August Moon

by Tammy Morea, Adrian Smith (Editor), Michael Locasio (Illustrator)

What do you do when the one who broke your heart, is the only one who can fix it?

There is nothing in this world stronger than the powerful emotion of being in love.

Except, maybe the paralyzing pain of a broken heart.

Moving to a small unfamiliar beach town in the summer before her senior year of high school is really going to suck. Raven, a black haired beauty, from a well- off family was certain about that. Miserable in her circumstance’s, nothing could convince her otherwise, until Raven meets Quinn, a local with a love for surfing and a bad reputation to go with it. Despite the very different worlds they live in, their desire for each other is undeniable. Raven’s fears and misery start to vanish as she and Quinn fall deeper and deeper into each other.

But things change drastically when Raven is unknowingly used as a pawn, in a turn of disastrous events, caused by Quinn’s older brother.

The events that follow could silence Raven’s heart for eternity and completely destroy what’s left of Quinn’s soul.

August Moon is a captivating story of young love.

Bringing two unlikely hearts together.

Only to be shattered by one tortuous decision.

Putting these star-crossed lovers on course for the ultimate challenge of forgiveness.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult

300 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2014

About the author

I am a Young Adult Author, My first Novel August Moon will be released in late spring 2014. Besides writing I love to read Romance, YA, ChicLit, Fantasy, Paranormal and a good auto biography never hurt anyone. My other greatest passion is animals, I love them all, but I have a weakness for dogs, I wish I could save every single one that needs saving. I have a dog Tank, he’s my heart and he’s a big… mush, I bite his face all day long and he lets me. I also love mini pigs, one day I will have one. My fiancé Chris doesn’t think so, but what does he know. I think I’m an amateur photographer, but really I just like to take pictures and sometimes they come out really good. I love Riding on the back of Chris’s Harley, it’s my favorite form of transportation. I’m obsessed with the Twilight Saga, those books literally changed my life. Tattoos are sexy, I have seven. I pretty much love anything with a skull on it. My thumb is very green, just ask my air plants. I can cook my ass off, just ask Chris. I enjoy being active in all different ways- hiking, biking, camping, taking Tank for a 3 mile walk, working out or sitting on the couch all day catching up on my DVR recordings. I love to dress up and wear make up and accessories (I have a ring addiction, that I think I might need some counseling for) and heels, but I can get dirty on a camping trip or hang out in my sweats and a tee all day, I will even walk Tank in Pj’s with no make -up on(yep, you heard me, Pj’s, no make up- outside in public) I come from a big crazy Italian family and I wouldn’t have it any other way. And just because I want to give her props, I think Marilyn Monroe is the sexiest, hottest, bad-ass bitch in the history of bitches ( bitches meaning all us girls.)

Reviews

[Paula M]

DNF.

I guess it's too early to DNF it so I might not leave a rating.. But I WILL make a list on why I DNF-ed the book.

So this girl just moved.. expect the annoying whining. It does happen all the time. But..

I completely protested when my parents told me over Christmas break that they got an offer on the house they can’t pass up and we will be moving to our new house in Atlantic Beach on the south shore of Long Island. Obviously my begging got me nowhere; I think I cried for a week straight.

What are you, 3?!

I’m sure I won’t even go to prom—who’s gonna take the new girl to prom? Ugh, this really, really sucks

OMG your life is ruined!

I had found the box with my bikinis, and I had every single one of them in a pile, on the floor, in front of me.

“I’m not going to the beach. I don’t like anything I put on,” I moan.

“Uh, come on, Raven, don’t be ridiculous. It’s not like you—you look great in that towel.”

She is right. I’m not that girl who takes two hours to do my hair and make-up and puts on ten different outfits before I leave the house.

Of course, that is why you have a box of bikinis in front of you.


And then we met the love interest and I KNOW... I JUST KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO PUT IT DOWN.

As I slowly drag my eyes from his torso to his face, I gasp at its sheer perfection…… I can’t breathe; he actually takes my breath away.

The guy's name is Quinn.. Just thought you should know.

I want to stay close to do some more Quinn watching. What the hell is wrong with me? How can I be obsessing over some guy I don’t even know?

Wow. Nice question Raven. WHYYYY INDEED?

My eyes follow every movement he makes while my yogurt is turning to soup in its cup. All I can do is stare at him. It’s like I have no control over my mind and thoughts. I am simply fascinated by him. Breathe, Raven, Breathe

Talk about being creepy. This girl is scary.

My God, he is just simply breathtaking. I could stare at him forever. I can totally understand why all the girls act like idiots around him, and I have to get a hold of myself before I start acting like one, too…

Guess what?? YOU ALREADY ARE!




So.. yeah. I'm sorry but I honestly can't go on. The Mc affects my reading.. A LOT.

[CCAM&GZM]

Generally, the love stories begins by showing us all the possible and impossible obstacles that lovers, declared or not, must face and the fears they must overcome for that, in the end, the necessary Happily Ever After to take place. Because why, regardless of our age, we read romance novels, if not for the HEA? No matter how valuable the book, and let's remember only Anna Karenina, the lack of HEA will leave us with a bitter taste... And here comes the "problem" with August Moon.

The story doesn't start with a challenge, fear or social obstacle, because all of that seem to solve immediately for our main characters. The bad guy is actually a good one, the love (yes, I believe in love at first sight) is not only mutual, shared, but also immediately declared, the parents seem to approve the relationship, thus something else must happen...

The author will make everything to convince us that all is perfect, and because of that she will torment you slowly. You must be patient because SOMETHING BAD will happen… I could say that "the way to Hell is paved with good intentions"... The idea is that what we are can be our fulfillment, but also our doom. The goodness, the decency, the worthiness and all the other qualities Quinn has, the main male character, and his love could destroy all that he wanted and loved the most. His decision could change everything and will create the opportunity for all the things that the author served us repeatedly (and maybe we thought that her insistence is exaggerated) to explain themselves and to come into fruition. The improbable (improbable because of the shared love I've mentioned you above) love triangle becomes probable and the decisions of a sorrow Raven, the main female character, but you figured that out already, will be... anyway, I was already thinking "I hope she doesn't do that, doesn't accept that, she must keep her mind clear..."

Among the lines, the author points some problems that young people, the target readers, should think about. And maybe not only them. What does love mean? Does love mean to give up the one you love and the shared happiness to save your lover, and at what risk, how much and how long must one fight for your love? Or does it mean that you must give up the one you love when you see her or him happy with someone else? Or that you should be at their side, but only for her or him? What can make us happier: the social and human compatibility and a somewhat affection, or that strong, powerful, eternal love? For all these sneaked in questions, August Moon gained extra points from me.

The first volume sets the place, identifies the characters and in the end brings the story to the “normal river bed” indicated in the first paragraph. Its denouement is still way too far, but we must believe that the HEA rule can’t be and should not be broken. I’m looking forward for the next volume/s, because it/they are the one/s that will fulfill the love story and will establish the real value of this series.

CCAM http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/...

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa)]

I tried to read this book and stick with it. It was not for me.

[Marykate McGee Beckett]

I loved this book very much! Being from the south shore on Long Island and growing up around Atlantic and Long Beach really hit home for me when reading this book! I love a cute love story but even better when it’s on the beach. If you’re looking for a perfect beach read, you have found it!!!

[Jennifer]

The story centers around 16 year old Raven. Raven moves from Brooklyn, NY to a small seaside town the summer before her senior year. Naturally she is uneasy about the prospect of starting a new school and making all new friends. Luckily Raven comes from a huge, loving, close knit, Italian family so it just happens her cousin Jo already lives in this new town. Jo quickly brings Raven into the fold of her group and immediately Raven starts to feel at home. One day on the beach with Jo, Raven meets Quinn, a lifeguard at the beach with connections to Jo's group. This is a YA book, about teenagers so its love at first sight. Just preparing you for that fact if you are an anti – love at first sight. In a YA book, so it works for me as that’s a typical teenager thing.


Raven & Quinn are somewhat opposites – Raven from a close knit, rich family who places lots of value on traditions and culture while Quinn is the son of a firefighter and nurse who may have been close knit at one time but are now divided with one brother in jail and another headed down the wrong path in life. In the end is their love strong enough to conquer the differences?


Quinn – strong, loyal, good, brave – he stole the book for me! Throughout the book he is trying to help his mom juggle a demanding job and carrying for a family. He helps around the house and takes care of both his younger and older brother. Essentially he is the stabilizing force in the family.


Raven – easy to like, sincere, innocent & sometimes clueless -- her emotions were a bit “crazy” at times but it came off ok for me since her character was sincere about them.


Tammy writes the book in dual POVs –which is a huge favorite of mine. I love getting into the mind of multiple characters as you as a reader are able to identify and build a bond with them so much easier!




The book ends with an cliffhanger – ahh! I am not a fan of cliffhanger endings -- unless the next book is already out but this book does end on a “doozey” and we will all have to wait till book two comes out to find out how it ends!




I loved the supporting characters and I think this really helped make the book:


Sal – even though Sal might be classified as a “bad” guy in this story, I liked him and would like to see more about him. Maybe his own story?


Jo – such a great BFF to Raven. Genuine and loving


MaryKate – so liked Quinn having a BFF that was a girl! And Marykate was a fantastic BFF to Quinn with good advice to him. She cared about him and truly wanted him to be happy.


Declan – so not ok with his disregard for his little brother. But his character definitely added to the story.




This is a story of teenage love. If you are ready to transport back in time to high school for some cute, sweet, and sometimes a little cheesy summer young love, this is the book for you! It promises to remind you of younger days when falling in love happened so quickly. Of course there are some twists and turns and a cliffhanger ending but you will just have to read it to get the details!

[books are love]

I am crying for Quinn. He finds his soul mate the one who makes him hole and he has to sacrifice for his brother. Declan man I want to slap you upside the head and give you swirlies until you learn your lesson. Even Callum is ticked at you and dangit he should be. You have probably just destroyed the good brother Declan. The one with the heart and is selfless. Not only that but now he may never have his love again because of you. YOu are a bad bad bad man Declan. You are lucky Quinn is so giving and sweet and kind because if it was me grrrrr......I liked Raven until the end. How she was at the end just grrrr.....I mean she knows something is up and yet look what she is doing. You playing that boy girl that is just so wrong. You playing that boy and thinking of your soulmate Quinn while doing it . Let's back up now that I have gotten my little tirade out. Wait one more girl if you don't come to your senses and use your spidey love senses and realize what is going on and that Quinn wouldn't leave you without a reason I am going to slap you silly. You don't deserve him than. Even your mom gives you a clue. So realize it, own it and support him from afar. alright now let's back up.

Raven moves from Jersey to where her cousin lives. I liked her at the beginning of this book. I loved how money didn't matter to her, how she was just attracted to Quinn. I loved how she made him feel special and loved and that his background didn't make him who he was. I didn't like her hiding him but there was reason. So she moves and her cousin Jo brings her to the beach where she sees Quinn. Once she sees him she can't take her eyes off him. They are drawn to each other. Quinn tries to tell her she is better than him and deserves better but she doesn't listen. Kudos girl because that boy a loves you big time. They are going strong until Quinn's stupid brother Declan does something stupid and now Quinn must protect himself, his brother and Anya. To do this he sacrifices. So beautiful but they way he sacrifices is just so sad. Now again Anya he just gave you his precious heirloom hello something is a rotten in denmark girl ding ding ding.

Anya is crushed but she finds comfort with another. MK is trying to help Quinn put his life back together after his noble sacrifice. But Anya the way she goes about it is wrong so so wrong and selfish. We end with this cliffy hoping Quinn gets Anya back but really I think once it comes out she needs to beg him for forgiveness I mean down on her knees and beg. Maybe bring him chocolates, everything because seriously the boy shouldn't take you back. But he loves you and he is swoonworthy and kind and gentle so if he can forgive you in the next book I guess the reader can too but you better earn it girl.

A book about first love that is true love. About sacrificing to protect those you love even if it crushes you. A noble story of love and sacrifice with a cliffy that will have you hope quinn's heart can come out whole and fixed in the end after his sacrifice.

[Kari]

The whole idea of young love lasting and being something to fight for had me excited to read this book. The beginning was good, and I really enjoyed the writing style of the author {a good mix of descriptive and conversational writing}. However, that sadly did not last {yes, it was sad, because from the snippets I though I would have an entirely different feel towards this book}.

The story starts with and follows Raven, who's been moved from the city to a nice beach town with her family right before her senior year in high school. She has some family out there, including a cousin her age, which helps her settle in a little easier. Raven is confident and sure of herself, although she does have a little bit of insecurities {which most teenage girls do, am I right?}. She ends up meeting Quinn shortly after arriving, and has a strong pull towards him.

This is where the book started to lose me - if you know me, I don't believe in "love at first sight". I never have; you can have lust at first sight {strong attraction to the physical aspect of the person}, but you don't know them enough to actually love them. Well, this is a love at first sight story, which I'm okay with for fiction so long as it actually blossoms into something that I would consider love. While reading, I never really got the sense that Raven and Quinn were more than infatuated {albeit a very, very strong infatuation... the kind that makes it so they will try to stay together no matter what}. Yes, they were incredibly infatuated with each other, wanting to spend every second with each other like young lovebirds do, which is sickeningly sweet. They're the couple that everyone says "aw, you guys are so cute - get a room!"

The relationship of Raven and Quinn reminded me a lot of an awful one that I was in when I was younger - "knowing" you're in love, yet a lot of things would have any observer saying "you really shouldn't be together. That relationship is not good." The reason I say this is because of how easily Quinn would go off at Raven about something {jealously because another guy was looking at her too long or a male family friend [who also likes her] giving her a hug}, and Raven would come back and reassure Quinn about her undying love for him {which was very unrealistic since they'd only known each other for maybe two weeks at the most}. So, my review and reaction to this book might be a little bias.

The book does take an interesting twist towards the end that had me wanting to know what happens next, although not quite why you would think. I won't say anything about it, as I don't want to ruin it for anyone!

[Tiffany York]

This book is the exact kind of thing that a contemporary lover like me wants to read at the start of summer. It was a quick read for me, and I did feel like it was a good, light read. Usually, I do prefer to have a bit more in my contemporary books, but it was nice to have something that was so focused on the love aspect of everything. That is one of the best parts (and biggest reasons) to read contemporary, after all. Still, this book did leave me wanting a little bit more.

I did like the plot line, and it is one that is fairly familiar, which I am perfectly okay with. Raven ends up moving right before her senior year, something any teenager would dread. It means being the new person, and having to make all new friends while trying to finish up high school. Luckily, Raven has a strong family tie that keeps her sane as she goes through this major change. She and her cousin are quite close, and they are able to confide in one another.

It is when they are out at the water together that Raven meets Quinn, a charming surfer, and so the love story begins. I'm not a big believer in love at first sight, but sometimes it is cute to read about it in a book. I do think that the relationship was a cute one. While this was the main focus of the book, there were also interesting complications that popped up along the way as well. That is what keeps us reading, right?

I really do applaud Morea for this debut novel. I do believe that it was a very strong debut book as well. I love that she used multiple narrators, as it is always fun to get to see the thoughts and emotions of multiple characters. I feel that sometimes it adds depth to the book. Along with that, I love that Morea gave us a cliffhanger at the end of the book. While I know this drives some people crazy, it is something that keeps me waiting for the next book in a series. I would recommend this book for any contemporary lover. It is a light, summer read.

[Gabby (What's Beyond Forks?)]

Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?
August Moon by Tammy Morea is a cute little story about love at first sight. This was a fast paced, easy to read book. It would be a perfect beach read, and if you're not on the beach, it will make you want to be. The romance is fast. I'm talking super fast. I'm all about a good love at first sight story, but their emotions became so intense so quickly it didn't feel believable. I kept waiting for some kind of supernatural reason to be revealed to explain it even though I was pretty sure it was a contemporary romance. I love the Italian family! I've never seen so many blue and green eyed Italians in one place, not to mention one family, but hey, it could happen I suppose. Especially in fiction. Raven's family made me miss my own Italian family up North. I want to go up and drag them all kicking and screaming to the South. *wink*

The ARC of August Moon by Tammy Morea was kindly provided to me by YA Bound for review. The opinions are my own.

[Johnnie-Marie Howard]

The author really did a wonderful job, this was my first time reading her novels and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed what I read and understood it perfectly. The words on the pages was magnificent!! I couldn't seem to get enough of them and the plot was always changing as well it kept me interested that's for sure.


***i received this story for free in exchange for an honest review, see more of my review @ http://jmhoward2007.blogspot.com on 6-6-14***