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Rosethorn
Rosethorn is a breathtaking debut novel of love lost and found again that culminates in a stunning end you won't soon forget.
"I know I could be happy with someone else . . . But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you."
From Morocco to Paris, Sera has traveled the world over but she never forgot Rosethorn, the beautiful, abandoned mansion where she and Andrew used to meet for trysts. Until the day Sera found her mother's diary. Sera's obsession with the shocking secrets it contained tore them apart and sent Sera fleeing to New York with a devastated heart.
10 years later, Sera revisits Rosethorn, only to run into Andrew, all grown up and handsomer than ever. Politeness gives way to a heated confrontation over their painful past. Yet unable to resist each other's lure, both surrender to the undying power of first love.
Fate has brought them together once again, but will an old tragedy destroy Sera and Andrew's second chance - forever?
"I know I could be happy with someone else . . . But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you."
From Morocco to Paris, Sera has traveled the world over but she never forgot Rosethorn, the beautiful, abandoned mansion where she and Andrew used to meet for trysts. Until the day Sera found her mother's diary. Sera's obsession with the shocking secrets it contained tore them apart and sent Sera fleeing to New York with a devastated heart.
10 years later, Sera revisits Rosethorn, only to run into Andrew, all grown up and handsomer than ever. Politeness gives way to a heated confrontation over their painful past. Yet unable to resist each other's lure, both surrender to the undying power of first love.
Fate has brought them together once again, but will an old tragedy destroy Sera and Andrew's second chance - forever?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
10 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Ava Zavora
7 books73 followersIn my childhood, I rode water buffaloes and waded in swamps. Nowadays, I travel and write romantic stories about adventurous women.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 21, 2013
♫ ♪♫ ♪Well I never took the time to realize
How much I needed love in order to survive
I was so spoiled...a princess in my time
And your love was so deep
And mine...so blind ♫ ♪♫ ♪
★★★★ 3.5 Hauntingly Beautiful Stars ★★★★
A story about love lost and found again, a love so beautifully poignant that it seems almost unattainable ....
quite simply an intensely thought provoking, heartbreaking story.
This is about Sara and Andrew......
Sara:
An innocent girl who has aspirations, and plans and dreams........
Lets, meet Andrew:
Well, what can I say about him???
Gorgeous, caring, and utterly swoon-worthy.
But he was just so damn stubborn at times, I wanted to smack him!
Yeah, the very definition of a book boyfriend.
Their moments together were oh so special!
From how they fall for each other to the awkwardness, the butterflies, their first kiss, the innocence...
"I talk as if I know about these things, but I truly don’t.
I know nothing of loving someone so much that I can't control myself."
From their crazy banter to the sweet nothings......
their passion......
"I touch myself the way you touched me and my body responds, aching, fevered, to the point where it would be better to be smothered with nothingness rather than spend another moment on fire."
The emotions were written so beautifully that the characters almost felt real to me.
The first half of the book was SO sweet and cute!
But, let me tell you, it's not all love, flowers and candies.
" My rage not even close to spent, we then kiss as if we want to hurt each other.
He tells me I’m poison even as he devours me."
On the other hand, the second half of the book left me speechless!!
I had NO idea that the story would turn out like this!!
So many secrets of the past.
The wrong decisions.......
"This isn’t right, he says.
People aren’t supposed to feel this way.
The Heartbreak.......
".....the boy behind me whispered something in my ear, saying one word that sounded so much like you that I melted as if it were you and not him behind me, whispering in my ear.
You do that to me lately.
You just show up all of a sudden in someone’s nonchalant reply, some stranger’s smile, a face in the crowd with blue eyes."
THAT LINE JUST TOOK MY BREATH AWAY!!!
Lies, jealously.......
So, the question still remains:
"Is all-consuming love selfish?
Does it bring ruin to everything pure and good?
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll leave you to go and explore it.
"No one else knows me like you and no one ever will again."
I feel like I read two stories instead of one and the synopsis doesn't do this book justice at all.
So, the story completes the full cycle and comes back to the place where it all began, this one place: ROSETHORN
"Do you realize that? Everything comes back to here. Once upon a time, in this house, I used to know who I was and what I wanted.”
The book moves back and forth between the past and the present, but its not hindering, but more so a journey.
The journey of Sara as she puts herself back together from all the pain and hurt she has had in her past.
"I know I could be happy with someone else........
But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you."
This book took me by the hand and pulled me completely in... Mind...Body and Soul.
It stripped me emotionally.
I lived and loved every moment of it!
This is the reason I love reading.
The feeling of falling in love with words, with characters.
Ava Zavora has a gift, and the lady sure knows how to work it.
I applaud the author for almost a smooth poetical writing, which was so descriptive and captivating in itself.
EVERY emotion is written within the pages. You feel it ALL.
My only issue with this book is that I felt like the dust wasn't settled, the ending felt almost abrupt, I mean after all the things Sara and Andrew had gone through they deserved something much more...*Hint Hint*
(Maybe a epilogue or something???)
P.S: I recommend this book to those for whom its not about the act but about the feelings because
Maybe its not about the ending,
Its about the Story...<3<3<3
**********I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review************
How much I needed love in order to survive
I was so spoiled...a princess in my time
And your love was so deep
And mine...so blind ♫ ♪♫ ♪
★★★★ 3.5 Hauntingly Beautiful Stars ★★★★
A story about love lost and found again, a love so beautifully poignant that it seems almost unattainable ....
quite simply an intensely thought provoking, heartbreaking story.
This is about Sara and Andrew......
Sara:
An innocent girl who has aspirations, and plans and dreams........
Lets, meet Andrew:
Well, what can I say about him???
Gorgeous, caring, and utterly swoon-worthy.
But he was just so damn stubborn at times, I wanted to smack him!
Yeah, the very definition of a book boyfriend.
Their moments together were oh so special!
From how they fall for each other to the awkwardness, the butterflies, their first kiss, the innocence...
"I talk as if I know about these things, but I truly don’t.
I know nothing of loving someone so much that I can't control myself."
From their crazy banter to the sweet nothings......
their passion......
"I touch myself the way you touched me and my body responds, aching, fevered, to the point where it would be better to be smothered with nothingness rather than spend another moment on fire."
The emotions were written so beautifully that the characters almost felt real to me.
The first half of the book was SO sweet and cute!
But, let me tell you, it's not all love, flowers and candies.
" My rage not even close to spent, we then kiss as if we want to hurt each other.
He tells me I’m poison even as he devours me."
On the other hand, the second half of the book left me speechless!!
I had NO idea that the story would turn out like this!!
So many secrets of the past.
The wrong decisions.......
"This isn’t right, he says.
People aren’t supposed to feel this way.
The Heartbreak.......
".....the boy behind me whispered something in my ear, saying one word that sounded so much like you that I melted as if it were you and not him behind me, whispering in my ear.
You do that to me lately.
You just show up all of a sudden in someone’s nonchalant reply, some stranger’s smile, a face in the crowd with blue eyes."
THAT LINE JUST TOOK MY BREATH AWAY!!!
Lies, jealously.......
So, the question still remains:
"Is all-consuming love selfish?
Does it bring ruin to everything pure and good?
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll leave you to go and explore it.
"No one else knows me like you and no one ever will again."
I feel like I read two stories instead of one and the synopsis doesn't do this book justice at all.
So, the story completes the full cycle and comes back to the place where it all began, this one place: ROSETHORN
"Do you realize that? Everything comes back to here. Once upon a time, in this house, I used to know who I was and what I wanted.”
The book moves back and forth between the past and the present, but its not hindering, but more so a journey.
The journey of Sara as she puts herself back together from all the pain and hurt she has had in her past.
"I know I could be happy with someone else........
But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you."
This book took me by the hand and pulled me completely in... Mind...Body and Soul.
It stripped me emotionally.
I lived and loved every moment of it!
This is the reason I love reading.
The feeling of falling in love with words, with characters.
Ava Zavora has a gift, and the lady sure knows how to work it.
I applaud the author for almost a smooth poetical writing, which was so descriptive and captivating in itself.
EVERY emotion is written within the pages. You feel it ALL.
My only issue with this book is that I felt like the dust wasn't settled, the ending felt almost abrupt, I mean after all the things Sara and Andrew had gone through they deserved something much more...*Hint Hint*
(Maybe a epilogue or something???)
P.S: I recommend this book to those for whom its not about the act but about the feelings because
Maybe its not about the ending,
Its about the Story...<3<3<3
**********I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review************
August 16, 2013
My thoughts about Rosethorn are conflicted, because there were parts I loved, but my overall feeling after reading it is frustration.
The romance between Andrew and Sera was filled with dreamy, all-consuming longing that made my heart skip beats. You know when you're in the haze of a romance that takes your breath away? Some of the scenes were so very swoony! Andrew and Sera's relationship, their chemistry, and characterization were strong.
Unfortunately, this skipped from Sera and Andrews's past to present many times without any warning, so at times I wasn't sure for a few paragraphs what time period I was reading about. Also included were lengthy chapters about Sera's mother's past which felt like a complete deviation from the story I actually wanted: Andrew and Sera's. Because of this, the story felt all over the place and unfocused. The history between Sera and her Paris boyfriend could've been shortened way down. Sera ended up with who I was rooting for but there was last minute back and forth. At 92% there was another unexpected hurdle that almost made me throw my kindle out the window! Not until the very last page was things settled, and it felt like an abrupt end with no time to glory in happiness.
I hate writing negative reviews, but I feel like I should spell out my issues because I think there was great potential for this story. The author does have a clear talent for writing an addictive read and I felt that coming through in parts.
A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The romance between Andrew and Sera was filled with dreamy, all-consuming longing that made my heart skip beats. You know when you're in the haze of a romance that takes your breath away? Some of the scenes were so very swoony! Andrew and Sera's relationship, their chemistry, and characterization were strong.
Unfortunately, this skipped from Sera and Andrews's past to present many times without any warning, so at times I wasn't sure for a few paragraphs what time period I was reading about. Also included were lengthy chapters about Sera's mother's past which felt like a complete deviation from the story I actually wanted: Andrew and Sera's. Because of this, the story felt all over the place and unfocused. The history between Sera and her Paris boyfriend could've been shortened way down. Sera ended up with who I was rooting for but there was last minute back and forth. At 92% there was another unexpected hurdle that almost made me throw my kindle out the window! Not until the very last page was things settled, and it felt like an abrupt end with no time to glory in happiness.
I hate writing negative reviews, but I feel like I should spell out my issues because I think there was great potential for this story. The author does have a clear talent for writing an addictive read and I felt that coming through in parts.
A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2013
Sera may have traveled the world and seen beautiful sights, but the one place that will always stand out among the others: Rosethorn. Though others may see only a mansion, Sera sees the place where she met with her lover. The place holds an heir of magic and of sadness, of heartbreak and of good times long past. When her recent lover, Chase, asks her to move in with him in Paris, she replies that she must return home one last time- home to Rosethorn. When she runs into Andrew, old feelings are reawakened, and the reader won't know what will happen next.
----
All in all, I found this to be an enjoyable but slow read. So first, let's talk about the positives.
+I love the details of Sera's heritage that are woven into the novel. I admittedly know next to nothing about Filipino culture, and I think that Ava Zavora does a great job of educating the reader, without making it like a text book or history lesson, and without taking away from the main plots of the story.
+Jumping off of that, I appreciate that when a word wasn't in English, it was in italics. I've had issues with that in the past, and this approach was used well.
+Another thing that worked well in this novel was the use of flashback-like sequences to tell a broader story. In no part was I confused by the timeline or by what was going on.
+The settings and descriptions are both beautiful, making the reader want to travel alongside Sera and see what she wants to see. Even down to the colors of the flower petals, a vivid portrait is painted.
There were only a few minor things that didn't rest so well with me. At parts, it seemed a little boring, almost as though I'd heard it before. This wasn't often, and not enough to "break" this story for me. Going off of that, this book slightly reminded me of Beautiful Creatures (a book that I couldn't even finish). The mansion, Rosethorn, along with a character named Serafina stirred up this novel, through no fault of the author or her story. This was merely my own skewed thinking. '
For all of the above reasons, along with a twisting, romantic, dramatic plot filled with secrets and lies, I give this book four solid stars.
Thank you so much to Ava Zavora, for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review, as well as an interview with the author, can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
----
All in all, I found this to be an enjoyable but slow read. So first, let's talk about the positives.
+I love the details of Sera's heritage that are woven into the novel. I admittedly know next to nothing about Filipino culture, and I think that Ava Zavora does a great job of educating the reader, without making it like a text book or history lesson, and without taking away from the main plots of the story.
+Jumping off of that, I appreciate that when a word wasn't in English, it was in italics. I've had issues with that in the past, and this approach was used well.
+Another thing that worked well in this novel was the use of flashback-like sequences to tell a broader story. In no part was I confused by the timeline or by what was going on.
+The settings and descriptions are both beautiful, making the reader want to travel alongside Sera and see what she wants to see. Even down to the colors of the flower petals, a vivid portrait is painted.
There were only a few minor things that didn't rest so well with me. At parts, it seemed a little boring, almost as though I'd heard it before. This wasn't often, and not enough to "break" this story for me. Going off of that, this book slightly reminded me of Beautiful Creatures (a book that I couldn't even finish). The mansion, Rosethorn, along with a character named Serafina stirred up this novel, through no fault of the author or her story. This was merely my own skewed thinking. '
For all of the above reasons, along with a twisting, romantic, dramatic plot filled with secrets and lies, I give this book four solid stars.
Thank you so much to Ava Zavora, for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review, as well as an interview with the author, can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
May 6, 2013
I received Rosethorn from the author for an honest review. And to be honest…Here it comes…I love it. No, I adore it. But wait…isn’t that the same?
JUST BRILLIANT.
(in my opinion Rosethorn was about)
Letting go of the past... Begin a new chapter in your life and look for second chances.
…and p.s. not all Asians eat cats or dogs, really. Don’t judge. Live on.
Synopsis from Goodreads
"I know I could be happy with someone else . . . But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you."
From Morocco to Paris, Sera has travelled the world over but she never forgot Rosethorn, the beautiful, abandoned mansion where she and Andrew used to meet for trysts. Until the day Sera found her mother's diary. Her obsession with the shocking secrets it contained tore them apart and sent Sera fleeing to New York with a devastated heart.
10 years later, Sera revisits Rosethorn, only to run into Andrew, all grown up and handsomer than ever. Politeness gives way to a heated confrontation over their painful past. Yet unable to resist each other's lure, both surrender to the undying power of first love.
Fate has brought them together once again, but will an old tragedy destroy Sera and Andrew's second chance - forever?
--
So from the synopsis you will not - I repeat in bold letters will not - be able to see or predict what happened, what is going to happen and what the story is about. Why? What? How? You keep on asking that to yourself, to the story and telepathically to the author in hope she would answer you in your dreams –did not happen, by the way-.
That is why I had with mixed feeling about Rosethorn, because I just didn’t know what to expect from the story. I had a blank mind. I didn’t know the author. I was requested to review her book. And this was her debut novel. You didn't know what the genre was or any other additional information that might have been interesting to know were missing because it just released...But even though everything was a mystery, I was ready to read something ‘normal’. After reading two paranormal romance/fantasy stories in a row, I was glad that I had the opportunity to read a contemporary romance. I can read something without frustration… No thoughts. No mind crushing events. Only a little bit tragedy (?) and lots of romance. A lightish (probably not a word) novel which suits the current weather in Holland (spring/summer has finally arrived!). So, I started reading Rosethorn. And well I am surprised. I really enjoyed reading it. Because to be honest, I thought that I would have not liked it, at all. But I was wrong. Completely wrong. No matter if it is a debut novel or a new author, you have to give it a shot.
Ok, so you begin with reading about Sera and Chase. My first impression was who the hell was Chase? Chase? Chase? Chase? I only know the name Andrew? It was confusing at first but then I realised that the story was built up as followed: little bit of present time mixed with retelling of the past; you will get back and forth. And from the moment I realised that that was the case, I started to like Rosethorn more and more. Because I love stories with ‘flashbacks’. I like to get to know the past and the background of the main characters.
As I said, we start the story with Chase asking Sera to live with him in Paris. But her wavering feelings from the past were still hindering her from deciding the path she should choose. And then she decides to go home. She wants closure.
‘I’ll go home one more time and then we can start our life together here.’
And that is actually how we start to get to know young Sera and - of course – Andrew. I really loved them both. The characters seemed so alive… real even.
From the place where they first ‘met’ Rosethorn (and I have to say it was not a love at first sight kind of thing…or was it *smug smile*) to their young sweet (summer) romance they shared, to the misunderstandings and ‘her Sera’s mother’s past’ that separated them from each other. But while you read, you keep on asking what had happened in the past. Why were they not together? And that made me want to read on. Nice one. I see what you did there! Besides that, the story was in my opinion beautifully written regarding the choice of used words.
When you finally figured out what had happened, you keep on wondering what is going to happen in the future. Will that be the ending? Or not? Who will she choose? But I think it was rather already pretty obvious how it would end. This one gave it away already, right? "I know I could be happy with someone else . . . But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you."
If that was not true… My life would have been a lie. I would have been crushed.
But luckily the ending was satisfying in a way and I have to say I am glad that I read this one. The only thing that confused me sometimes were the jumps between present and past. Sometimes I had no clue if it was the present…or the past… or the ‘past-past’ (Sera’s mother’s story). But well that is the only thing I can come up with. There was not one moment that I wanted to put it away out of frustration…
My message: keep it the hard work up! Because I will keep both my eyes open for some of your other books!
I don’t know what else is to say… I think I will end this review with some minor comments and thoughts after reading Rosethorn.
This story seems not complete for some reason …
The one thing that I really really really want to know is: will there be a…you know… epilogue or something like that…? I mean the ending was good, but I was just wondering if there might be an epilogue… To see their real happily ever after? A small spin off thing? Extra? I dunno?
And then some minor things/shout outs …
Chance of having some extra parts but then in Andrew’s point of view?
I want more of Andrew and Sera! I loved their sweet young love. Cute!
How big were Andrew’s hands and feet? I have this weird image of him in my head now. It is not a pretty one.
How can her mother be like that? Glad that Sera wasn’t like her.
What happens to her grandma?
What happened to Chase?
What happened to the girl from the voice mail?
What actually happened to Andrew’s parents? (divorce? They seemed all so happy)
JUST BRILLIANT.
(in my opinion Rosethorn was about)
Letting go of the past... Begin a new chapter in your life and look for second chances.
…and p.s. not all Asians eat cats or dogs, really. Don’t judge. Live on.
Synopsis from Goodreads
"I know I could be happy with someone else . . . But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you."
From Morocco to Paris, Sera has travelled the world over but she never forgot Rosethorn, the beautiful, abandoned mansion where she and Andrew used to meet for trysts. Until the day Sera found her mother's diary. Her obsession with the shocking secrets it contained tore them apart and sent Sera fleeing to New York with a devastated heart.
10 years later, Sera revisits Rosethorn, only to run into Andrew, all grown up and handsomer than ever. Politeness gives way to a heated confrontation over their painful past. Yet unable to resist each other's lure, both surrender to the undying power of first love.
Fate has brought them together once again, but will an old tragedy destroy Sera and Andrew's second chance - forever?
--
So from the synopsis you will not - I repeat in bold letters will not - be able to see or predict what happened, what is going to happen and what the story is about. Why? What? How? You keep on asking that to yourself, to the story and telepathically to the author in hope she would answer you in your dreams –did not happen, by the way-.
That is why I had with mixed feeling about Rosethorn, because I just didn’t know what to expect from the story. I had a blank mind. I didn’t know the author. I was requested to review her book. And this was her debut novel. You didn't know what the genre was or any other additional information that might have been interesting to know were missing because it just released...But even though everything was a mystery, I was ready to read something ‘normal’. After reading two paranormal romance/fantasy stories in a row, I was glad that I had the opportunity to read a contemporary romance. I can read something without frustration… No thoughts. No mind crushing events. Only a little bit tragedy (?) and lots of romance. A lightish (probably not a word) novel which suits the current weather in Holland (spring/summer has finally arrived!). So, I started reading Rosethorn. And well I am surprised. I really enjoyed reading it. Because to be honest, I thought that I would have not liked it, at all. But I was wrong. Completely wrong. No matter if it is a debut novel or a new author, you have to give it a shot.
Ok, so you begin with reading about Sera and Chase. My first impression was who the hell was Chase? Chase? Chase? Chase? I only know the name Andrew? It was confusing at first but then I realised that the story was built up as followed: little bit of present time mixed with retelling of the past; you will get back and forth. And from the moment I realised that that was the case, I started to like Rosethorn more and more. Because I love stories with ‘flashbacks’. I like to get to know the past and the background of the main characters.
As I said, we start the story with Chase asking Sera to live with him in Paris. But her wavering feelings from the past were still hindering her from deciding the path she should choose. And then she decides to go home. She wants closure.
‘I’ll go home one more time and then we can start our life together here.’
And that is actually how we start to get to know young Sera and - of course – Andrew. I really loved them both. The characters seemed so alive… real even.
From the place where they first ‘met’ Rosethorn (and I have to say it was not a love at first sight kind of thing…or was it *smug smile*) to their young sweet (summer) romance they shared, to the misunderstandings and ‘her Sera’s mother’s past’ that separated them from each other. But while you read, you keep on asking what had happened in the past. Why were they not together? And that made me want to read on. Nice one. I see what you did there! Besides that, the story was in my opinion beautifully written regarding the choice of used words.
When you finally figured out what had happened, you keep on wondering what is going to happen in the future. Will that be the ending? Or not? Who will she choose? But I think it was rather already pretty obvious how it would end. This one gave it away already, right? "I know I could be happy with someone else . . . But it was decided a long time ago. It was always going to be you."
If that was not true… My life would have been a lie. I would have been crushed.
But luckily the ending was satisfying in a way and I have to say I am glad that I read this one. The only thing that confused me sometimes were the jumps between present and past. Sometimes I had no clue if it was the present…or the past… or the ‘past-past’ (Sera’s mother’s story). But well that is the only thing I can come up with. There was not one moment that I wanted to put it away out of frustration…
My message: keep it the hard work up! Because I will keep both my eyes open for some of your other books!
I don’t know what else is to say… I think I will end this review with some minor comments and thoughts after reading Rosethorn.
This story seems not complete for some reason …
The one thing that I really really really want to know is: will there be a…you know… epilogue or something like that…? I mean the ending was good, but I was just wondering if there might be an epilogue… To see their real happily ever after? A small spin off thing? Extra? I dunno?
And then some minor things/shout outs …
Chance of having some extra parts but then in Andrew’s point of view?
I want more of Andrew and Sera! I loved their sweet young love. Cute!
How big were Andrew’s hands and feet? I have this weird image of him in my head now. It is not a pretty one.
How can her mother be like that? Glad that Sera wasn’t like her.
What happens to her grandma?
What happened to Chase?
What happened to the girl from the voice mail?
What actually happened to Andrew’s parents? (divorce? They seemed all so happy)
May 15, 2013
Captivated from beginning to end!
I knew I was taking a chance by trying this new author and signing up for a free copy to review. Indie and free - I have not had the best of luck. But something about first loves and the old mansion tempted me. Plus, that cover - had to have. I am here to say how happy I am I took that chance! Rosethorn had everything I hoped for and more. I was charmed by Sera and Andrew's relationship - the fireworks between them, the innocent love, and the way they returned to each other after a bitter break and years apart.
But what I did not expect was how intriguing the parallel storyline was. There is a tragic story in the past having to do with Sera's parents that enters the story and affects Sera so much that the beautiful love she and Andrew shared is almost ruined. It was intriguing but I was wondering why it was so significant then once I got to the end, I was truly in awe. I wish I could say more!
What I thought happened didn't happen. What I expected to happen didn't. Just when I thought I knew how it would end - Rosethorn took an amazing turn.
There were some really light, laugh out loud moments, some beautiful, sigh-inducing scenes, and some real intensity that brought me to an emotional brink.
The haunting stories, the characters, the sumptuous writing - it all took my my breath away.
I knew I was taking a chance by trying this new author and signing up for a free copy to review. Indie and free - I have not had the best of luck. But something about first loves and the old mansion tempted me. Plus, that cover - had to have. I am here to say how happy I am I took that chance! Rosethorn had everything I hoped for and more. I was charmed by Sera and Andrew's relationship - the fireworks between them, the innocent love, and the way they returned to each other after a bitter break and years apart.
But what I did not expect was how intriguing the parallel storyline was. There is a tragic story in the past having to do with Sera's parents that enters the story and affects Sera so much that the beautiful love she and Andrew shared is almost ruined. It was intriguing but I was wondering why it was so significant then once I got to the end, I was truly in awe. I wish I could say more!
What I thought happened didn't happen. What I expected to happen didn't. Just when I thought I knew how it would end - Rosethorn took an amazing turn.
There were some really light, laugh out loud moments, some beautiful, sigh-inducing scenes, and some real intensity that brought me to an emotional brink.
The haunting stories, the characters, the sumptuous writing - it all took my my breath away.
May 7, 2013
**I requested a copy of this book from the author through Goodreads in exchange for a review.**
WOW. I just finished this book and I must say the ending was pretty incredible. My mouth was literally hanging open once I got to the "twist" - then I flipped back to skim previous chapters and the beginning, at first thinking, "What?" and then realizing, "Oh! That’s why!" The author did a great job of plotting the book, moving in and out of the past and present, revealing the story bit by bit. First, with Sera as an adult returning to Rosethorn, then as a teenager falling in love with Andrew. The chapters in the past were very sweet and had me laughing out loud a few times. Oh, Andrew, I want you for myself!
My curiosity kept growing, wondering what caused Sera and Andrew to break up when they were so in love with each other.
Then when it got to the part about Sera's mother and father - whoa. I did not expect that at all. Wait till you see what happens with that. I can't write anymore but trust me, you have to read it for yourself. Actually, some of my favorite passages were from this section.
“You’re gone again. I am bereft again. I can’t concentrate on anything. I relive our one day together until all traces of the present reality dissolve. In my classes, walking along in school, at night in my bed, I drug myself with you and fool my senses into another reality. I touch myself the way you touched me and my body responds, aching, fevered, to the point where it would be better to be smothered with nothingness rather than spend another moment on fire.”
“I tire of this constant longing that follows me as night follows day, unceasing.”
The writing - simply gorgeous. The love stories were beautiful, tragic and bittersweet at times. I was so immersed that I choked up in certain chapters. All the feels, people. I had all the feels.
I do wish though that the book didn't end right where it did. All the emotional upheaval and then the grand finish - I just wish that the author extended it a bit, let me recover from my shock :) I need more Sera and Andrew, please!
Overall, though, this book really surprised me. I had read a bunch of indie books lately that were kinda okay, but this one just blew me away.
WOW. I just finished this book and I must say the ending was pretty incredible. My mouth was literally hanging open once I got to the "twist" - then I flipped back to skim previous chapters and the beginning, at first thinking, "What?" and then realizing, "Oh! That’s why!" The author did a great job of plotting the book, moving in and out of the past and present, revealing the story bit by bit. First, with Sera as an adult returning to Rosethorn, then as a teenager falling in love with Andrew. The chapters in the past were very sweet and had me laughing out loud a few times. Oh, Andrew, I want you for myself!
My curiosity kept growing, wondering what caused Sera and Andrew to break up when they were so in love with each other.
Then when it got to the part about Sera's mother and father - whoa. I did not expect that at all. Wait till you see what happens with that. I can't write anymore but trust me, you have to read it for yourself. Actually, some of my favorite passages were from this section.
“You’re gone again. I am bereft again. I can’t concentrate on anything. I relive our one day together until all traces of the present reality dissolve. In my classes, walking along in school, at night in my bed, I drug myself with you and fool my senses into another reality. I touch myself the way you touched me and my body responds, aching, fevered, to the point where it would be better to be smothered with nothingness rather than spend another moment on fire.”
“I tire of this constant longing that follows me as night follows day, unceasing.”
The writing - simply gorgeous. The love stories were beautiful, tragic and bittersweet at times. I was so immersed that I choked up in certain chapters. All the feels, people. I had all the feels.
I do wish though that the book didn't end right where it did. All the emotional upheaval and then the grand finish - I just wish that the author extended it a bit, let me recover from my shock :) I need more Sera and Andrew, please!
Overall, though, this book really surprised me. I had read a bunch of indie books lately that were kinda okay, but this one just blew me away.
May 12, 2013
Rosethorn looked like a different read with an unattainable romance in it that is why I decided to go for it. It certainly was a different read but I failed to be completely mesmerized by it. It basically is the story of Sera and her first love Andrew which revolves around the house which is named Rosethorn.
The book starts off with Sera being with her current love Chase who proposes to her to move in to Paris with him. Eager to leave New York and her past behind Sera accepts the invitation but she wants to go back to Rosethorn one last time before leaving without looking back. And so she goes back to the town where her grandmother still resides to say goodbye. This is where she gets flooded with a ton of memories from the past.
I didn't really like Sera. She was a bit too flighty and immature for me. The way she handled certain situations in her past and present made her unrelatable to me. The one thing I found really unique in Rosethorn is that Sera's family is from Phillippines. I enjoyed getting to know more about them and their food and culture seemed really unique and well portrayed.
Then we have Andrew. I really liked seeing how the 17 year old Andrew was smitten with Sera. He was curious yet hesitant with her. Their relationship was a wonderful journey though some of the tantrums they threw at each other put me off. There is a slight mystery going on in Rosethorn with Sera's birth. I didn't really get the whole point of Sera finding her mother's diary and making all those journal entries significant to her current life.
Rosethorn moves rapidly from past to the present and then from the past to the past before that with Sera's mother's journal. I found it hard to keep up with the current location in the book. The end surprised me a bit because I thought Sera's indecision would lead her away from everything she cared about. The writing in Rosethorn was really descriptive and I got a really good picture of the surroundings. All in all Rosethorn was an okay read for me.
The book starts off with Sera being with her current love Chase who proposes to her to move in to Paris with him. Eager to leave New York and her past behind Sera accepts the invitation but she wants to go back to Rosethorn one last time before leaving without looking back. And so she goes back to the town where her grandmother still resides to say goodbye. This is where she gets flooded with a ton of memories from the past.
I didn't really like Sera. She was a bit too flighty and immature for me. The way she handled certain situations in her past and present made her unrelatable to me. The one thing I found really unique in Rosethorn is that Sera's family is from Phillippines. I enjoyed getting to know more about them and their food and culture seemed really unique and well portrayed.
Then we have Andrew. I really liked seeing how the 17 year old Andrew was smitten with Sera. He was curious yet hesitant with her. Their relationship was a wonderful journey though some of the tantrums they threw at each other put me off. There is a slight mystery going on in Rosethorn with Sera's birth. I didn't really get the whole point of Sera finding her mother's diary and making all those journal entries significant to her current life.
Rosethorn moves rapidly from past to the present and then from the past to the past before that with Sera's mother's journal. I found it hard to keep up with the current location in the book. The end surprised me a bit because I thought Sera's indecision would lead her away from everything she cared about. The writing in Rosethorn was really descriptive and I got a really good picture of the surroundings. All in all Rosethorn was an okay read for me.
May 4, 2013
I jumped at the chance when I saw that the author was offering copies for review. The cover was so enticing and the storyline was just my thing. I am such a sucker for reunited first loves. The author sent me a copy Friday night but once I read the first line - "Spring was a season for regret" - I was enamored and had to read the rest rather than go to sleep.
Sera comes home after 10 years away. She's sophisticated, successful, and about to move to Paris with her older boyfriend. When she and Andrew, her first love, accidentally cross paths again, she realizes that she never got over him - or the way it ended between them. From there, the book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, flashing back to the sweet, beautiful moments of falling in love for the first time, to the anguish of heartbreak, to Sera and Andrew finding their way back to each other in the pres.
A good part of Rosethorn also includes a mysterious tragedy of what befell Sera's mother, a mystery that affects her deeply once she finds her mother's diary. And Oh. My. Goodness. The love story in the diary is very different - intense, explosive, and doomed. I don't know which couple I liked reading about more: Sera and Andrew or Stella and Alex. Alex, I want to hate because he's such a dick, but god, he sounds mesmerizingly HAWT. However, my heart belongs to Andrew. Gorgeous, faithful, and utterly swoonworthy. Yeah, the very definition of a book boyfriend. Although there were scenes where I just wanted to clobber him for being so stubborn.
Then just when you think you know how it's going to end - bam - a plot turn that just knocked me over. I couldn't turn the page fast enough to get to the next chapter and find out what the hell happened - it is a doozy! Don't worry, there is a happy ending (or I'd be writing a very different review).
I'm very glad I discovered this new author and I do want, want, want to read her next book, Dear Adam. The teaser I read has got me very excited.
Sera comes home after 10 years away. She's sophisticated, successful, and about to move to Paris with her older boyfriend. When she and Andrew, her first love, accidentally cross paths again, she realizes that she never got over him - or the way it ended between them. From there, the book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, flashing back to the sweet, beautiful moments of falling in love for the first time, to the anguish of heartbreak, to Sera and Andrew finding their way back to each other in the pres.
A good part of Rosethorn also includes a mysterious tragedy of what befell Sera's mother, a mystery that affects her deeply once she finds her mother's diary. And Oh. My. Goodness. The love story in the diary is very different - intense, explosive, and doomed. I don't know which couple I liked reading about more: Sera and Andrew or Stella and Alex. Alex, I want to hate because he's such a dick, but god, he sounds mesmerizingly HAWT. However, my heart belongs to Andrew. Gorgeous, faithful, and utterly swoonworthy. Yeah, the very definition of a book boyfriend. Although there were scenes where I just wanted to clobber him for being so stubborn.
Then just when you think you know how it's going to end - bam - a plot turn that just knocked me over. I couldn't turn the page fast enough to get to the next chapter and find out what the hell happened - it is a doozy! Don't worry, there is a happy ending (or I'd be writing a very different review).
I'm very glad I discovered this new author and I do want, want, want to read her next book, Dear Adam. The teaser I read has got me very excited.
October 6, 2013
This book left me absolutely breathless and emotionally drained. Not for the obvious reasons either because it wasn't a heart-pounding thriller. I didn't cry, I didn't scream or threaten to throw my kindle and I didn't even dissolve into a puddle of goo. This one went well below my surface emotions to challenge me on a deeper level. Debut novel? Really? Not easy to believe once I read this. I feel like offering a warning label of sorts since I'm still shaking and affected. Let's just say if you want simple, easy and relaxing, pick something else until you're in the mood for something darker and more demanding.
You may ask what elicited such a strong response. I'm not sure. It might be just right book; right time. Somehow, I don't think so.
Over and above how the story touched me, I will say that it's a challenging read because it's almost three stories in one. There is the current day story of Sera on the verge of her big decision to turn her back on her past and head into the future with Chase in Paris, then it flips to the past when Sera is a teen discovering love with Andrew and within the past is another story about Sera's mother buried within that will all merge. There were breaks in the story, but sometimes there weren't clear indicators when it was dipping back for a flashback so the reader must stay alert.
Sometimes I'm not a fan of stories told through flashbacks, but in this case, it was a relief at times to go back and forth. The heroine, Sera, can be a draining narrator. She feels so much and she is strong-willed and very flawed. Her egocentricity was transparent enough that I was prepared for the fact that I was getting a story from a skewed perspective. It seems that this behavior was an inherited trait from her mother whose story is told through her diary and another not so reliable narrator who sees what she wants to see. So it was a reprieve to flip back and forth- not that any of the stories were easy- and dive back in. The flashbacks also served to build up suspense and mystery because I was well aware that I was only getting part of the story and that there would be some big reveals in the end. As a proof of how much I enjoyed this story, I'll admit that I figured out most of the twists, but still was as engaged as ever to read it to the last word.
The story opens in present day Sera's life when the man she has been in a relationship with, Chase, is getting impatient with her to make a commitment to them and to live with him instead of engaging in a long-distance relationship where they only meet up every few months. Sera knows it has come to a point, but first she has some unfinished business. She has to go back home and deal with her past.
The story continues with a younger teenage Sera who slowly discovers that the boy she thought of as the bane of her existence and her chief tormentor was really looking for an opportunity to have a chance with her. Andrew is tall and gawky, but she soon realizes when she looks into his beautiful blue eyes that he's special. He sees her- the real her- and he listens to her. He understands her as no one else does. They spend a summer exploring the local environs of their small town and exploring each other. They discover Rosethorn, the old crumbling Victorian mansion, and make it their own.
But then Sera finds her mother's diary and becomes immersed in her mother's story. Sera always wondered about her dead mother. She has lived with her Asian grandmother since she lost her mother when she was a baby. Her Grandmother won't talk about her mother and Sera doesn't want to cause her grandmother pain. In the diary she meets her mother and feels an instant connection. Her mother's life was sad and tragic with dreams that would never be fulfilled. Sera starts to feel a disconnect for all around her even Andrew and then things go the course leaving her where she is now- on the brink of a new future with the past still gripping her.
The tone of this one has a melancholic feel because it is about someone who is unfinished even though they are an adult who has lived many life experiences. It is a story of someone who needed to find resolution before she could find peace. The best I can offer as a correlation is that it was like reading Wuthering Heights. The author did a fabulous job of getting me inside Sera's head and feeling what she felt even as I recognized that my responses were different. Sera made some decisions that were saddening, but oddly I wasn't upset with her because I knew she wasn't in a healthy place. She missed a mother she never knew and tried to accept being abandoned by a father who never wanted her. She struggled to please ghosts and in so doing messed up her own life. Yes, I was very touched by this character. The bright spot in the story was Andrew. From the moment he enters the picture with his amateur and fumbling attempts to gain Sera's attention, I found him the perfect boy next door cutie. Beneath the awkward attempts, he is coming of age and coming into his own losing some the cuteness and drawing in a more passionate response. He wants Sera in spite of her issues. That last scene with them in the past when they were at Rosethorn was tough to read- tragic.
Just one quick word of caution for those who might be sensitive, an abortion does take place off scene.
My final thoughts are that this was a superb piece of writing that I can wholeheartedly recommend to those who enjoy a more complex and bittersweet character-driven romance.
You may ask what elicited such a strong response. I'm not sure. It might be just right book; right time. Somehow, I don't think so.
Over and above how the story touched me, I will say that it's a challenging read because it's almost three stories in one. There is the current day story of Sera on the verge of her big decision to turn her back on her past and head into the future with Chase in Paris, then it flips to the past when Sera is a teen discovering love with Andrew and within the past is another story about Sera's mother buried within that will all merge. There were breaks in the story, but sometimes there weren't clear indicators when it was dipping back for a flashback so the reader must stay alert.
Sometimes I'm not a fan of stories told through flashbacks, but in this case, it was a relief at times to go back and forth. The heroine, Sera, can be a draining narrator. She feels so much and she is strong-willed and very flawed. Her egocentricity was transparent enough that I was prepared for the fact that I was getting a story from a skewed perspective. It seems that this behavior was an inherited trait from her mother whose story is told through her diary and another not so reliable narrator who sees what she wants to see. So it was a reprieve to flip back and forth- not that any of the stories were easy- and dive back in. The flashbacks also served to build up suspense and mystery because I was well aware that I was only getting part of the story and that there would be some big reveals in the end. As a proof of how much I enjoyed this story, I'll admit that I figured out most of the twists, but still was as engaged as ever to read it to the last word.
The story opens in present day Sera's life when the man she has been in a relationship with, Chase, is getting impatient with her to make a commitment to them and to live with him instead of engaging in a long-distance relationship where they only meet up every few months. Sera knows it has come to a point, but first she has some unfinished business. She has to go back home and deal with her past.
The story continues with a younger teenage Sera who slowly discovers that the boy she thought of as the bane of her existence and her chief tormentor was really looking for an opportunity to have a chance with her. Andrew is tall and gawky, but she soon realizes when she looks into his beautiful blue eyes that he's special. He sees her- the real her- and he listens to her. He understands her as no one else does. They spend a summer exploring the local environs of their small town and exploring each other. They discover Rosethorn, the old crumbling Victorian mansion, and make it their own.
But then Sera finds her mother's diary and becomes immersed in her mother's story. Sera always wondered about her dead mother. She has lived with her Asian grandmother since she lost her mother when she was a baby. Her Grandmother won't talk about her mother and Sera doesn't want to cause her grandmother pain. In the diary she meets her mother and feels an instant connection. Her mother's life was sad and tragic with dreams that would never be fulfilled. Sera starts to feel a disconnect for all around her even Andrew and then things go the course leaving her where she is now- on the brink of a new future with the past still gripping her.
The tone of this one has a melancholic feel because it is about someone who is unfinished even though they are an adult who has lived many life experiences. It is a story of someone who needed to find resolution before she could find peace. The best I can offer as a correlation is that it was like reading Wuthering Heights. The author did a fabulous job of getting me inside Sera's head and feeling what she felt even as I recognized that my responses were different. Sera made some decisions that were saddening, but oddly I wasn't upset with her because I knew she wasn't in a healthy place. She missed a mother she never knew and tried to accept being abandoned by a father who never wanted her. She struggled to please ghosts and in so doing messed up her own life. Yes, I was very touched by this character. The bright spot in the story was Andrew. From the moment he enters the picture with his amateur and fumbling attempts to gain Sera's attention, I found him the perfect boy next door cutie. Beneath the awkward attempts, he is coming of age and coming into his own losing some the cuteness and drawing in a more passionate response. He wants Sera in spite of her issues. That last scene with them in the past when they were at Rosethorn was tough to read- tragic.
Just one quick word of caution for those who might be sensitive, an abortion does take place off scene.
My final thoughts are that this was a superb piece of writing that I can wholeheartedly recommend to those who enjoy a more complex and bittersweet character-driven romance.
July 11, 2013
You can also find my review on my blog:
http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/07...
Rosethorn is the debut work from author Ava Zavora and I was 100% wholly unprepared for how much I ended up loving this book. Yes, this title goes on the list of books I’ve read in 24 hours and I loved every minute!
Growing up with only her grandmother and not ever knowing the parents she was born to, Sera dreamed of where her life would take her and all of the magical places she would travel to and see. Now, after realizing those dreams, she knows a piece of her is missing. The piece she left behind years ago with the memories of her first love and the magical place they shared…Rosethorn. Now, faced with the decision of accepting her boyfriend’s proposal to take their relationship to the next level, she realizes she has to go back. Back to Rosethorn and hopefully be able to bury the still potent longing for that lost love once and for all. But she sees the fates have other plans in store for her once she steps foot onto the lands Rosethorn stands upon….
Andrew cannot believe she’s back. Restoring Rosethorn was a dream of his since he first found the old home with Sera all those years ago. Now, she’s back and standing here…at Rosethorn. So many unanswered questions immediately plague his brain. The most important one being: Would there ever be another chance for them? He had tried for years to put his life back together but the girl who he had always noticed in his peripheral, ever since they were little kids in grade school, was a constant pain in his heart and thought in his mind since she left him years ago. He knows what they had was so much more than a first love…and he’s determined to make her see that they were always meant to be together.
What. A. Book. Sera and Andrew’s story was so pure and real that it brought me back to the innocence of the first crush and all of the emotion that goes along with it. Watching their relationship grow from the teasing when they were kids to the realization they both had feelings that went way beyond that as they grew up, was such a treat. Add the magic of the house itself, with its mystery and allure, and I was completely hooked. Reading about the adventures Andrew and Sera shared and the stolen moments in an old abandoned charming mansion and it ended up being like their very own fairy tale. Of course, there was plenty of mystery beyond the house. Sera never gave up trying to find the truth of who her parents were and what had happened to them. Never has the phrase “be careful what you wish for” been truer than in this situation. Sera finds out more than what she had bargained for and, even though her and Andrew had been drifting apart, what she learns about her past stiffens her resolve to go her own way…far from Rosethorn. I went through every emotion while reading this book…I laughed, got super angry and cried my eyes out. If you know me though, I love when a book gets the reader to feel and Rosethorn certainly did just that!
Hopefully I haven’t bored you with my blathering! In the end, I highly recommend Rosethorn (if you haven’t guessed!). If you enjoy stories about true love, second chances, mystery and self-discovery all wrapped up in an extremely well-written package, then this is a book for you! So, get to downloading, clear your schedule, grab some tissues and ENJOY! Thank you, Ava, for a story that will stay with me for a long time to come.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/07...
Rosethorn is the debut work from author Ava Zavora and I was 100% wholly unprepared for how much I ended up loving this book. Yes, this title goes on the list of books I’ve read in 24 hours and I loved every minute!
Growing up with only her grandmother and not ever knowing the parents she was born to, Sera dreamed of where her life would take her and all of the magical places she would travel to and see. Now, after realizing those dreams, she knows a piece of her is missing. The piece she left behind years ago with the memories of her first love and the magical place they shared…Rosethorn. Now, faced with the decision of accepting her boyfriend’s proposal to take their relationship to the next level, she realizes she has to go back. Back to Rosethorn and hopefully be able to bury the still potent longing for that lost love once and for all. But she sees the fates have other plans in store for her once she steps foot onto the lands Rosethorn stands upon….
Andrew cannot believe she’s back. Restoring Rosethorn was a dream of his since he first found the old home with Sera all those years ago. Now, she’s back and standing here…at Rosethorn. So many unanswered questions immediately plague his brain. The most important one being: Would there ever be another chance for them? He had tried for years to put his life back together but the girl who he had always noticed in his peripheral, ever since they were little kids in grade school, was a constant pain in his heart and thought in his mind since she left him years ago. He knows what they had was so much more than a first love…and he’s determined to make her see that they were always meant to be together.
What. A. Book. Sera and Andrew’s story was so pure and real that it brought me back to the innocence of the first crush and all of the emotion that goes along with it. Watching their relationship grow from the teasing when they were kids to the realization they both had feelings that went way beyond that as they grew up, was such a treat. Add the magic of the house itself, with its mystery and allure, and I was completely hooked. Reading about the adventures Andrew and Sera shared and the stolen moments in an old abandoned charming mansion and it ended up being like their very own fairy tale. Of course, there was plenty of mystery beyond the house. Sera never gave up trying to find the truth of who her parents were and what had happened to them. Never has the phrase “be careful what you wish for” been truer than in this situation. Sera finds out more than what she had bargained for and, even though her and Andrew had been drifting apart, what she learns about her past stiffens her resolve to go her own way…far from Rosethorn. I went through every emotion while reading this book…I laughed, got super angry and cried my eyes out. If you know me though, I love when a book gets the reader to feel and Rosethorn certainly did just that!
Hopefully I haven’t bored you with my blathering! In the end, I highly recommend Rosethorn (if you haven’t guessed!). If you enjoy stories about true love, second chances, mystery and self-discovery all wrapped up in an extremely well-written package, then this is a book for you! So, get to downloading, clear your schedule, grab some tissues and ENJOY! Thank you, Ava, for a story that will stay with me for a long time to come.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 16, 2013
Originally published at The Rookie Romance Blog.
I really, really loved this. It was very beautifully written, and the story just completely captivated me.
Sera returns home before she moves to Paris with her boyfriend, Chase. She's sophisticated, ambitious and successful, a million miles away from the heartbroken girl she left as. When she reunites with Andrew, her first love, everything she thought she knew changes.
Throughout the book you get a really good insight into the important aspects of the story, from the start of Andrew and Sera's relationship to the discovery of Sera's mother's diary and the secrets it contained.
I loved both the characters of Sera and Andrew. They didn't have the smoothest start to their relationship, in fact they would play pretty bad pranks on each other when they worked together. It wasn't long before they realised that they were really attracted to each other and got on so well.
Andrew was so so sweet! He was always surprising Sera with the most romantic gestures, and I thought he was adorable.
Sera was really likable, but she was always haunted by the absence of her mother in her life. She was sensitive and creative. When she finds her mother's diary, she can't help but become somewhat obsessed by it and the secrets within. It also starts to affect her relationship with Andrew, and change the things she thought she wanted from life.
Andrew and Sera have a very idyllic sounding initial romance, the perfect summer romance! Unfortunately, their romance starts going downhill once they hit senior year. Sera finds her mother's diary and Andrew becomes the captain of the basketball team, and a gulf starts to open between them.
Reading Stella's (Sera's mother) diary was very emotional, her relationship with Alex (Sera's father) is very passionate but destructive. Sera starts to repeat her mother's mistakes, and I was screaming inside when Sera lets Andrew slip.
This whole story was mesmerizing and totally captured me. I found myself staying up far too late and waiting with bated breath for what would happen next. The setting of Rosethorn was perfect for their relationship and the twists and turns in the plot kept me hooked. I can't wait for more from Ava Zavora!
*I received a review copy of the book from the author, for my honest review.
I really, really loved this. It was very beautifully written, and the story just completely captivated me.
Sera returns home before she moves to Paris with her boyfriend, Chase. She's sophisticated, ambitious and successful, a million miles away from the heartbroken girl she left as. When she reunites with Andrew, her first love, everything she thought she knew changes.
Throughout the book you get a really good insight into the important aspects of the story, from the start of Andrew and Sera's relationship to the discovery of Sera's mother's diary and the secrets it contained.
I loved both the characters of Sera and Andrew. They didn't have the smoothest start to their relationship, in fact they would play pretty bad pranks on each other when they worked together. It wasn't long before they realised that they were really attracted to each other and got on so well.
Andrew was so so sweet! He was always surprising Sera with the most romantic gestures, and I thought he was adorable.
Sera was really likable, but she was always haunted by the absence of her mother in her life. She was sensitive and creative. When she finds her mother's diary, she can't help but become somewhat obsessed by it and the secrets within. It also starts to affect her relationship with Andrew, and change the things she thought she wanted from life.
Andrew and Sera have a very idyllic sounding initial romance, the perfect summer romance! Unfortunately, their romance starts going downhill once they hit senior year. Sera finds her mother's diary and Andrew becomes the captain of the basketball team, and a gulf starts to open between them.
Reading Stella's (Sera's mother) diary was very emotional, her relationship with Alex (Sera's father) is very passionate but destructive. Sera starts to repeat her mother's mistakes, and I was screaming inside when Sera lets Andrew slip.
This whole story was mesmerizing and totally captured me. I found myself staying up far too late and waiting with bated breath for what would happen next. The setting of Rosethorn was perfect for their relationship and the twists and turns in the plot kept me hooked. I can't wait for more from Ava Zavora!
*I received a review copy of the book from the author, for my honest review.
June 16, 2013
*I received ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Sera has never forgotten Rosethorn, and years of traveling the world the mansion still holds a special place in her heart. There is an air of romance about it; it holds memories of happiness but also sadness. When her lover Chase ask her live with him in Paris she agrees but wants to returns home one last time to Rosethorn for closure. It is on this return that by, chance or fate, she meets her first love Andrew the man who still captures her heart.
I liked Sera, but I did find myself questioning some of her choices at times. I like Andrew in both past and present form; you could tell that Sera is the love of his life. I like their relationship and could feel that the connection they had as teenagers, was still there when they meet up again years later.
I enjoyed the storyline I wanted to know more about Sera and Andrew story I wanted to find out their secrets and what happened between them in the past. I really enjoyed the chapters about Sera’s mother Stella. I would say these were my favorite parts of the book. Stella was from the Philippines, so it was interesting to read about her culture that was woven very well into the story. Stella’s conversation with Daniel’s parents and his brother Alex during dinner was particularly funny and I found myself laughing out loud.
However I think my main problem I had with Rosethorn was that it kept jumping between the past, and the present and I found myself reading chapters thinking I was in the past, and I wasn’t I was in the present and vice versus; therefore I found myself getting frustrated at times. I found the story was a little slow in some parts; this may have been because the book is extremely descriptive. I think it was necessary when describing Rosethon and I like that but in other parts of the book I felt it was too much.
The ending was good, but I felt that it was rather sudden, and left me with a few unanswered questions. I also felt that Sera and Andrew story had more tell, if there is not going to be another book then I think an epilogue would have made me happy and given me closure.
Overall I enjoyed this book that I think will appeal to others.
Rosethron gets 3 stars from me.
Sera has never forgotten Rosethorn, and years of traveling the world the mansion still holds a special place in her heart. There is an air of romance about it; it holds memories of happiness but also sadness. When her lover Chase ask her live with him in Paris she agrees but wants to returns home one last time to Rosethorn for closure. It is on this return that by, chance or fate, she meets her first love Andrew the man who still captures her heart.
I liked Sera, but I did find myself questioning some of her choices at times. I like Andrew in both past and present form; you could tell that Sera is the love of his life. I like their relationship and could feel that the connection they had as teenagers, was still there when they meet up again years later.
I enjoyed the storyline I wanted to know more about Sera and Andrew story I wanted to find out their secrets and what happened between them in the past. I really enjoyed the chapters about Sera’s mother Stella. I would say these were my favorite parts of the book. Stella was from the Philippines, so it was interesting to read about her culture that was woven very well into the story. Stella’s conversation with Daniel’s parents and his brother Alex during dinner was particularly funny and I found myself laughing out loud.
However I think my main problem I had with Rosethorn was that it kept jumping between the past, and the present and I found myself reading chapters thinking I was in the past, and I wasn’t I was in the present and vice versus; therefore I found myself getting frustrated at times. I found the story was a little slow in some parts; this may have been because the book is extremely descriptive. I think it was necessary when describing Rosethon and I like that but in other parts of the book I felt it was too much.
The ending was good, but I felt that it was rather sudden, and left me with a few unanswered questions. I also felt that Sera and Andrew story had more tell, if there is not going to be another book then I think an epilogue would have made me happy and given me closure.
Overall I enjoyed this book that I think will appeal to others.
Rosethron gets 3 stars from me.
July 14, 2013
This novel is emotionally intense right from the first page. It is the age old story of high school sweethearts coming back together after a time of separation, but with some extremely new and original twists. That said, there were also some unexpected twists and turns in this story that kept you on your toes.
This is a culturally and geographically diverse novel. Each person, place or thing is brought to life individually. Zavora takes the time to develop everything in such a way that you can see and feel it happening, without detracting from the story itself. She uses flashbacks to develop the history behind the story without adding confusion or lags in the story line. The way that she manipulates this technique draws you in and adds a layer of realism to the story that you can’t help but get caught up in.
Zavora gradually develops her characters. She drops little tidbits about them here and there, and never does the proverbial ‘information dump.’ The slow and steady development makes it that much easier to get to know the main characters, both their past and present. In all honesty, by the end of the novel you find yourself intimately knowing the main characters as both youths and adults. You find yourself identifying with the main characters. You feel for them. Minor characters are developed in passing, in the manner befitting a ‘friend of a friend.’ They are not someone you know intimately, as you do the main characters, but rather someone that you know well enough to say hi on passing.
My only issue with this novel were the few minor spelling issues. There weren’t enough, or severe enough, to detract from the story but were just enough to notice.
This was overall a very captivating novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. Zavora took a will they, won’t they relationship and turned it into something realistically phenomenal.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a culturally and geographically diverse novel. Each person, place or thing is brought to life individually. Zavora takes the time to develop everything in such a way that you can see and feel it happening, without detracting from the story itself. She uses flashbacks to develop the history behind the story without adding confusion or lags in the story line. The way that she manipulates this technique draws you in and adds a layer of realism to the story that you can’t help but get caught up in.
Zavora gradually develops her characters. She drops little tidbits about them here and there, and never does the proverbial ‘information dump.’ The slow and steady development makes it that much easier to get to know the main characters, both their past and present. In all honesty, by the end of the novel you find yourself intimately knowing the main characters as both youths and adults. You find yourself identifying with the main characters. You feel for them. Minor characters are developed in passing, in the manner befitting a ‘friend of a friend.’ They are not someone you know intimately, as you do the main characters, but rather someone that you know well enough to say hi on passing.
My only issue with this novel were the few minor spelling issues. There weren’t enough, or severe enough, to detract from the story but were just enough to notice.
This was overall a very captivating novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. Zavora took a will they, won’t they relationship and turned it into something realistically phenomenal.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2013
Heart pounding romance meets and a spine tingling mystery.
The story was imaginative and the imagery was hauntingly beautiful. There was always a lot going on as the book switched from past to present, but the author did a great job of making a smooth transition so that there wasn’t a lot of confusion while reading. The pacing of the book was nice and did a great job of providing you just enough information to give you some answers while not giving everything away.
The romance was sweet and I loved all of the banter between Sera and Andrew they are really perfect for each other. Even when things hit a rough patch you could tell they really cared for one another.
Sera was a wonderful woman and very courageous. I really liked getting to know more about her and seeing how things would turn out. She really went through a lot and I was glad that she got to see Andrew again.
Andrew is funny and so charming I couldn't help, but fall in love with him just as Sera had. Seeing him and Sera fall in love both in the past and the present was wonderful.
I cried, laughed, and smiled right along with the characters in this book. They are unforgettable and definitely left a mark on my heart.
For a sweet romance and a bit of mystery check out Rosethorn!
The story was imaginative and the imagery was hauntingly beautiful. There was always a lot going on as the book switched from past to present, but the author did a great job of making a smooth transition so that there wasn’t a lot of confusion while reading. The pacing of the book was nice and did a great job of providing you just enough information to give you some answers while not giving everything away.
The romance was sweet and I loved all of the banter between Sera and Andrew they are really perfect for each other. Even when things hit a rough patch you could tell they really cared for one another.
Sera was a wonderful woman and very courageous. I really liked getting to know more about her and seeing how things would turn out. She really went through a lot and I was glad that she got to see Andrew again.
Andrew is funny and so charming I couldn't help, but fall in love with him just as Sera had. Seeing him and Sera fall in love both in the past and the present was wonderful.
I cried, laughed, and smiled right along with the characters in this book. They are unforgettable and definitely left a mark on my heart.
For a sweet romance and a bit of mystery check out Rosethorn!
August 29, 2013
This book was recommended to me by a friend on Goodreads and I think I was able to get it free on Kindle. I can't believe I put off reading it for this long.
I was enthralled by this story from the beginning. The prose was beautiful and reeled me in right away, which is rare for me these days. I am a sucker for stories of first love, and this book had a few love stories twisted in there (which was a bit confusing sometimes with all the flashbacks & the reason for my 4 stars) but it was captivating nevertheless. I loved Sera and Andrew and the magical Rosethorn house, but Stella was quite something, too. Two strong characters and two successful coming of age love stories in one well-written book...score!
Also, being half-white/half-asian and from Hawaii, I really liked that the women were Asian and mixed. They were easy for me to imagine and relate to and I could have gone for some lumpia and mango myself haha. Although I never had to deal with the type of racism discussed in this book, I felt for Stella with the cat incident. I loved that they were exotic and interesting and successful and flawed.
I liked it from beginning to end. I highlighted entire chunks of it. It was very well done. Read it.
I was enthralled by this story from the beginning. The prose was beautiful and reeled me in right away, which is rare for me these days. I am a sucker for stories of first love, and this book had a few love stories twisted in there (which was a bit confusing sometimes with all the flashbacks & the reason for my 4 stars) but it was captivating nevertheless. I loved Sera and Andrew and the magical Rosethorn house, but Stella was quite something, too. Two strong characters and two successful coming of age love stories in one well-written book...score!
Also, being half-white/half-asian and from Hawaii, I really liked that the women were Asian and mixed. They were easy for me to imagine and relate to and I could have gone for some lumpia and mango myself haha. Although I never had to deal with the type of racism discussed in this book, I felt for Stella with the cat incident. I loved that they were exotic and interesting and successful and flawed.
I liked it from beginning to end. I highlighted entire chunks of it. It was very well done. Read it.
August 31, 2013
Even though I sometimes found Sera frustrating due to her decisions I fully understand that that's pretty much what people do. We're all flawed and her decisions/mistakes/whatever is what makes Sera a realistic character with a believable story. Plus I loved all the Filipino food references - made me sooo hungry!
This is a beautifully descriptive story of two people trying to figure out their lives/loves. The story is divided into three fluid "sections": present-day Sera (and Andrew, etc), 17 year old Sera (& co), and pre-Sera (mid 1980's) via Sera's mom, Stella's, diary.
There are some parts that made me want to smack Sera - and moreso, Stella. But I get it, people really are like that. So altogether, beautiful story and brava to the author! The emotional rollercoaster of life and relationships is really covered by this book.
This is a beautifully descriptive story of two people trying to figure out their lives/loves. The story is divided into three fluid "sections": present-day Sera (and Andrew, etc), 17 year old Sera (& co), and pre-Sera (mid 1980's) via Sera's mom, Stella's, diary.
There are some parts that made me want to smack Sera - and moreso, Stella. But I get it, people really are like that. So altogether, beautiful story and brava to the author! The emotional rollercoaster of life and relationships is really covered by this book.
May 21, 2013
First and foremost, I'd like to thank Ava Zavora for a free copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
At the base of every good book is good writing. Zavora's writing draws you in from the get go. Her characters are full of life and have very big personalities. You can't help but want to get to know them.
The story is just as good. With the descriptions that the author gave us, I felt that I was walking through Rosethorn and I was experiencing all of the feelings that Sera was feeling. Zavora writes with a lot of emotion.
My favorite books are those that make me feel and Zavora has done just that. I was riding along the emotional journey that each of our main characters was experiencing...and in the end, I was pulling for Sera.
At the base of every good book is good writing. Zavora's writing draws you in from the get go. Her characters are full of life and have very big personalities. You can't help but want to get to know them.
The story is just as good. With the descriptions that the author gave us, I felt that I was walking through Rosethorn and I was experiencing all of the feelings that Sera was feeling. Zavora writes with a lot of emotion.
My favorite books are those that make me feel and Zavora has done just that. I was riding along the emotional journey that each of our main characters was experiencing...and in the end, I was pulling for Sera.
May 29, 2013
Great read! My only issue is that the ending is abrupt. I wish more time would have been devoted to working things out and how the dynamic changed / didn't change between Andrew and Sera after they reunited.
June 14, 2013
I thought the novel was okay. I didn't really like it and thought the ending was way beyond weird. It could of been written a lot differently to capture more readers, instead it seemed a bit long winded and in the end overall, it bored me.
July 12, 2013
Wonderful book! was surprised to find out it was a debut novel, so well written. Completely drawn to both Sera and Andrew and how everything about their love story felt very real. Looking forward to reading more of her work.
September 21, 2013
I was engulfed with this book, I could put it down. Love love the writer. Kudos to some great writing. I would love to see a 2nd part of their life together. The book is great by itself, but I am always looking for more.
April 25, 2021
Unpredictable
Growing up with Stella, and then Seraphina, with all the twists and turns, kept me wondering how their stories would end. I was engaged and enthralled with the characters, loving some and despising others. I would recommend this one!
Growing up with Stella, and then Seraphina, with all the twists and turns, kept me wondering how their stories would end. I was engaged and enthralled with the characters, loving some and despising others. I would recommend this one!
May 26, 2013
I have read quite a few Indie (or Self-published) books in the last few weeks. I want to support these artists, because there are some truly talented people out there, however my experience is that most of these authors could really use some practice…or lots of practice…or not quit their day job. But then there’s Rosethorn. Rosethorn is WHY I read Indie books. I have found the diamond in the rough, and I am pleased to be able to introduce you to this book.
As you can imagine from my introduction, I was a bit reluctant to start reading Rosethorn. I had said I would review it, so I was going to – but I was anxious about having committed myself to possibly having to be polite about a book that wasn’t great. (I don’t like ripping people’s artwork to shreds, you know…that’s not my style.) So when I finally opened the book – within the first paragraph I knew, I just knew this was going to be good. Ava Zavora’s writing is almost like poetry. She takes every paragraph, every scene seriously as she draws you a picture and plops you right down in the middle of it. But it’s not too much! It’s not overly flowery or so many words that you can’t see the story for the description. I immediately was sucked in to Seraphina’s life and could hardly put down the book wanting more. Her story was perfectly seamless, even when she jumped between past and present and even between characters a bit.
Rosethorn, in the end, ends up being two and a half stories twined into one beautiful piece of art – they all relate and are relevant in the dynamic. I will say, if you are an action junkie – and are waiting for the suspense of danger or some shocking drama…this isn’t your book. This book is about all-encompassing passion, and long-lasting love, and betrayal and a bit of forgiveness. It’s about selfishness, and selflessness, and a touch of innocence. The dynamic of the characters is vast, and you’ll love some of them and not like (maybe even hate) others.
While this book would likely fall into the “New Adult” category, despite the “all-encompassing passion” I spoke of, this book is not stuffed full of sex scenes. It is actually rather clean when it comes to the act itself. It’s the emotions she writes about, and let me tell you, it’s beautiful. Honestly, when I want a little romance in my reading diet, this is what I’m looking for. I want to fall in love for the first time all over again, and that is the exact experience that I got. I am very happy I took a chance on Rosethorn. I look forward to reading more from Ava Zavora, because I can just tell she has more great stories to share!
As you can imagine from my introduction, I was a bit reluctant to start reading Rosethorn. I had said I would review it, so I was going to – but I was anxious about having committed myself to possibly having to be polite about a book that wasn’t great. (I don’t like ripping people’s artwork to shreds, you know…that’s not my style.) So when I finally opened the book – within the first paragraph I knew, I just knew this was going to be good. Ava Zavora’s writing is almost like poetry. She takes every paragraph, every scene seriously as she draws you a picture and plops you right down in the middle of it. But it’s not too much! It’s not overly flowery or so many words that you can’t see the story for the description. I immediately was sucked in to Seraphina’s life and could hardly put down the book wanting more. Her story was perfectly seamless, even when she jumped between past and present and even between characters a bit.
Rosethorn, in the end, ends up being two and a half stories twined into one beautiful piece of art – they all relate and are relevant in the dynamic. I will say, if you are an action junkie – and are waiting for the suspense of danger or some shocking drama…this isn’t your book. This book is about all-encompassing passion, and long-lasting love, and betrayal and a bit of forgiveness. It’s about selfishness, and selflessness, and a touch of innocence. The dynamic of the characters is vast, and you’ll love some of them and not like (maybe even hate) others.
While this book would likely fall into the “New Adult” category, despite the “all-encompassing passion” I spoke of, this book is not stuffed full of sex scenes. It is actually rather clean when it comes to the act itself. It’s the emotions she writes about, and let me tell you, it’s beautiful. Honestly, when I want a little romance in my reading diet, this is what I’m looking for. I want to fall in love for the first time all over again, and that is the exact experience that I got. I am very happy I took a chance on Rosethorn. I look forward to reading more from Ava Zavora, because I can just tell she has more great stories to share!
freebie
July 3, 2013Thanks Loralee for posting this in the Romance eRead group because it's a FREEBIE!!!
From Morocco to Paris, Sera has traveled the world over but she never forgot Rosethorn, the beautiful, abandoned mansion where she and Andrew used to meet for trysts. Until the day Sera found her mother's diary. Sera's obsession with the shocking secrets it contained tore them apart and sent Sera fleeing to New York with a devastated heart.
10 years later, Sera revisits Rosethorn, only to run into Andrew, all grown up and handsomer than ever. Politeness gives way to a heated confrontation over their painful past. Yet unable to resist each other's lure, both surrender to the undying power of first love.
Fate has brought them together once again, but will the wounds and tragedies of the past destroy Sera and Andrew's second chance - forever?
From Morocco to Paris, Sera has traveled the world over but she never forgot Rosethorn, the beautiful, abandoned mansion where she and Andrew used to meet for trysts. Until the day Sera found her mother's diary. Sera's obsession with the shocking secrets it contained tore them apart and sent Sera fleeing to New York with a devastated heart.
10 years later, Sera revisits Rosethorn, only to run into Andrew, all grown up and handsomer than ever. Politeness gives way to a heated confrontation over their painful past. Yet unable to resist each other's lure, both surrender to the undying power of first love.
Fate has brought them together once again, but will the wounds and tragedies of the past destroy Sera and Andrew's second chance - forever?
June 6, 2013
Rosethorn is an ambitious, well crafted and simply stunning debut. Ava Zav’s tale of first love explores mature themes without skimping on romance.
It tells us the story of Sera, her first love, new life and the dark secrets of her past. I call the work ambitious because Zavora weaves an intricate and delicate plot that is rich with emotional subtext throughout, and a lesser writer would have mangled it.
I don’t want to spoil any of it and deny you the full effect of the book’s thrilling twists, but assure you, they will keep you turning the pages.
I generally try not to give too many 5 star but was genuinely moved by this story. It’s beautifully written and left me feeling as if I’d just met a new friend for life.
If you are a fan of Romance, you will not do better than Rosethorn, but anyone looking to read a wonderful debut from a brilliant writer should pick this up.
It tells us the story of Sera, her first love, new life and the dark secrets of her past. I call the work ambitious because Zavora weaves an intricate and delicate plot that is rich with emotional subtext throughout, and a lesser writer would have mangled it.
I don’t want to spoil any of it and deny you the full effect of the book’s thrilling twists, but assure you, they will keep you turning the pages.
I generally try not to give too many 5 star but was genuinely moved by this story. It’s beautifully written and left me feeling as if I’d just met a new friend for life.
If you are a fan of Romance, you will not do better than Rosethorn, but anyone looking to read a wonderful debut from a brilliant writer should pick this up.
June 28, 2013
I enjoyed this book overall. There were some issues with me in how the book was laid out. Knowing whether it was Sera's past when she was young, a young adult, or present got sometimes fuzzy since it felt like things jumped around a little too much. It did keep you on edge for figuring out how the story would play out and didn't see the conclusion of the book like I normally do so in that case the author did a good job.
There were many difficult topics discussed in this book so I would not recommend it for young adults. And if you have issues with young adults having adult types of relationships and facing adult decisions or morality questions then DO NOT read this book. I would hate for the author to get slammed because someone got offended when reading a romance novel.
There were many difficult topics discussed in this book so I would not recommend it for young adults. And if you have issues with young adults having adult types of relationships and facing adult decisions or morality questions then DO NOT read this book. I would hate for the author to get slammed because someone got offended when reading a romance novel.
September 25, 2013
I loved the parts when Sera and Andrew were together - so beautiful but I agree with the other readers that the shift from the past to the present and vice versa was a little frustrating as it was done without any demarcation. i would also have loved for the ending to have been prolonged, maybe an epilogue and an explanation about Andrew's ex fiancée as it sounds like he loves her too.
July 26, 2013
I could only get through the first few chapters. It seems long winded and not very imagery oriented. I may pick it back up again on one of my off days when I am bored out of my mind. It just didn't draw me in and I found myself hoping the chapter would end so I could go to sleep already.
April 22, 2014
Unexpected Ending
A beautiful story of love set in past, present and future. But a love story that is shared by only one generation while the others exist in fantasy.
A beautiful story of love set in past, present and future. But a love story that is shared by only one generation while the others exist in fantasy.
July 1, 2017
Is a great book to read
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