In the low of her depression, upon sighting the man-who-broke-her-heart out with her replacement, Amber takes off in a frenzy. Driving with nowhere to go, she ends up on a deserted road when her car fails.
Radley Hayden happens to be on that same road and offers her help. Skeptical, she accepts his offer of a ride. Then, to her surprise, Radley produces her journal. The very one she had been missing for the past few weeks.
Meeting Radley prompts Amber into living her life again, instead of just existing. But you see, someone has been watching Amber. Following her.
With strange occurrences, Amber begins to question if her chance meeting with Radley was indeed a coincidence. Or is something bigger steering their destiny?
Soul-Stirring and fate altering, this is a journey of two people that will tug at your heart-strings and perhaps even make you believe in magic…
Uma has a BSc. (Hons) in Biochemistry and worked as a research scientist for 8 years, before venturing into the teaching line for another 3 years. Her passion for writing made her switch careers again and she started working as an editor at a media company. An avid blogger, she loves reading about witchcraft and anything supernatural. Like most people, she enjoys the simple things in life. But the one thing that makes her insanely and rhapsodically happy is when she writes. She lives mostly in her head and her mind is constantly going places. Uma can be contacted at www.facebook.com/UmaMawaery
I adored this book. I loved it with all my heart. The first few pages threw me into the thoughts of a depressed woman named Amber. Her life has been anything but easy. And after getting cheated on and left by her college boyfriend, she’s suicidal and severely heartbroken. [“It is I who should be blamed. It is I who should suffer.”] She longed for the dark and quiet, the solitude it offered. Her life felt meaningless and she stopped taking care of herself and the relationships surrounding her. That was, until her best friend persuaded her to go get coffee. She then bumped into her EX with the younger, perkier girlfriend, Amber falls apart. On the way home, she comes to meet Radley. A sexy, super sweet Airforce pilot. He begins to insert himself into her life at all the right times, pulling her out of herself, showing her the beauty in living again. Following this love story was a delight, a surprise, and from then on it was a sweet love affair. But was that all to Radley? He seemed to have a dark past too, and Amber couldn’t help but question his intentions and why he did the things that he did.
This novel made me feel, think, and want. It's one of those stories that pulls you into the characters' lives, leaving you wanting more, and mulling over the scenes and premise for days after you've reluctantly turned the last page. Rarely is such an original idea portrayed with such vivid language.
This is a story of soulmates and overcoming it all, a love that truly transcends time!
The Silver Butterfly is an endearing and gently woven tale with a supernatural element. I won't tell you what it is about because that is what the synopsis is for. I will tell you that it is a beautiful and tender-hearted story. So if that's what you're looking for, you'll find it here in this book. I can't quite express the feeling the story gave me without sounding cliche, because it really was like taking a breath of pure, clean, fresh air. Or taking a cleansing dip in a cool, clear lake? Was that cheesy? Don't worry, the book isn't. I am not the writer here, but the author, Uma Mawaery, definitely is. My point is that, after too many sad reads, her book was like a balm to the soul. The writing was both graceful and effortless to read.
This book was really sweet. Usually I can’t stand when the heroines wallow in self-pity, but Amber added this humor to her bitterness. She literally had me laughing out loud at some points. I understood her heartache. Later on in the story I learned that her sorrow stemmed from somewhere deep. She lost her parents at an early age and her older sister ended up raising her. Then she was assaulted at her new school. No wonder she was so glum. There’s only so much a human being can take before they crumble. What saved her from completely losing herself was an ethereal silver butterfly that appeared to her every time she suffered a hardship.
So Amber’s down on her luck, again. Her boyfriend dumps her for some other girl. After spotting her former bf and his new flame in the park, Amber loses it big time! She gets stuck by the wayside one night when a mystery man offers her a ride home. Amber accepts his help being she’s got nothing to lose. He gives her back the diary she’d been missing for months and admits he’s been waiting for the opportune moment to meet her for some time. Now, at this point I’ll admit I was a little on edge. It’s kind of creepy knowing your being stalked by some guy, regardless of how good looking he is. But mystery man, or Radley, does well in explaining himself and offering Amber reassurance. Amber starts to forget the pain and begins to live life again through Radley’s help. Radley is a genuine sweetheart, and he’s got crystal eyes to top it off. They share the most intimate secrets with each other, and Radley opens up about the loss of his fiancée, Elizabeth.
In other parts of the story, a mysterious figure speaks with a man named Alistair. I knew it had to be Radley. I started to think he was some kind of Arch-angel. Turns out he’s the Silver Butterfly that keeps visiting Amber, and that she was his past love, Elizabeth. Radley’s mission is to heal souls before they die, but he’s determined not to lose Amber again.
I loved the whole concept of rebirth and the search for past love. This story offers hope and the chance to love again. It was a great read.
Obviously I'm going to give The Silver Butterfly 5 stars. It's my baby - my debut novel! :-)
Let me share a little about Amber. Now, I know that some people don't really understand why she kept pining after Derek even after almost 3 years. And that she let go of herself during those years. To me, everyone is different in the ways they deal with issues. Not every woman is strong. I know readers like strong confident women, but in reality, not all of us are like that. I wanted to make Amber as real as possible. I wanted Amber to learn and grow. I wanted her to love again, but not rush into it. Derek leaving her for another woman did break her. But as you continue reading, you will learn that she had suffered losses even before that. She had had to endure certain things growing up. You can say that she was kinda broken inside already. And then she thought she had found her knight in shining armour, sacrificed a lot for him, only to be left for someone younger.
To me, picking up the pieces and starting over immediately would have only left questions as to whether or not incidents from the past had affected her. I wanted to give her time. Time to come out from it. But she still wasn't able to. She could see others getting on with their lives, making plans and being happy, and yes, she was jealous. Isn't jealousy normal? Jealousy made her bitter and selfish and gave her an I-could-care-less attitude.
You are sure to wonder what changes after her meeting with Radley. How was he able to get through to her? From someone who had been reeling in sadness and being selfish, what made her change? Why him? In all those 3 years, did she confuse being in love with betrayal? Was that why she couldn't let go? Well my dear readers, that you have to read to know :-)
Amber has been destroyed by the loss of her boyfriend, Derek, who has left her for another woman. After seeing them together in the park , she takes off, distraught, driving aimlessly along a deserted road. Her car breaks down and she's rescued by Radley Hayden, who happens to have her journal, which she recently left behind in Starbucks. But just who is the mysterious Radley? Amber is a kind and sensitive person. She has been badly hurt in the past and lost her parents in a car accident at the age of eight. She adores her older sister, Veron, who brought her up and has been like a mother to her. After Derek left Amber she spiralled into a depression and lost her well paid job. Hanging about in the park one day she got talking to a friendly elderly couple, the Harpers, who offered her a job helping to run their café, Kristie's Place. She's grown close to them and cares about them. Amber is vulnerable and several people are concerned for her; the Harpers, her friend Deb who has helped her through her darkest times, her sister Veron, and her elderly neighbour Miss Antebellum. Where does Radley fit into this picture, and what are his motives? At first I wasn't sure whether his intentions towards Amber were good or bad. The author kept me guessing and maintained the suspense throughout. Radley had a habit of appearing suddenly with an air of mystery about him. Shortly after meeting Radley, Amber notices a man watching her apartment. Who is he and what does he want? The characters are well developed and believable. There are also some interesting minor characters. I liked the neighbour, Miss Antebellum, and her sister, Marie; both eccentrics who express their concern for Amber by bringing her home-baked pies and fussing over her. Some of the descriptive writing is very impressive. When Radley takes Amber to Crystal Blue, a clearing in the woods, the authors vivid description gives a magical feel to the place. Magic also plays an important role in the story: the silver butterfly which appears from nowhere to comfort Amber in times of distress. The plot is intricate and complex with sinister undertones and an underlying tension. Amber experiences black outs and has visions of being in a house with strangers. Veron has nightmares about her sister and reveals that Amber's mother also had strange dreams when she was pregnant with her. Radley and Amber have both suffered loss and hurt in their lives, but the story ends on a positive note with an unexpected twist which holds out the promise of a second chance. A very original and thought provoking story which deals with loss and betrayal and ends with a message of hope, portraying the strength of a love which binds two people together.
First of all, let me start by saying the cover is gorgeous. I'm not someone who would generally pluck a fantasy novel off the shelf as a first choice book selection (although I have been known to), but I admit I was drawn in by this one. It got even better once I folded back into the first pages.
I'm of the opinion that books venturing onto the precarious and delicate balance of magic and real life tend to slide towards the unbelievable in either direction. What Mawaery has done in The Silver Butterfly is counterbalance the two to create a story that is both entertaining and convincing, without any sacrifice of real life credibility. Amber is authentic in her pain and her journey is complex, but still measured. She is the every-woman of heartbreak and suffering, with a special and layered connection to the mysteries of the supernatural. She's also funny which, frankly, was the touch a character painted with a less skilled hand might have been lacking. She's likeable and endearing, as are the people who care for her (the Harpers and Deb, in particular). Radley is equally complicated, carrying the yin to Amber's yang brilliantly (and, again, believably). He's a bit of a wild card and it takes some time to feel connected to him, but the development is natural and very well done.
The Silver Butterfly is not a light read and weaves the dark themes of dispossession, suffering, and betrayal with just the right amount of hope to keep the suspense in check. The descriptions are superb and, ultimately, it's the originality of a story that intertwines Amber's paranormal gift and the reality of a young woman's search for what we all desire that makes this book a five-star read.
Book: The Silver Butterfly Author: Uma Mawaery Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
I would first like to thank Uma Mawaery for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the opening to this book. It was so beautifully written and the words, wow, they just seemed to jump right off the page. That was the first sign that this was going to be a good book. There was just something about the writing that was really, really good and so attention getting.
I also loved the mystery surrounding the story. I like the ideas of secret groups trying to get someone. I really don't want to say anything more because I don't want to ruin the story. I will say that the author does a great job of feeding little bits and details about this secret society. It is enough to keep the reader engaged, but it not so much that it doesn't keep the reader guessing.
I also liked the idea of her follower being a butterfly. I have never read a story in which it was a butterfly that seemed to appear whenever something bad was going to happen to a character. It was just so cool! Let me just say that I did not like Amber at first. She was very whinny and very immature, but I am glad that she changed. Radley was just what she needed. After he entered the picture, she become a very likeable and bearable character in my book. Plus, it also helps that Radley is a very sweet man. He is every woman's dream man!
The plot was actually really good. I was pulled right in and was not bored during one point of the book. Normally, there is some kind of boring in a book and that is what makes me take away stars. Not this book! The plot was fast, but not too fast. It was just the right pace for me to get to know the characters.
One little issue that I had with this story was whenever we moved from Amber's point of the view to another character, the text was italicized. To me, this was not a smooth transition from character to character. However, I will say that Uma did do a great job with writing from different characters' point of view.
This is an adult book, but it is an adult book that I think that young adults can read. The clean and the content of the story is so much cleaner than so many so called young adult books.
I was given a copy of The Silver Butterfly in return for an honest review. I would describe this novel as a romance with an underlying supernatural theme. I tend to avoid supernatural novels; the word conjures up images of Harry Potter to me. To be fair, the supernatural element does not surface until the latter part of the novel although there are subtle hints that something strange is happening. By this time I was immersed in the character and the story and was more interested in understanding how these mysterious dreams tied in with the story. And the super natural events are mild compared to Harry Potter's witchcraft. Amber is stuck in limbo, her relationship ended three years ago, but she can't move on. Best friend Deb and older sister Veron are desperate for Amber to find herself a new love, but he must meet their necessary high standards. The divine Radley stumbles upon Amber and romance blooms. Deb is convinced he is the right man but Vernon takes more convincing. Veron first accepts Radley but then has misgivings. She is certain she has seen him before. Amber starts experiencing mysterious dreams; she is not in them and she doesn't recognize any of the participants. Veron is having her own strange dreams. As the story unfolds the significance of the unusual dreams and their implications for Amber are revealed. The Silver Butterfly is well written; I felt I could relate to Amber's thoughts and emotions. The plot builds and consumes the reader. As a supernatural skeptic, I found I even accepted the supernatural nature of the plot and it's very satisfying ending. A definite must read for lovers of romance and those who enjoy the intrigue of the mysterious supernatural.
This book is sweet and simple and will make you believe in love and miracles. Amber and Radley are well developed characters with beautiful chemistry and the strength of Silver Butterfly is in its likeable characters. I love supernatural tales and after reading so many books on the same line, I correctly guessed the 'twist' in the story. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t enthralled and once started I couldn’t leave it in between. Amber is in pain after her breakup with Derek. She is so much hurt that she couldn’t forget her ex even after three years. All these make a lot of sense when we get to know her past. She is shy and sensitive, but still full of life. Just when she is at heights of depression, she meets Radley, who comes like a breath of fresh air in her life. The pacing of the book is perfect and I think that author has done a wonderful job connecting the pieces of story by changing POVs when needed and wrapping up the story with an ending that make sense.
Silver Butterfly is a romance with an interesting twist and teasing plot that does an excellent job of binding the readers. Go for it & you’d not be disappointed.
It has been a few months since I read the book but it has stayed with me. Beautifully written, and I cannot say that enough, it's as though the author had personally gone through the experience. Of course its fantasy but by the time you're done reading the book the author manages to make the line between fantasy and reality a big blur. With just the right touch of everything this endearingly beautiful love story and all the characters in it become eternally etched in your heart. Truth be told I'm not a romantic but as I turned the last page tears were streaming down my face and it took some time before I could calm my emotions and say goodbye to the hero and heroine. Never did I once think that a fantasy book would affect me so greatly and reinforce my belief of how true love should be. One of the best books I have read in my life. Could not put it down. Loved loved the ending! Absolutely cannot wait for it to be made into a movie!
P.S. Would like to thank the author for writing from the heart and look forward to many more wonderful books such as this one in the future.
Broken hearted after seeing the love of her life with another girl, Amber flees and finds herself on a deserted road sobbing and hurt. She is distracted by a beautiful silver butterfly and when a stranger approaches her car she’s not sure what to do.
Who is this stranger? Is he being kind or luring Amber into a false sense of reality? Why is Amber’s diary so important and who is this mysterious man really working for?
I loved Amber. There was something honest and real about her character. I loved the way she almost drooled over every plate of food put before her. It was delightful.
The prose is well-crafted and the dialogue flowed easily is this book. I felt like I was eavesdropping on conversations they were so convincing.
If you love romance with a bit of attitude then you’ll love this story. Grab a copy today, you won’t be disappointed.
Where do I start? At first, I was a bit thrown by Amber's depression over a relationship that ended three years prior to the book. I wanted to grab and shake her and tell her to get a grip. Then, Radley entered the picture.
I knew something was with him, but I never saw the beautiful, amazing twist Ms. Mawaery put into the story. This was such wonderfully written story and the characters of Amber and Radley are written so brilliantly. Their journey along this story touches on the emotions that we all have dealt with in one way or another: betrayal, hurt, loss, trust, and love. I firmly believe in soul mates and this just re-affirmed my believe. "I will wait a hundred years for you" just think about that line. I laughed, I cried and then I cried some more. I highly recommend this to anyone who believes in love and fate.
Amber is heartbroken and vulnerable when she meets Radley. That's where things start looking up for both of them I'd say. At first Radley may seem mysterious, in a creepy way but then you learn that is not how it seems at all. I admire Amber and how, even though it took her a while to get out of the funk she was in, she was able to do it. With Radley's help she began to heal and realize that her ex was not everything.
I really liked this story. It flowed just right and Amber and Radley's relationship developed over time in a believable way. The author had a great a plot and characterization. It is definitely a romantic paranormal suspense kind of book with that twist at the end that just makes you smile.
I LOVED this story. It was intriguing and original. There is so much I can say about it but really don’t want to spoil it. Okay that’s not true, I am usually one of those people who blurt out the ending of a story cause I just HAVE to talk about it so I am using all of my restraint here.
I loved the characters. I loved the silver butterfly (read and you’ll see why) and the ending left me wanting more.
Please tell me there is another book out, or a book close to completion. If there isn’t I will track the author down and ring her doorbell every hour on the hour till she answers every question I have. 5 stars!
The Silver Butterfly is a supernatural romance by Uma Mawery. I generally do not like science fiction or supernatural books; but this one is subtle and wonderful. It is an easy read and can be read in one sitting which makes it even better. The characters are believable and the theme of second chances is well developed. Amber has had a terrible time the last two years. She was dumped by her boyfriend who had been cheating on her. However, Amber still loved Derek and still wanted him back. She was beating herself up over him. He had simply broken her. She had given up a lucrative job in advertising to run Kristie’s Place for the Harpers. She loved working for them and should have been content with her life; but the loss of Derek was still with her. She finally went to the park with Deb, her best friend, and Mark, Deb’s fiancé. While they were there, Derek and his girlfriend showed up all lovey-dovey. This hit Amber very hard and she started crying hysterically. She managed to settle down enough for Deb to allow her to drive herself home. Instead, she drove until she could drive no more and pulled into a roadside stop. Here she cried until she slept. When she woke, it was night and a moon was shining. She checked her phone and saw the list of calls from Deb and just threw the phone into the back seat. She got out to stretch and a silver butterfly flew up to the car. Amber is fascinated by it and comforted too. However, he flew away and a voice behind her offered his help. Hastily she got back in her car but it refused to start. The man tried with no success. He offered to take her home and have a tow truck sent for her car. Amber had no excuse so got in the car with the stranger. For some reason, she felt safe with him. They stopped to get something to drink and eat while the rain poured down and Radley tells her he has been following her to give her back her diary. She had forgotten it at Starbucks on Saturday. He simply wanted to meet her and get to know her. He gave her the option of meeting him at Starbucks on Saturday or not. Will she go meet him? Amber’s sister Veron has been having nightmares about Amber’s death and calls. She finally tells Amber that she is pregnant and they decide the nightmares are simply her hormones. However, she tells Amber to be sure to call her and Deb to let them know what she is doing. Both are worried about her. Amber tells her she has met someone and is dating so may not call as often as Vernon would like. It was a little lie; but a useful one. After all, they did have something to eat together. As Amber gets to know Radley, she begins to have dizzy spells and begins to have nightmares herself. What is going on? What is it that is different about Radley? Why does the silver butterfly keep returning to her? What decision is she going to have to make that will change her destiny? It is a wonderful book and one even middle school kids could read and enjoy. There is no violence or graphic scenes which makes it refreshing.
When I started this book, I had mixed feelings. The plot is on point and Radley is an amazing (although creepy for a moment) love interest, but the one and ONLY thing I didn’t like about this book was the protag.
I really didn’t like Amber. She struck me as whiny and even after learning about her past, I still felt that way – only less eye-rolling and more understanding. Don’t get me wrong, I totally get having a crappy past, but I hate reading about women who lose who they are because a man wronged them. Having a broken heart sucks. Grieving for a time is okay, but three years! That is too much time to waste on an a*hole.
But I digress, other than Amber’s personality, I loved, LOVED the book. It is not every day when a plot throws me and this one did. I couldn’t figure out for the life of me what type of supernatural being Radley was and when it was finally revealed, my heart leapt. The Silver Butterfly is a wonderful, thoughtful insight to love and reincarnation that I had never seen before.
One of my favorite things about The Silver Butterfly is Uma Mawaery’s writing style. It’s very poetic and the words flowed off the page like a song. Not once had I needed to go back and re-read a sentence to understand what the author was describing. Beautiful.
I'm not so much into Paranormal Romance but I really did enjoy this one. I have always been fascinated with butterflies most especially back in high school when my friends actually used to call me "Butterfly Lady" with all those stickers of butterflies on my stuff, so I guess that was also a plus. I don't know but I can really identify with Amber's character; I so love tulips too (and now I made up my mind and officially named Anne Claire my most favorite) and being a lover of History with an old, romantic soul, I somehow believe in the concept of reincarnation. And the hero is just so sweet I hope every man in this world possesses his qualities (too ideal, I guess?). So yeah, I don't like the book, I LOVE it. A lot.
I saw this book on Goodreads and while I don't usually read anything of the paranormal genre, this book pleasantly surprised me. I'll try not to give spoilers. I was immediately drawn to the main character, Amber, at the beginning and I sympathized with her during her emotional situation. The chemistry between Amber and Radley was wonderful. The descriptions the author uses are very ivid and I found myself sucked into this world that the author created. It's not your typical romance, but that's not at all a bad thing! Overall, I'm glad that I gave this book a shot because it turned out to be a good one!
This book was a beautiful journey which started with a broken and depressed young woman and followed her finding her way back to herself and falling in love again.
The first few pages of the book were hard to read, not because they weren't well written, but because Amber was struggling with some demons and it was written in such a way you feel invested in her emotional rebuild.
I'm a sucker for supernatural stories and for romance, this was a perfect marriage of the two. It was a very unique story and very engaging and though provoking.
Its a lovely story and as original as they come. The plotline keeps you reading for all the little twists and turns and unexpected ending. The characters, even secondary ones, are well developed, you really get a sense of who they are. I loved the imagery used and I suppose that's why the ending seemed a little rushed to me, I wanted it to linger on for awhile more.
When I first started reading this book, I wondered why Amber was still pining over a relationship that ended close to three years ago. But then I began to realize that there was more to it than that, and I really felt for her. I also have never experienced heartbreak like she did (luckily for me, I found my soulmate when I was seventeen and married him when I was twenty-three). And by the way, I don't even really believe in soulmates - I think it's more a matter of finding someone who is right for you, someone who will be there for you no matter what and vice versa. But by the time I was finished reading this book, it honestly made me wonder if there really are soulmates.
The author did an excellent job with character development; I got to know Amber and became completely immersed in her world. And Radley, the man who helps her in her time of need, was just wonderful. I have always preferred a genuinely nice and caring guy over the controlling, alpha male that is often portrayed in romance novels.
This book is considered paranormal/fantasy, but those elements were slowly introduced, so the story still had a realistic and believable feel to it even though much of what happened is not actually possible. For a while there, I thought I was beginning to figure it out, but then it changed in a different direction than what I had imagined. It had an original and creative plot, but most of all, it was a beautiful love story.
There are very few books that I will read more than once, but this is one that I plan to revisit. I read it in a very short time while I was at the shore because I simply couldn't put it down, and it was a perfect read for sitting on a balcony with a view of the ocean nearby. It honestly gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling by the end, although I was sad to have finished it. I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get caught up in an intriguing romance.
Amber, our young and kind protagonist, is having a pretty rough time of it. In The Silver Butterfly we meet her after the man she’s crazy about, Derek, has left her and is happy with another woman. Though most other things in her life are ok she still pines for her lost love in an aching way that the reader can feel. Then one night, when she takes a trip away from her home to put some distance and get some clarity for her problems, she encounters car trouble, an errant silver butterfly, and the mysterious Radley who is more than what he seems…
The Silver Butterfly is definitely a ‘girly’ story, but it’s one with heart and worth the read, and I say that as a man in his late thirties who’s currently wearing a Green Lantern t-shirt. The story’s easy to follow, Amber’s character is developed, and her motivations are clear. She’s also honest, and in my opinion reminded me of what it was like to be much younger with the tumultuous emotional swings of youth. I also liked the writing. Ms. Mawery does an outstanding job of capturing the tone (switching from sad to happy to ominous) of her story without ever going purple or killing the pace. I’d recommend it for younger kids, or older adults like me who are still kids at heart. It’s a fast read and the milieu pulls you in. The Silver Butterfly is well worth the read.
Amber has a broken heart. The kind that disconnects you from the world and you lose yourself. It takes years for her to begin her healing and this is where we find her. As she struggles day to day to withstand the pain left by her ex boyfriend she encounters a mysterious man named Radley. Radley has a connection to her that she does not quiet catch on to, he pursues her even in her self indulgent not best day state. We learn that Amber has depth and heart. A good and kind one. She adores her employers, Mr. And Mrs. Harper, who are like family. She loves her older sister who raised her and her best friend who is loyal and stood by her through her years of turmoil. This story is sweet and touching. I instantly liked Bradley and itched to find out his story. I loved the interweaving of the silver butterfly and the hidden story told through Alistair and the mysterious stranger. The Silver Butterfly is a tale of loss and healing. Second chances and hope. It is about inner strength and self worth and finally about love that is true and undying. Great job by Ms. Mawaery in bringing to life such an interesting love story with a twist. Not a typical romance, but one with flare and surprises and some excellent depth.
Wow! I didn't know what I was expecting but this was surely not it. Firstly, hats off to the author for being able to connect with me on an emotional level. They say don't judge a book by its cover but that's exactly what I did. I purchased it because of how lovely it looked (lame, yeah I know!) Once I started turning the pages, I could not stop! I loved the flow of the story. I enjoyed its tiny humor. There never was a dull moment. All the characters were lovable in their own ways. Even Miss Antebellum and Marie! I know what's it like having nosy neighbors but I could not help loving these two old ladies. I wished I had bosses like the Harpers!!! The characters were so believable. Then Radley and Amber. How can one not be utterly in love and devoted to these two??? This book made me believe in everything I had failed to hold on to. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You'll never know what's waiting for you if you don't take that chance. Truly an awakening! I loved how I cried my eyeballs out in the end and held onto the book right after closing its pages. Amazing! Magical! Bravo!
Phew! What a ride... When I started reading The Silver Butterfly, I looked at it as a beloved piece of a friend's heart. But as I progressed, the entire story consumed me and very soon I forgot all about that. The emotions portrayed within its pages felt raw, so real. Things that I had actually felt going through certain phases in my own life. Many times I felt close to tears because the emotions written connected so well to my own. I got lost lost in the story and began wishing some of the characters in there were present in my life. Then at times, I smiled like an idiot at the little jokes or funny things the characters say or do. Every time I had to put down the book, my mind started working on endless possibilities of what could be, and what was what, and who was who. My own set of theories. I had to literally tell my brains to "SHUT UP!" Overall, a good read, a great experience, something that I wish there was more of. There has to be more!! I want moreeeee!! :(
It has been years since a book held much interest to me. Most times I leave it uncompleted. I started reading this on Saturday to accompany my long hours at the saloon. I chuckled at the part where she wld be at a saloon too. Got half way on Saturday. Picked it up again on Sunday night just to finish the chapter I was reading on. But guess what ...I cldnt put the book down even after few chapters done. I had to finish the book though it took the whole wee hours. Will be a zombie at the office today for having no sleep but it was satisfying. The chemistry between the characters got me go glued and intrigued. It was so intense. I could really relate and feel part of the lines. Many times I even re read the lines. Every line and plot was superbly thought of and crafted. It re instated my hope and belief in true love and magic. Congrats and well done Uma.... I am definitely looking forward to the 2nd book ☺
The Silver Butterfly was an unusual love story with some terrific moments and great characterisation.
The connections between Amber and her friends and family were well-drawn and believable, and her chemistry with Radley radiated from the page right from the beginning. Their relationship felt so deep and strong, and that really made the book for me. I loved Radley as a character - kind, intelligent, thoughtful.
I also really loved seeing Amber's character development - from the depths of her pain at the beginning of the book to the way she grows and changes and deals with the situation with Radley.
I loved the plot too - it moved fast and kept me guessing, and the ending was bittersweet but satisfying.
In places, the dialogue didn't totally work for me - it often felt a little stilted and unnatural. Overall though, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of a romantic and exciting read that felt fresh and different.
It took me a while to get to know and like Amber perhaps because she was reeling from a breakup with someone she loved, Derek (and is now dating someone else and looks to be in love, ugh) and is understandably depressed. She also has repressed trauma from a past she doesn't remember and only gets vague glimpses now and again. The story really gets going with the appearance of a mystery man, Radley, who seems to totally adore her from the get-go. What Amber doesn't know is that Radley is having secret conversations with another mystery man, Alastair, and the content of those discussions add even more layers of mystery and complexity to the story which I then couldn't wait to finish. I liked how supernatural elements combined nicely with the mundane aspects of Amber's life and her friendship with her sister Veron especially. Everything gets resolved in a resolution that I did not see coming but nevertheless left me with a smile on my face.