Open Thy Heart

Flora #2

by Jessica L. Brooks

The secrets just keep coming.

It’s summer in Shaver and, frankly, Dahlia Kennedy is bored. Even though she and Eva are throwing a party for David and she gets to visit Rowan in Ambrosia easier on account of summer hours, it seems like senior year is never going to come. Worse yet, it’s looking like the one thing she’s planned on doing for forever isn’t going to happen.

Cue Dahlia’s Embarrassing Incident: the tipping point that seems to shift everything into a new direction. David’s acting weird. Something happens to Rowan. Dahlia’s forced to ask the least likely person ever for help. A secret is blown wide open.

Conflict between the Lennox Rochforts and the Townsends grows more and more out of control until so much is going on in Ambrosia, Dahlia can barely keep up with life at home. Frustrated with trying to keep track of who knows what, Dahlia continues fighting to help the people she loves, and slowly, the truth is exposed.

Crazy thing is, she had no idea about any of it. And it changes everything she’s ever known.

464 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2014

About the author

Jessica L. Brooks is a lover of books, coffee, and all things owl-dorable. She writes young adult books about near-future dystopia (Pity Isn't An Option, Cozenage #1, available now) and magical realism (the Flora series). Connect with her on her blog, Let Me Tell You A Story, Tumblr, or anywhere else on the interwebs by doing a search for her username: coffeelvnmom.

Reviews

[Stacey Kym · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by Jessica L. Brooks in exchange for an honest review.

Review

‘Open Thy Heart’ was a great sequel in the ‘Flora’ series that really built on the tension, drama and mystery that we see in novel one, ‘If I Speak True’. The characters were awesome, funny and generally superb (excluding the evil villains). And let us not forget the ending! Because the ending was just………………beautiful. *cries tears of regret at ending the book*
What really appealed to be and something that I noticed was the characters: when they were mad, we became mad; when they were happy, we were happy; when they were sad, we were sad. It really was an emotional rollercoaster for this novel. Soooo, when Dahlia, the MAIN character in this book, is bored…well, to be honest, I was quite bored, too. In fact it was a slow beginning, and this series tends to have moments when things just drag on. I just couldn’t wait for the action to START! A little warning for those readers who dislike a slow beginning.
On the upside, the pace does pick up about a quarter of the way through the book and more surprises are revealed.
Now to the hilarious quotes from this book that cracked me up!
‘Helen sighs. “I disagree.”
“Well you’re the only one on earth who does.”
“I guarantee I’m not alone here in saying this, Dahlia. Many parents do.”
Really? Parents where? Timbuktu? Australia? Uranus?’
– this struck me as really funny because I am from Australia and the whole thing is just hysterical. I mean, Australia is NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM OTHER COUNTRIES/CIVILISATIONS. I mean, pffff, we're ONLY an ISLAND! Doesn't mean we're ISOLATED! (Even though we were for the first 200 million years.)
I really enjoyed the humour in ‘Open Thy Heart’ and the relationship dynamics and how there were a diversity of REAL emotions that I experienced during the novel. I laughed, I teared up and I went rampaging mad. But all’s fair in love and good novels.
Like in the previous novel, I loved the diversity of characters and how the author contrasts Ambrosia and Shaver. Sometimes lines tend to get blurry for some novels – but not in this one! It gave me this exhilarating rush every time Dahlia entered Ambrosia and I really admire how it was the unspoken feeling that lay underneath the words like a current that brought that rush about.
Ok, so the novel was slightly clichéd with the continuation of the love triangle that started in book one but I thought of it as a kind of re-enactment of history like Dahlia’s own grandmother’s experience with Shaver and Ambrosia. But there were plot twists and serious that were GOSH DARN UNEXPECTED. It totally built the anticipation and mystery in the story.
Sooo, let’s talk about THE ENDING! I loved, loved, loved the ending. I can’t wait for the next book and am dying miserably because there is no sign of it actually happening on Goodreads. I just get this weird instinctual feeling that the whole time during the – sometimes boring – span of the first two books, the author was leading up to something REALLY exciting and I CAN’T WAIT!
The plot twists and secrets are just seriously unexpected. Loved it. Built anticipation and mystery in the story.
The grammar was awesome and I loved Jessica L. Brook’s prose. There were a few typos I spotted in the novel but no spelling mistakes.
Congratulations Jessica L. Brooks! Whoop-whoop!

Rating Plan
1 star : Strongly did not like the book, writing and plot was bad. Idea of the book was against my liking.
2 star : Didn't like it, didn't find it interesting or gripping. Seemed to drag on to me.
3 star : An average book. Wasn't bad or good. Everything else was well done. Original idea.
4 star : Like a 3 star but has potential to it as a series or the book grew on me as it progressed and certain scenes captured me. I Enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.
5 star : I LOVED IT! I stayed up late until 3 am. Author is a genius, characters, plot, idea, development, EVERYTHING was EXCELLENT. Nothing else can possibly be said except that its 5 STAR!

[Eugenia (Genie In A Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This review also appears on the blog Genie In A Book*

I received copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Admittedly, I already am a big fan of this series, so yes I love this book. Every new release in this Flora collection keeps getting better, with new revelations and exciting developments abound. It's got everything you could want in a book with magical realism - pretty covers (not essential but it definitely helps), well rounded characters, fascinating storyline and of course the weaving of contemporary and fantasy elements in just the right amount. There's also the fact that you can say the names of these first three books in one sentence and it sounds pretty cool *ahem* If I speak true by sun and candlelight, open thy heart *ta daaaaa*. Anyway, back to this review...

The first Dahlia made a mistake. But I won't be like her, won't turn my back on Ambrosia. It's part of who I am.

From the very beginning of this book in the first few pages I was totally drawn in because it starts quite unconventionally, writing in second person and addressing the reader. There's also some poetry with a quote from Elizabeth Barrett Browning which is lovely and sets the scene really well. On the whole the writing style itself is smooth and flows well, and although it isn't anything flamboyant or presumptuous, it does include those little beautiful phrases which the author executes so well.

Sometime when there's so much going on in life, the best thing you can do is live in the moment. You focus on that specific time, and when it has dissipated, you live in the next.

In regards to the storyline, in this book things between Shaver and Ambrosia really get intense. What I love about this series especially is the exploration of different relationship dynamics, such as those between Dahlia and her friends Eva and David, within her family with her mum and sisters, and Rowan with Briscoe and Durian for example. The two worlds converge in a way that I hadn't seen before in the first book, and some of the more shocking moments had twists with a wow factor. There is an equilibrium between the fantasy side of things and contemporary, where Dahlia is involved in simple things such as trying to get her license, but then also has to take into consideration her special place in Ambrosia.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I'm really loving this series so far and cannot wait to see what Jessica Brooks is going to come up with next. If you haven't started it yet or are looking for your next awesome read, then what are you waiting for?!

[Rachel Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, can we just talk about the covers for this series? Like seriously, they are so amazing. Anyway, Open Thy Heart was a great continuation, with just as much intrigue, interest, and uniqueness as in the first book.

I still had some of the same problems with Dahlia that I had in the first book, as she was slightly annoying and I found myself unable to relate to her or, well, really like her that much. She was so narrow-focused, seeing things only through her perspective and yelling at everyone about things before finding out the truth. While I realize having people hide things from you so much is really freaking' annoying, not everyone is trying to do you a disservice. Just calm down and find out the facts.

I found Rowan to be not as dynamic in this one as he was in the first one as well. This may have had to do with the fact that this story focused more on the political happenings rather than just him + Dahlia and we didn't see as much of him. But we also did see other sides to him, such as the leader he really is, and saw him truly as The Prince instead of just a boy, so that was also nice. We also got to see a different side of David, which was better than just wanting to yell at him all the time ;)

The plot did pick up in this one. There was still a few places where it lagged, but it definitely kept me interested. We got to see more of Ambrosia, which was awesome. We definitely got to see some more of the Ambrosia side characters and how they all connected. I will say, some of the things happened too fast, or I was confused as to why things were happening/why they were important, especially at the end. But just a little confusion, not enough to deter me from reading.

And the things that were revealed at the end? Definitely did not see that coming. Open Thy Heart is a unique story that will definitely keep you guessing abut what is to come, and I can't wait to see where this series goes.

I received a copy from the author, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads

[Candy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't get to read book 1(which I am going go back and read though) because I was only given book 2 for Open Thy Heart Blog Tour,but Dahlia gives enough recap info that I didn't feel like I was missing much.Though she does have moments of flash back or speak about those memories,I do want to go back and read about hoe Dahlia and Rowan met and their encounters during those first few month so I can experience them falling in love.
Falling in love with a Prince is every girl's dream but rarely a realist one you expect to happen except in your dreams. Of course that's exactly where Dahlia first meets her Prince,however this place is not only in her dreams,it's a real place.
Dahlia has a crazy over protective mother who almost always refuses to let her go out at night and wont even let her get a drivers licences.However she is that way with her twin older sister,Aster and Acacia,which urks and confuses her.But alas,it's summer and Dahlia and Eva are starting to have the summer blues(you know,where you swear there is nothing to do and you are so bored you wish school would start again).Though they try to do what they can by hanging out with friends as much Helen,Dahlia's mother,will let her things are still dragging along and it's been weeks since Dahlia has seen her Prince,Rowan.
Be careful for what you wish for because you might just get it.Dahlia's summer takes an interesting turn when she is followed into Ambrosia through the Door.She though things had got awkward between her and her friend David but she isn't prepared for how much more awkward they can get.Even though David has been her best friend since childhood,she hasn't told him about her trips to Ambrosia,like anyone would believe such a tale anyway,but David knows she's hiding something and is determined to find out what it is.What neither one of them expect is for the tables to turn because suddenly David is hiding something and it's Dahlia's turn to be suspicion and try to figure out what it is.Now I had my suspicions about what it was he was hiding bit I kept changing my mind and wondering if that was the secret.My suspicions were confirmed but I surely wasn't expecting to hear all that came out.
This was a really enjoyable read and I can't wait for book 3!!!

[야일 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
___________________________________________
I hadn't read the first book when I signed up for this book. I didn't even know this was the sequel. :/

Original Posting on Gaga Over Books:

Anyway, all the way through reading this book I wanted to read the first book. I think I will be doing that as I really enjoyed this one.

This book made sense even without reading the first as our memory was refreshed in the amusing voice of our protagonist Dahlia. I soo enjoyed reading from her perspective. She is one fun girl to be around. The book was interesting and a liiiittle bit predictable. I loved David and Eva and the rest of the gang. Sad David's not the guy. But I guess that's okay. Rowan is good but um, I dunno we didn't hit it off. He says some fine things though. D: I loved Dahlia's sister's. I loved how it was all daily life and then the fantasy-ical world. The whole transition (in that traveling sense-not really travel-but you will get me if you read this one or have read the first and this too xP).

I had fun reading this book. Dahlia was an interesting character along with the others. The book ended on a dire note in the other worldly business. The final book will kick ass. Although I would have like the book to end on an earlier note then it did actually. But all is good as then I would have been like whattt? It shouldn't have ended it here. So all is mighty fine. Btw, this book had its intense scenes- some mighty torture and kidnapping and other such scenes. I love all the tree business. Such a cool concept.

I took my time reading the book in the beginning because of life but then I went for it and it was a good ride. I am glad I got to know Dahlia and the others. I give it 3.5 stars.

Teaser:

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you in the mood for a supernatural type Romeo and Juliet story ? Ever since Dahlia could remember for her birthday , a dahlia always appears on her doorstep and then in the last few years , she managed to somehow wake up in a world she thought was a dream called Ambrosia. In Ambrosia, she fell in love with Rowan who is the heir to the throne and somehow her family is connected to this place called Ambrosia, but it's not like she can ask anyone as her dad died three years ago and Helen - who I was a bit unsure was her mother or guardian seems to be a bit wary of all that is happening and seems to cry at the slightest thing. When danger strikes and harms Rowan, Dahlia is confused and unsure what to do as she knows she must save the one she loves but when help doesn't seem to come her way she turns to the only people she trusts which causes family secrets about her past and Ambrosia to come out into the open ? Can Dahlia with the help of her family save Rowan before it's too late or will the conflict and double lives cause Dahlia to spiral out of control and miss her chance at saving Rowan ?

For an alternative universe novel with a twist , check out Open Thy Heart by Jessica Brooks and in order to understand the story better, if you haven't yet read Book #1 - If I Speak True then check it out before enduring to read Book #2 - Open Thy Heart.

[Hooked On Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every girl dreams of falling for a dark and mysterious prince, and that is exactly what happened to Dahlia. Open Thy Heart but Jessica Brooks, the second book in the Flora series, picks up in the summer before Dahlia's senior year. She has been separated from her love, and going insane at home with her protective mother. Once she returns to Ambrosia, she discovers there's more discontent brewing then she realizes and has to join Rowan, her prince, to help protect their world. This book reads quick, and the story just draws you in. Rowan is a sweetheart, and now that he's been unmasked, I feel like we get a better, sexier version of the prince. I LOVE the blending of Shaver and Ambrosia in this book. I found myself guessing which characters knew about Ambrosia and which didn't, and being surprised at who and what the characters go through. While this is a true love story, I feel Jessica Brooks has done an amazing job allowing Dahlia to be intelligent, brave, and strong willed, unlike so many woman in the romantic novels. A must read! (Though I would read book 1, because it explains a lot). 5 stars!

[Michele Gantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEWED FOR HOOKEDONBOOKSFORVER

Every girl dreams of falling for a dark and mysterious prince, and that is exactly what happened to Dahlia. Open Thy Heart but Jessica Brooks, the second book in the Flora series, picks up in the summer before Dahlia's senior year. She has been separated from her love, and going insane at home with her protective mother. Once she returns to Ambrosia, she discovers there's more discontent brewing then she realizes and has to join Rowan, her prince, to help protect their world. This book reads quick, and the story just draws you in. Rowan is a sweetheart, and now that he's been unmasked, I feel like we get a better, sexier version of the prince. I LOVE the blending of Shaver and Ambrosia in this book. I found myself guessing which characters knew about Ambrosia and which didn't, and being surprised at who and what the characters go through. While this is a true love story, I feel Jessica Brooks has done an amazing job allowing Dahlia to be intelligent, brave, and strong willed, unlike so many woman in the romantic novels. A must read! (Though I would read book 1, because it explains a lot). 5 stars!

[Madisyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just so overwhelmed right now with feels. I'm so happy and shocked and woah-ed and I'm not gonna be able to fall asleep anytime soon.

[Katie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book even more than the first (if I speak true). This is such a great sequel.