Today I am reviewing both books in The Breakaway series by Michelle Davidson Argyle. They are young adult contemporary romances and it is a fantastic series. Check them out below.
Series: The Breakaway #1
Author: Michelle Davidson Argyle
Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing
Release Date: 1st May 2012
Format: eBook
Source: supplied by Xpresso Book Tours for an honest review
When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she's missing. Escape isn't high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she's part of a family-even if it is a family of criminals. But she's still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she's falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn't sure she wants to take it.
My Review
I hadn't read any of Michelle’s books previous to reading this series and I have to say I am hooked on Michelle Davidson Argyle’s writing style and ability to keep me hooked while reading her books. The Breakaway was so addictive I didn't want to put it down, it was so intriguing and Naomi was such a strong character, that I just had to know if she escapes.Naomi is almost finished school and thinking of college. She has had a boyfriend, Brad for a few years and together they are inseparable. Naomi’s family is wealthy and she has never had to want for anything. Her Mother and Father are so busy working that they don’t even seem to know she exists. Brought up by Nannies and only used at business functions for photos, they don’t really have anything to do with each other.
Naomi is a photographer and one particular night, she was excited about taking photos of a fog that rolled in. In a park with Brad late this night, she is hit by a car; unable to see much she didn't know the car was coming. The next thing Naomi is waking up in a hotel room. Naomi is kidnapped!
With Naomi’s non-existent family life and Brad being an abusive boyfriend (which Naomi doesn't realise until it’s too late), Naomi doesn't really have anything to go back to. Follow Naomi as she struggles with her emotions, mental stability and fears. She is moved from the hotel to a house and living with a married couple, Jesse and Eric. Jesse and Eric are the kidnappers, but the couple are also accomplices. Thinking they can all live a happy family life forever as long as Naomi doesn't attempt to escape. With her fear firmly set in place, Naomi bides her time before she tries to escape. During her captivity, she found a soul mate in Jesse, even though he helped kidnap her, they are bonding over their love of books and Jesse tries to protect Naomi from Eric.
Naomi is diagnosed with Stockholm Syndrome, falling in love with her kidnapper. She is distraught being separated from Jesse and her life in the house. But she will need to face her fears and try to accept that her parents love her and always have.
This is a fantastic read and I loved it. The writing style was fast paced and easily read; with the pages urging you to keep turning in order find out what happens. Will Naomi escape and does Jesse return her love? This is definitely a must read. I cannot wait to read book 2, Pieces.
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Title: Pieces
Series: The Breakaway #2
Author: Michelle Davidson Argyle
Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing
Release Date: 14th February 2013
Format: eBook
Source: supplied by Xpresso Book Tours for an honest review.
Staying in love can mean running away...
Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her...until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie-in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.
My Review
As with The Breakaway, Pieces is another fantastic book from Michelle Davidson Argyle. I had to read this straight away because I needed to know what happened between Naomi and Jesse. Knowing book 2 was right there, it begged me to pick it up. Pieces was again an easy read, the writing style was fantastic and with a lot of intrigue. I just had to find out if Naomi could break through her door and make her way back home. With the introduction of Finn, man, I didn't know who I was going to put my money on winning Naomi’s heart in the end.Naomi is in college, Harvard accepted her again with a scholarship, but with the help of her Mother. Naomi was doing so well while waiting for Jesse. To help the wait go quicker, she makes a friend at her favourite coffee shop, Finn. Every Wednesday having her weekly iced tea and almond cake, Finn and Naomi chat. Finn works up the courage to ask Naomi out and she tells him that she has a boyfriend. But Naomi gives in and tells Finn they can go out as friends. Well, this is where all the complications begin for Naomi. Missing Jesse and feeling so much guilt over her kidnappers, Naomi wants to feel something other than fear and is attracted to Finn. She can’t help the feelings that he stirs within her.
When Jesse comes out on parole all hell breaks loose, Naomi retreats into herself again. Missing Jesse so much but knowing she cannot see him is the hardest thing she has ever had to do. Naomi’s grades drop, she doesn't hand in assignments and everything just goes bleh. Now in trouble of losing her scholarship, Naomi needs to make a decision about what she wants for her future.
Naomi is still struggling through everything that happened when she was kidnapped. Nobody understands what she went through or how she could love Jesse. Her parents are overprotective and Finn is questioning everything to do with Jesse. All the pressure is building and Naomi doesn't know what she wants, except that she wants Jesse.
Jesse has a plan and that is to run away together. Naomi has to make the hard decisions once again. Does she run away from everything and her parents? Does Naomi have strong enough feelings for Finn that she won’t go? What will happen once they are away, can she trust Jesse or will their past always make her question him?
Poor Naomi, I felt so terribly bad for her, struggling through her life; trying to cope with her past and trying to forget it, but never really being able to escape. This was a deep emotional roller coaster that didn't seem to want to end for Naomi. It had such unpredictable twists along the way and seeing the strength in Naomi and her determination to do what is right was awe inspiring. I would love to read another companion with Jesse's point of view throughout their whole journey and I definitely will be picking up more books by Michelle.
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About the Author
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| courtesy of Michelle's website |
A little more info:
Michelle graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor's Degree in English/Creative Writing in 2002. Her short fiction has been published in the University of New Mexico's national literary journal, Scribendi (2002), the Rose & Thorn Journal (2010),Suspense Magazine (June 2011), Stories for Sendai Anthology(2011), and Vine Leaves (January 2012). She served as the editor-in-chief of Utah Valley University's literary magazine and has won awards for her short stories. She has also served as an editor/publisher of “The Literary Lab Presents…” series of anthologies.
Michelle likes peanut butter and tomato sandwiches. And cheese. Lots and lots of good cheese.
~ courtesy of Michelle's website
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Thank you, thank you for being a part of the tour! <3
ReplyDeleteI've been dying to read The Breakaway for awhile now. The concept sounds really intriguing and your review of Pieces has got me intrigued about what happens after the kidnapping. Thanks for the great reviews :)
ReplyDeleteJesse @ Pretty In Fiction