or happy and this is easily shared with the reader through Amanda's journal entries and inner dialogue.
When Amanda reaches her Senior year the story takes on a different pace. In this part of the book we are actually living through the moments if you will as Amanda lives them versus being told what has happened to her. I enjoyed this half of the book immensely. I liked the pace of the story and the deeper exploration of Amanda's feelings and the relationship she forms with Chris.
AND Chris, what a gem. So screw what you know about young/new adult romance. I loved how this book did not follow the norm of the bad boy player that gets the girl. Chris is nothing like that. He is polite, respectful, gorgeous, sweet and compassionate. He is patient with Amanda and truly cares for her. Their relationship is heart-warming to see develop.
So what were some of my quips with the book? I think it mostly dealt with the first half of the book. The narration by Amanda about her past seemed a bit rushed. There were some moments that I felt could have been a bit more explored especially emotionally. Amanda by no means is a weak individual and its very clear that Melinda wanted to make her strong and determined. A person that would not let the past define her future, which is admirable. However I think as a reader in order to get that connection we needed to experience a little more emotion, a little more angst from Amanda's past. Instead of a retelling of some situations I wanted to experience it with Amanda to understand how it impacted her and how she was steadfast in overcoming it. Overall I really liked this book, the cliffhanger is a doozy haha! But I am eager to see what the next book will have in store for Amanda and Chris.
October 1, 2013
In Never Say Never, Amanda begins telling her therapist about her rough childhood. She has been through more than most girls her age. Her mother is a recovering addict and has lived through multiple abusive relationships. Amanda has started journaling to put her thoughts and feelings onto paper as a way to express herself. She finds this incredibly therapeutic for her own recovery.
Amanda begins hanging around an older crowd of friends and starts partying. She is warned to stay away from Brad but decides to give him a chance anyway. Much to her surprise, he is only looking for one thing as he leads her to believe he is her Prince Charming. Once he gets what he wants, he takes off and leaves Amanda to deal with the aftermath of his actions. Thankfully, her therapist, friends and family are able to support her.
During her senior year of high school Amanda meets Chris. Chris is everything she has dreamed a boyfriend would be. He truly means everything he says and would move mountains for her. Their romance is sweet and young. When Chris becomes sick she stays by his side and spends every moment she can with him. Her past collides with her present and she ends up confessing to Chris everything that happened with Brad. She no longer is carrying around a heavy secret. This is as far as the story takes us. We are left with a cliffhanger right in the middle of an intense moment in the plot. In order to find out Chris’s fate, we will have to wait patiently for the next book in the series.
Never Say Never had a lot of editing issues. If you can look past those the overall message of the story is solid. This is the kind of book teenage girls need to read and be educated about. Young love is complicated and often times there may be pressure to have sex before you are ready. I give the author credit for attempting to write about such an intense topic. I was glad Amanda was able to confide in her friends and Brad was put in jail for his actions. It seemed like he was finally showing some signs of remorse for what he did even if Amanda wasn’t able to forgive him. I am curious if this will be explored more in the next book. Amanda was a likable character who had a lot of her plate. She managed well despite having to pick herself up a few times.
Amanda begins hanging around an older crowd of friends and starts partying. She is warned to stay away from Brad but decides to give him a chance anyway. Much to her surprise, he is only looking for one thing as he leads her to believe he is her Prince Charming. Once he gets what he wants, he takes off and leaves Amanda to deal with the aftermath of his actions. Thankfully, her therapist, friends and family are able to support her.
During her senior year of high school Amanda meets Chris. Chris is everything she has dreamed a boyfriend would be. He truly means everything he says and would move mountains for her. Their romance is sweet and young. When Chris becomes sick she stays by his side and spends every moment she can with him. Her past collides with her present and she ends up confessing to Chris everything that happened with Brad. She no longer is carrying around a heavy secret. This is as far as the story takes us. We are left with a cliffhanger right in the middle of an intense moment in the plot. In order to find out Chris’s fate, we will have to wait patiently for the next book in the series.
Never Say Never had a lot of editing issues. If you can look past those the overall message of the story is solid. This is the kind of book teenage girls need to read and be educated about. Young love is complicated and often times there may be pressure to have sex before you are ready. I give the author credit for attempting to write about such an intense topic. I was glad Amanda was able to confide in her friends and Brad was put in jail for his actions. It seemed like he was finally showing some signs of remorse for what he did even if Amanda wasn’t able to forgive him. I am curious if this will be explored more in the next book. Amanda was a likable character who had a lot of her plate. She managed well despite having to pick herself up a few times.
September 28, 2013
I have to say, this book was awesome. I couldn't put the book down. I don't know how long this review will be because, I feel it would give so much away, and I don't want any spoilers.
This young girl has gone through so much in her young life. This is the kind of life that could happen to any young girl. I feel every girl should read this book so they are aware of what could possibly happen. Nobody should have to go through what Amanda went through. I liked Amanda:s character because she has shown so much strength. She is such a warm and wonderful person, and she does keep to herself. The only two people really in her life are Mark and Ann who are her two best friends. Those are the only two that she could talk to about anything. When she started hanging around with a girl named Kelly, Amanda starts going to parties, which is where she meets Brad.
Brad is your typical guy that seems like a player. He becomes friends with Amanda. Mark tried to convince Amanda to stay away from him. Their relationship continued to grow, even though Amanda was only 15 years old. They started pushing the boundaries and Brad understood that Amanda was not ready for sex and he respected that. He just wanted to continue to spend time with her. He continued to push and push and Amanda was persistent and continued to tell him, she wasn't ready for sex, until one day the unthinkable happens.
Once she begins to get her life together, Amanda and Ann decided no more parties. Amanda had to basically give up her friendship with Kelly, because Kelly loves to party. she continued to go to school, she vowed that she would put everything into school. Her Junior and Senior years became really good for her. She continued to keep her A and B grades up. She meets a boy named Chris. They became fast friends. She is not sure if she can trust anyone, to take things further. I loved Chris's character, he's kind, warm and loving but Amanda does not know this until she starts spending more time with him.
I can't say anymore about this book because I feel that I've given to much away as it is. I gave this book 5 stars. The author has captured what can happen in real life and people need to know about it. I applaud her for her work.
This young girl has gone through so much in her young life. This is the kind of life that could happen to any young girl. I feel every girl should read this book so they are aware of what could possibly happen. Nobody should have to go through what Amanda went through. I liked Amanda:s character because she has shown so much strength. She is such a warm and wonderful person, and she does keep to herself. The only two people really in her life are Mark and Ann who are her two best friends. Those are the only two that she could talk to about anything. When she started hanging around with a girl named Kelly, Amanda starts going to parties, which is where she meets Brad.
Brad is your typical guy that seems like a player. He becomes friends with Amanda. Mark tried to convince Amanda to stay away from him. Their relationship continued to grow, even though Amanda was only 15 years old. They started pushing the boundaries and Brad understood that Amanda was not ready for sex and he respected that. He just wanted to continue to spend time with her. He continued to push and push and Amanda was persistent and continued to tell him, she wasn't ready for sex, until one day the unthinkable happens.
Once she begins to get her life together, Amanda and Ann decided no more parties. Amanda had to basically give up her friendship with Kelly, because Kelly loves to party. she continued to go to school, she vowed that she would put everything into school. Her Junior and Senior years became really good for her. She continued to keep her A and B grades up. She meets a boy named Chris. They became fast friends. She is not sure if she can trust anyone, to take things further. I loved Chris's character, he's kind, warm and loving but Amanda does not know this until she starts spending more time with him.
I can't say anymore about this book because I feel that I've given to much away as it is. I gave this book 5 stars. The author has captured what can happen in real life and people need to know about it. I applaud her for her work.
September 3, 2013
Let me first say that I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest spoiler free opinion.
Lets start off with giving props to Renee Ericson for designing the cover which suites the book so well!
This is going to be hard for me to put into words without spoiling it for you all. But I will do my best. :)
I really enjoyed reading Never Say Never. It was such an emotional story. And when I say emotional I mean I actually got misty eyed! Now if you knew me on a personal level you would know I’m what most call a hard ass. I don’t cry, like EVER! LOL So props to Sutherland for taking me out of my comfort zone.
This story is about a teenager in high school named Amanda. She has had a hard life, harder than I think anyone let alone a teenager should endure. Though I can’t put myself in her shoes, and lord knows I wouldn’t want to, Amanda reminded me of so many immature girls back when I was younger. Wait I still know some even now! Those immature, extremely inexperienced or just ignorant ones who do things without any regard of the consequences that may come and bite them in the ass. I will give her the benefit of the doubt; she witnessed horrid things and had personal experience with mental AND physical abuse. There is an incident there that just broke my heart! Though no one died I grieved for Amanda.
With everything she went through she pushed forward and sought a better life, a life where she could be happy. She had a good support group which I thought was amazing!
In the process of seeking her happiness Amanda bumps into Chris, a fellow school mate. Who is such an amazing kid! OMG he was so sweet to her something she wasn’t used to.
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know hoe to live.” – GOETHE, Faust
With Chris things started to turn around for her. You can feel the love they have for each other jump off the pages. And then there’s a MAJOR CLIFFHANGER but I must say I am excited to find out what happens next!
http://entirelybooks.wordpress.com/
Lets start off with giving props to Renee Ericson for designing the cover which suites the book so well!
This is going to be hard for me to put into words without spoiling it for you all. But I will do my best. :)
I really enjoyed reading Never Say Never. It was such an emotional story. And when I say emotional I mean I actually got misty eyed! Now if you knew me on a personal level you would know I’m what most call a hard ass. I don’t cry, like EVER! LOL So props to Sutherland for taking me out of my comfort zone.
This story is about a teenager in high school named Amanda. She has had a hard life, harder than I think anyone let alone a teenager should endure. Though I can’t put myself in her shoes, and lord knows I wouldn’t want to, Amanda reminded me of so many immature girls back when I was younger. Wait I still know some even now! Those immature, extremely inexperienced or just ignorant ones who do things without any regard of the consequences that may come and bite them in the ass. I will give her the benefit of the doubt; she witnessed horrid things and had personal experience with mental AND physical abuse. There is an incident there that just broke my heart! Though no one died I grieved for Amanda.
With everything she went through she pushed forward and sought a better life, a life where she could be happy. She had a good support group which I thought was amazing!
In the process of seeking her happiness Amanda bumps into Chris, a fellow school mate. Who is such an amazing kid! OMG he was so sweet to her something she wasn’t used to.
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know hoe to live.” – GOETHE, Faust
With Chris things started to turn around for her. You can feel the love they have for each other jump off the pages. And then there’s a MAJOR CLIFFHANGER but I must say I am excited to find out what happens next!
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September 28, 2013
First, let me warn you… this book has a cliffhanger. Yes, you may have guessed that from the “Part 1″ in the title, but this is no ordinary cliff hanger, this is a WTF when does the next book come out type of cliff hanger. I’m literally dying over here waiting to see what happens!
Now that I got that out of the way, on to the review ;) I really enjoyed this book, it has been on my TBR list for quite a while, and was so happy I was finally able to read it. Where do we start? So Amanda, she had a rough past, and when we meet her she’s starting to try to come to terms with this past. Sometimes I got annoyed with her, but when you realize all that she has been through, you realize why she is the way she is.
Enter Brad, UGH, I didn’t like him from the start, and I definitely do not like him now (trust me, you won’t either once you read this!). But I’m glad we got to see Amanda moved on and meet Chris… oh Chris, so freaking swoonworthy!
Chris seemed almost too good to be true, and I thought maybe for awhile he was just better at playing Brad’s game, but then you realized, no Chris is just a genuine, loving, amazing guy, and just what Amanda needs.
Amanda and Chris are sweet together, and their double dates with Anne, etc. are so sweet, and perfect for the high school setting in which this book is told. When things heat up with Chris and Amanda, he was so sweet to her, and all around a gentleman. Amanda and Chris seem to be in it for the long haul, and then, well I can’t tell you, because then you’ll know what the cliff hanger is all about, happens. When she picked up his wallet and saw his inscription on their picture, I literally had tears in my eyes.
Melinda Sutherland did an amazing job on her debut novel. The book deals with some rough issues, first love, and growing up, and I think she handled all of the situations perfectly. Hat’s off to Melinda for such a great read. Don’t wait until the next book comes out to pick up Never Say Never, Pick it up today. This story deserves to be read, and I hope each of you enjoy it as much as I did.
Now that I got that out of the way, on to the review ;) I really enjoyed this book, it has been on my TBR list for quite a while, and was so happy I was finally able to read it. Where do we start? So Amanda, she had a rough past, and when we meet her she’s starting to try to come to terms with this past. Sometimes I got annoyed with her, but when you realize all that she has been through, you realize why she is the way she is.
Enter Brad, UGH, I didn’t like him from the start, and I definitely do not like him now (trust me, you won’t either once you read this!). But I’m glad we got to see Amanda moved on and meet Chris… oh Chris, so freaking swoonworthy!
Chris seemed almost too good to be true, and I thought maybe for awhile he was just better at playing Brad’s game, but then you realized, no Chris is just a genuine, loving, amazing guy, and just what Amanda needs.
Amanda and Chris are sweet together, and their double dates with Anne, etc. are so sweet, and perfect for the high school setting in which this book is told. When things heat up with Chris and Amanda, he was so sweet to her, and all around a gentleman. Amanda and Chris seem to be in it for the long haul, and then, well I can’t tell you, because then you’ll know what the cliff hanger is all about, happens. When she picked up his wallet and saw his inscription on their picture, I literally had tears in my eyes.
Melinda Sutherland did an amazing job on her debut novel. The book deals with some rough issues, first love, and growing up, and I think she handled all of the situations perfectly. Hat’s off to Melinda for such a great read. Don’t wait until the next book comes out to pick up Never Say Never, Pick it up today. This story deserves to be read, and I hope each of you enjoy it as much as I did.
March 28, 2013
Well let me start by saying the story line wasn't bad it was actually very good. Let me explain why I only gave it 3 starts. I only gave it three stars because although the story line was good there were so many mistakes in the writing & structure that it made it very difficult to understand. I spent most of the time rereading parts because of grammar errors and sentence structure errors that it almost made me want to just put it down and stop reading it. I actually did put it down and then came back. Luckily the main character, Amanda drew me in enough to where I want to find out if she would overcome what she has been dealt in life. This was the main reason I finished the book. Like I said it was a really good story of a teenage girl surviving a tough life. I just feel it would have been better if more time had been spent going through and fixing the double printed words & grammar so that it would have been more fluent and easier to read. I hope that the next part continues with the great story but less errors so that I can enjoy it. So even though I gave it only 3 stars I do actually want to read the next part to see what happens in the story and I wish Melinda Sutherland the best of luck with her future writing.
September 8, 2013
Overall, I liked this book. It didn't go as I had expected it would with "girl meets boy, boy breaks girl's heart, then girl falls for her best guy friend and they ride off in the sunset" which was a relief for me.
Amanda has had a hard life as she was growing up, between the father that didn't want to claim her and her drug addicted mom that only had abusive men in their life. This book follows Amanda from her freshman year into her senior year.
Her mother gets her life in order and her father enters her life more after a paternity test. Yea! Happy ending, not so much. Amanda finds herself hanging out with the wrong crowd which includes her best friend's older cousin. They (Amanda and Brad) start to date despite the warnings from her 2 friends. After Brad hurts her she realizes that she needs to step away from that crowd.
At the start of her senior year she meets a classmate, Chris, who she ends up dating. He is the total opposite of Brad which is a relief. They end up falling hard and fast for each other. Things appear to be all rainbows and unicorns until he ends up in the hospital on Christmas Eve.
What happens next???
Is there a happy ending in the works???
Needless to say, I'm eagerly awaiting book #2 from Melinda Sutherland.
Amanda has had a hard life as she was growing up, between the father that didn't want to claim her and her drug addicted mom that only had abusive men in their life. This book follows Amanda from her freshman year into her senior year.
Her mother gets her life in order and her father enters her life more after a paternity test. Yea! Happy ending, not so much. Amanda finds herself hanging out with the wrong crowd which includes her best friend's older cousin. They (Amanda and Brad) start to date despite the warnings from her 2 friends. After Brad hurts her she realizes that she needs to step away from that crowd.
At the start of her senior year she meets a classmate, Chris, who she ends up dating. He is the total opposite of Brad which is a relief. They end up falling hard and fast for each other. Things appear to be all rainbows and unicorns until he ends up in the hospital on Christmas Eve.
What happens next???
Is there a happy ending in the works???
Needless to say, I'm eagerly awaiting book #2 from Melinda Sutherland.
June 12, 2014
It should be noted right away that there is a cliffhanger in this story. So if you can't stand those, know this going in so you can't complain about it later. I don't mind cliffhangers, especially when at the end of the story, the author even comments on it. I think that made me like it even more lol.
This was a very good read. I enjoyed it. I felt for Amanda, so much so that I wanted to smack the shit out of Brad and still want to even though I'm done the book. Chris was adorable and I want more with him. I don't want the way it looked at the end to mean something horrible for him in the long run because they both deserve happiness.
Her life wasn't pretty, but it was very raw and real and I enjoyed taking the walk through it with her, both having her relay it in her journal entries and also living it with her in the present. I will definitely pick up and read the second part in this story because I am invested in finding out what happens with these characters.
On a side note. I saw a lot said about the editing in this book. There were some noticeable things but they didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of this book and who really picks up a book and reads it for the editing anyway? It's supposed to be about the story and this one was very sweet.
Bring on Book 2!
This was a very good read. I enjoyed it. I felt for Amanda, so much so that I wanted to smack the shit out of Brad and still want to even though I'm done the book. Chris was adorable and I want more with him. I don't want the way it looked at the end to mean something horrible for him in the long run because they both deserve happiness.
Her life wasn't pretty, but it was very raw and real and I enjoyed taking the walk through it with her, both having her relay it in her journal entries and also living it with her in the present. I will definitely pick up and read the second part in this story because I am invested in finding out what happens with these characters.
On a side note. I saw a lot said about the editing in this book. There were some noticeable things but they didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of this book and who really picks up a book and reads it for the editing anyway? It's supposed to be about the story and this one was very sweet.
Bring on Book 2!
June 18, 2017
I was given an ARC copy of this book. I was a little apprehensive about this book because it was about a teenager. I got over that quickly. Melinda Sutherland did a good job of drawing me in.
This is a story about Amanda Nelson. By the time Amanda reaches the ripe age of 15...she has been through hell and back. This young lady has been enduring a lot. Absentee dad, druggy mom, and so many other things. (I don't want to give to much away.) The one thing she does have is two great friends, Ann and Mark.
She is so unhappy and then she meets Brad. Brad makes her feel wanted but he turns out to be more pain for her. I really got into this story. I cried for her. No one should have to deal with so much!
Finally she meets Chris! Chris shows her the love and happiness that she has long for. Until something happens to Chris and Amanda is very afraid that she might lose him. Is she right or is she wrong? Well read the book. You won't regret it!
****Warning! It ends with a cliffhanger!***** I can't wait for book two!
This is a story about Amanda Nelson. By the time Amanda reaches the ripe age of 15...she has been through hell and back. This young lady has been enduring a lot. Absentee dad, druggy mom, and so many other things. (I don't want to give to much away.) The one thing she does have is two great friends, Ann and Mark.
She is so unhappy and then she meets Brad. Brad makes her feel wanted but he turns out to be more pain for her. I really got into this story. I cried for her. No one should have to deal with so much!
Finally she meets Chris! Chris shows her the love and happiness that she has long for. Until something happens to Chris and Amanda is very afraid that she might lose him. Is she right or is she wrong? Well read the book. You won't regret it!
****Warning! It ends with a cliffhanger!***** I can't wait for book two!
October 8, 2013
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Amanda Nelson is a young girl. She is a good girl but unfortunately, she starts hanging around with older kids and this has terrible consequences for her.
Amanda grew up in an abusive home with a drug addict mom. She really hasn't had a good life. She does have great friends, Ann and Mark. During her senior year she meets Chris and thankfully he is a sweetheart.
It is very easy to fall in love with Chris.
I'm giving this book 3 stars. I liked it and I thought that the story was believable. I felt bad for Amanda's life so far. I'm just not sure she is done hurting. This book has a cliffhanger and I really dislike them.
I will read the next book because I'm very interested in Chris and Amanda's relationship. I also like Mark a lot. And last but not least I want to know what Brad wants.
3/5 Fangs
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Amanda Nelson is a young girl. She is a good girl but unfortunately, she starts hanging around with older kids and this has terrible consequences for her.
Amanda grew up in an abusive home with a drug addict mom. She really hasn't had a good life. She does have great friends, Ann and Mark. During her senior year she meets Chris and thankfully he is a sweetheart.
It is very easy to fall in love with Chris.
I'm giving this book 3 stars. I liked it and I thought that the story was believable. I felt bad for Amanda's life so far. I'm just not sure she is done hurting. This book has a cliffhanger and I really dislike them.
I will read the next book because I'm very interested in Chris and Amanda's relationship. I also like Mark a lot. And last but not least I want to know what Brad wants.
3/5 Fangs
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October 3, 2013
This book has been reviewed as part of a Blog Tour over on Lily Loves Indie. The full review will be live on www.lilylovesindie.co.uk on October 8th.
Until then, here's a little snippet of the review to get you excited!
A further brilliant feature of this book is the collection of characters, particularly Amanda and Chris. Let's start with Amanda. She reads like a girl next door but she has so much more about her. There's just something about her that really does demand love from the reader, even though we can see ahead of her where the story is going. Chris, on the other hand, is a delight to read. The perfect gentleman, romantic, incredibly caring - his love for Amanda literally flows from the page and surrounds the reader in a cloud of warm fuzzies. Improbable, but cute.
Don't forget to come visit us on 8th October to see the full review!
Until then, here's a little snippet of the review to get you excited!
A further brilliant feature of this book is the collection of characters, particularly Amanda and Chris. Let's start with Amanda. She reads like a girl next door but she has so much more about her. There's just something about her that really does demand love from the reader, even though we can see ahead of her where the story is going. Chris, on the other hand, is a delight to read. The perfect gentleman, romantic, incredibly caring - his love for Amanda literally flows from the page and surrounds the reader in a cloud of warm fuzzies. Improbable, but cute.
Don't forget to come visit us on 8th October to see the full review!
October 3, 2013
I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
First off I gave it 4 stars because there were quite a few grammatical errors, other than that the story was GREAT!
This story is about 15 year old Amanda Nelson. In her short 15 years, Amanda has had to endure many hardships and the latest one is devastating. Amanda is a strong girl and somehow finds a way to pick herself up and move on. A few years later she meets Chris and feels that she has finally found her happily ever after.. Until one night her world unravels and her past comes back to haunt her.
Will there be a happily ever after? Well, we have to wait until book 2 to find out! Yep.. This ended with a big ole CLIFFHANGER!! But that’s ok, it will be worth the wait!
First off I gave it 4 stars because there were quite a few grammatical errors, other than that the story was GREAT!
This story is about 15 year old Amanda Nelson. In her short 15 years, Amanda has had to endure many hardships and the latest one is devastating. Amanda is a strong girl and somehow finds a way to pick herself up and move on. A few years later she meets Chris and feels that she has finally found her happily ever after.. Until one night her world unravels and her past comes back to haunt her.
Will there be a happily ever after? Well, we have to wait until book 2 to find out! Yep.. This ended with a big ole CLIFFHANGER!! But that’s ok, it will be worth the wait!
November 28, 2015
Unbelievable
DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT read this book unless you hunt for part two first and find it. I absolutely hate to give bad reviews really I do. The writing is bad I'm sorry but bad. The 15 year old characters talk like 50 year olds. The editing is just horrible. The story was okay but unbelievable. Far fetched, all over the place. I read the whole book but I will admit I did a lot of skimming because I kept hoping it would improve. Nope. There is a lot of repeating. But the worse thing of all? The book ends in a huge CLIFFHANGER literally leaving a huge question behind a closed door. I don't mind a good cliffy BUT since 2013 there is still no second book. I'm so pissed I wasted my time. Free or not that's just wrong!!!
DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT read this book unless you hunt for part two first and find it. I absolutely hate to give bad reviews really I do. The writing is bad I'm sorry but bad. The 15 year old characters talk like 50 year olds. The editing is just horrible. The story was okay but unbelievable. Far fetched, all over the place. I read the whole book but I will admit I did a lot of skimming because I kept hoping it would improve. Nope. There is a lot of repeating. But the worse thing of all? The book ends in a huge CLIFFHANGER literally leaving a huge question behind a closed door. I don't mind a good cliffy BUT since 2013 there is still no second book. I'm so pissed I wasted my time. Free or not that's just wrong!!!
January 16, 2014
2.5-3 stars. I don't even really know what write about this. While it deals with a serious issue it kind of glides over that serious issue rather quickly. I don't feel like we get really learn about Chris through the book or why they have such a deep love for one another. I don't know I think the premise was a decent premise. I think some things could have been left out and other things expanded on.
One other issue is the cliff hanger. I don't know about anyone else but I am starting to get fed-up with cliffhangers in order for a book 2.
It was a quick read and there is potential for growth with the next book.
One other issue is the cliff hanger. I don't know about anyone else but I am starting to get fed-up with cliffhangers in order for a book 2.
It was a quick read and there is potential for growth with the next book.
January 11, 2016
OMG! Freaking CLIFF HANGER AHHH
I'm so upset it was starting to get good and I want to know what happened to Chris I can't believe this right now ugh I have to wait for the 2nd book...
overall it had me in the beginning and I just needed to know what happened to Amanda if she would ever feel loved again after being raped by Brad ugh hate that he came back for her. Amanda fell in love with Chris and now it went downhill since he's in the hospital and I don't know what's wrong with him and I need to find out in Part 2!
I'm so upset it was starting to get good and I want to know what happened to Chris I can't believe this right now ugh I have to wait for the 2nd book...
overall it had me in the beginning and I just needed to know what happened to Amanda if she would ever feel loved again after being raped by Brad ugh hate that he came back for her. Amanda fell in love with Chris and now it went downhill since he's in the hospital and I don't know what's wrong with him and I need to find out in Part 2!
January 25, 2014
I couldn't put the book down once I started. I loved the characters and the storyline. I adored the relationship between Amanda and Chris. I hated the cliffhanger ending. When will the next one be out? I've read many books that I've really enjoyed only to never find out the ending or see a second part. I hope this will not be the case.
Also, the errors were annoying. It was sometimes hard to understand and one sentence wasn't finished. What did Amanda say to Chris' parents before leaving?
All in all, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to Part 2.
Also, the errors were annoying. It was sometimes hard to understand and one sentence wasn't finished. What did Amanda say to Chris' parents before leaving?
All in all, I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to Part 2.
August 25, 2013
Its a book that stays with you. This book took me back to how naïve and vulnerable young women can be. Its written in a way you feel a part of the story. You go through the emotions with Amanda, you cry with her, smile with her, and want to comfort her in hard times. This isn't some over the top story, its real.
I am a cliffhanger addict.....I love a well written cliffhanger and this one gives it to you. I'm so ready for more!
I am a cliffhanger addict.....I love a well written cliffhanger and this one gives it to you. I'm so ready for more!
October 8, 2013
The only things that I will say is:
1. This book needs a ton of editing. The grammar, punctuation, spelling errors, and simple typos were distracting to the point I almost did not finish.
But alas, I did finish, which brings me to...
2. I'm honestly not even sure of the point of the story. There was a whole lot going on, but I'm not sure what the focus was actually supposed to be on. Too many different things going on, and nothing was resolved...especially THE END!
1. This book needs a ton of editing. The grammar, punctuation, spelling errors, and simple typos were distracting to the point I almost did not finish.
But alas, I did finish, which brings me to...
2. I'm honestly not even sure of the point of the story. There was a whole lot going on, but I'm not sure what the focus was actually supposed to be on. Too many different things going on, and nothing was resolved...especially THE END!
July 5, 2014
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but the amount of errors was a turn off. Plus, the story just didn't flow very well & many parts of it seemed rushed. Also, some of the terminology used made it seem as if a very naive teenager wrote this. I would like to know what happens next, but not sure I want to take time to read another. Definitely don't want to pay for a book if it's filled with mistakes.
September 25, 2014
I'm having a hard time reading this.. I want to see where the story goes but this writing is awful. This book is choppy... Moves very quickly and does not flow. Typos, grammatical mistakes and written like a high school paper... Story line is catchy but very hard to get through because the writing is terrible. I like getting lost in stories that have a natural flow about them. I see there is a cliff hanger so I hope the next book is written better or free like the first one.
October 3, 2013
Although I am not a young adult, I loved this book. I love the fact that the lead character is a strong girl who takes what she is handed in life and grows from it instead of whining about it and waiting for a billionaire to come by and rescue her. Be warned it is a cliff hanger that is going to leave you anxiously awaiting book 2.
January 1, 2014
This book was pretty good. The story was interesting and I definitely need to know what happens next. Cliffhangers are evil!
The only complaints I have are there needs to be some editing done. At times it made it confusing to read. And these are teenagers....yet they don't always talk like it. That bugs me.
Overall, if you can get passed that you'll enjoy the story and be left wanting more.
The only complaints I have are there needs to be some editing done. At times it made it confusing to read. And these are teenagers....yet they don't always talk like it. That bugs me.
Overall, if you can get passed that you'll enjoy the story and be left wanting more.
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