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Entwine
Sarah Langham’s life was the epitome of normal until her dad slept with another woman when she was sixteen. It ripped her family apart.
Twenty-two-year-old Sarah has it together, though.
Waiting at the train station to go home from her first day of her first proper job out of university, she spots a man.
He is an enigma to her. She’s drawn to him, with his square jaw; buzz of hair; and his tall, solid frame, seen under the contours of his business suit. And he’s been looking at her, too. Fate pulls them together that night on a whirlwind date, exceeding anything Sarah’s experienced before. He’s even more into her than she’s into him. Finally, she wants to trust a guy for the first time since she was sixteen.
But then they discover something.
Something that meant they were never two strangers at a train station.
And it threatens to tear their future apart before it, really, ever begins.
* * *
This book is published in Australian English and includes relative diction.
Twenty-two-year-old Sarah has it together, though.
Waiting at the train station to go home from her first day of her first proper job out of university, she spots a man.
He is an enigma to her. She’s drawn to him, with his square jaw; buzz of hair; and his tall, solid frame, seen under the contours of his business suit. And he’s been looking at her, too. Fate pulls them together that night on a whirlwind date, exceeding anything Sarah’s experienced before. He’s even more into her than she’s into him. Finally, she wants to trust a guy for the first time since she was sixteen.
But then they discover something.
Something that meant they were never two strangers at a train station.
And it threatens to tear their future apart before it, really, ever begins.
* * *
This book is published in Australian English and includes relative diction.
226 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2013
About the author
Rebecca Berto
12 books1,024 followersgraphic designer, hobby photographer, crazy cat (and dog) lady, tea snob.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 22, 2013
Sarah Langham, you won’t leave my house tonight until I fuck you senseless and come inside you. I don’t know if you’re only human, but you’ve lit up my life and my mind like something out of this world, and it’s torture not being with you.
This was my first time reading a book from Rebecca Berto and the blurb really appealed to me on a fairly personal level. Sarah, our heroine, has caught her Dad in flagrante delicto doing the old horizontal shuffle with a woman who’s not her Mum. Sarah is only 16 at the time and it rocks the foundation of her life. Everything she had valued suddenly appeared cheapened by her Father’s infidelity and she completely loses faith in love, trust and loyalty between a man and a woman. Her relationship with her Dad was badly damaged by his betrayal and never really recovered.
The story picks up in the here and how with Sarah waiting for a commuter train in Flinders Street Station in Melbourne after her first day as a junior editor in the city. She spots Malik leaning against a pillar also waiting for the train and is instantly attracted to him and circumstances intervene and they end up spending a magical evening together as beautiful strangers and suddenly Sarah feels alive for the first time in years. But they’re not the strangers they think they are and everything is complicated when secrets are revealed later that night.
This really does have a bit of a film noir Brief Encounter thing going on. It’s very understated and atmospheric. Their first encounter truly does have a magical feel to it as they head off together holding hands without even knowing each other’s names. It’s quite sweet and touching how these two untrusting and wary souls are so attracted to one another but yet scared to admit it out loud. After this one perfect evening, the past comes roaring back at them with a vengeance.
This is a sweet and actually very sexy romance but there’s far more going on here – it’s a much deeper look at how the selfishness of infidelity can have far reaching consequences into everyone’s lives, not just the two philanderers, the waves of emotional pain radiating out like ever increasing circles. Sarah’s Father’s cheating and betrayal of his family really does affect so many more lives and for years to come. Had he known all of this, would he ever have cheated? It’s hard to know but hindsight is always 20/20. His betrayal means Sarah has pretty much lost faith in the idea of true love and, other than one serious boyfriend, only really had casual hookups.
Sarah is a tough little cookie – she may be wary about trusting but she’s certainly not afraid to speak her mind or to acknowledge how she feels about Malik.
I want you, stupid. If anything, it’s comforting that we’re familiar before we knew each other. And, I dunno, it sounds weird, but like we can help each other. It must be hard for you to trust a girl, but I know exactly what you went through, and I care so much more about you than I have before for any other guy. I want to help you and show you how damn caring yet sexy you are. Give you what you’ve missed, make even one part of your life better.
Malik, despite his past, is such a sweetheart. He’s just so adorable, I want to hug the life out of him, soothe away all his woes and restore his faith in womankind!! He’s gorgeous, charming and sexy. He’s incredibly attracted to Sarah and I could just see the sparkle in his cheeky eyes as he grinned as he spoke to her.
He shook his head, a little nudge from left to right. “You shouldn’t find it hard to be yourself. You’re beautiful, inside and out.”
“Ha!” she cried. “But you barely know me.”
“Well, I can tell. You caught my attention and haven’t unhooked me since. I’m just dangling, Sarah. At your mercy.”
They do make for a fairly unlikely couple. There’s quite an age gap between them and their personalities are very different. Sarah is fairly naive and a little uptight and a bit like a bull in a china shop and some of things she did made me cringe a little whereas Malik is all laid-back, easy charm, happy to go with the flow and not rush things and, obviously, far more mature than Sarah but, somehow, it just all works.
It’s a great, slow-paced romance which delves much deeper into family relationships and, of course, the impacts of infidelity as well as just telling the story of the central couple. It’s got a refreshingly different feel to it, an ambient style which kept me hooked pretty much right from the beginning to the very end.
4 stars new adult romance
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November 26, 2013
One simple glimpse at a stranger at the train, only they had no idea the impact of that moment.
Sarah Langham just saw a sexy man. Little did she know the connection, the pull, why she couldn't take her eyes off him. They are drawn together like magnets and they don't even know each other's names.
Malik and Sarah have off the charts steam - age differences be damned. They sizzle, page after page. And Malik has a dirty mouth that you cannot get enough of. Damn. *fans self*
This story has twists and turns! I must admit I am still a bit; 'what?', 'What the ... I did not see that one coming.'
The one thing they discover could end everything.
Sarah has baggage. She has no trust in men due to her Fathers betrayal. I enjoyed her. I found her youth to be refreshing and her life to be relatable. She felt real. And Malik was a great character. I felt he was genuine and I enjoyed him. Plus let's be honest - his maturity and sexy charm did not hurt ;)
Hot and steamy with a good dose of twists and turns? Yes .. Yes .. and Yes!
The suspense will hold you to your reader. My heart was sad and then cheered. Rebecca Berto takes everything your heart breaks for and somehow manages to leave you feeling happily ever after can happen.
Congrats and bravo Ms Berto!
Sarah Langham just saw a sexy man. Little did she know the connection, the pull, why she couldn't take her eyes off him. They are drawn together like magnets and they don't even know each other's names.
Malik and Sarah have off the charts steam - age differences be damned. They sizzle, page after page. And Malik has a dirty mouth that you cannot get enough of. Damn. *fans self*
This story has twists and turns! I must admit I am still a bit; 'what?', 'What the ... I did not see that one coming.'
The one thing they discover could end everything.
Sarah has baggage. She has no trust in men due to her Fathers betrayal. I enjoyed her. I found her youth to be refreshing and her life to be relatable. She felt real. And Malik was a great character. I felt he was genuine and I enjoyed him. Plus let's be honest - his maturity and sexy charm did not hurt ;)
Hot and steamy with a good dose of twists and turns? Yes .. Yes .. and Yes!
The suspense will hold you to your reader. My heart was sad and then cheered. Rebecca Berto takes everything your heart breaks for and somehow manages to leave you feeling happily ever after can happen.
Congrats and bravo Ms Berto!
September 20, 2016
3.75 stars
*09/16 -- I just now came across my review of this book from awhile back and I see I was mistaken in believing it to be part of a series. This is a relief. And I'm happy with how it ended.
Crappity crap, I thought this was a HEA standalone. I do read series, just not until they're complete. Next book expected TBR mid 2014! I'll never remember this book by then, sigh.
Aussies Sarah and Malik, two strangers on a commuter train, secretly eye each other and when they both get off at the same stop they spark off one another in a really big way! In less than a week, they move through all the cycles of a relationship: crush to blush to mush to gush--as in tears, to rush--as in judge, to hush--as in break up, and back to mush--cue Credits. And that should be it, but alas there's a sequel, dammit. Which I may or may not read, because the cycle is complete and NO MORE words end with -USH! Except bush, and that's just dirty and doesn't rhyme. :D
Anyway, I was very put off by the insta-love, Malik and Sarah are talking about a future together after two dates! This threw me for a huge portion of the book. I seriously thought about putting it aside, but I decided to give it a few more pages. And I'm so glad I did! Because something major happened and I really believed what the H/h both felt. I can't say what due to "spoilering" but there was some beautiful writing in the last part of the book and I'm glad I hung in there.
All said, I'm satisfied with how it ended. I don't want more drama for this couple! They already have much to work through. What bothers me about series books is that too often I feel like one book is being drawn out into three and the story suffers for it. So, we'll see what happens when Book 2 is released. Until then shush, leave this couple in peace. ;)
*09/16 -- I just now came across my review of this book from awhile back and I see I was mistaken in believing it to be part of a series. This is a relief. And I'm happy with how it ended.
Crappity crap, I thought this was a HEA standalone. I do read series, just not until they're complete. Next book expected TBR mid 2014! I'll never remember this book by then, sigh.
Aussies Sarah and Malik, two strangers on a commuter train, secretly eye each other and when they both get off at the same stop they spark off one another in a really big way! In less than a week, they move through all the cycles of a relationship: crush to blush to mush to gush--as in tears, to rush--as in judge, to hush--as in break up, and back to mush--cue Credits. And that should be it, but alas there's a sequel, dammit. Which I may or may not read, because the cycle is complete and NO MORE words end with -USH! Except bush, and that's just dirty and doesn't rhyme. :D
Anyway, I was very put off by the insta-love, Malik and Sarah are talking about a future together after two dates! This threw me for a huge portion of the book. I seriously thought about putting it aside, but I decided to give it a few more pages. And I'm so glad I did! Because something major happened and I really believed what the H/h both felt. I can't say what due to "spoilering" but there was some beautiful writing in the last part of the book and I'm glad I hung in there.
All said, I'm satisfied with how it ended. I don't want more drama for this couple! They already have much to work through. What bothers me about series books is that too often I feel like one book is being drawn out into three and the story suffers for it. So, we'll see what happens when Book 2 is released. Until then shush, leave this couple in peace. ;)
November 23, 2013
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Sarah Langham. A 22 yo junior editor who is intrigued by a handsome man when she's waiting for a train. When she's sixteen, she caught her father was having an affair in her parent's bedroom. Since then, her life never be the same.
Malik Fawnheart. A 34 yo divorce lawyer. And he himself is a widower. Handsome, charming, and already captured Sarah's attention by his jaw.
And they meet. The first interaction between them is interesting. I liked it. After some hours, they engaged in conversation while they still didn't know each other's name. It's funny. But it happens in real life.
So, they had the chemistry. The sexual tension between them was strong. Then, here was the twist. Will Sarah still want to see Malik even if she knows what's the real deal?
Overall, this is a nice read. Here are the reasons I deducted 2 stars:
1. The story line. Mmm, I guess I was not a fan of backwards and forwards. It sometimes ruins the mood. When things got heated, it went backwards and turned off the mood.
2. The characters. Though most characters are okay, Sarah is confusing and Malik is not alpha male enough. If it's food, both characters are half-cooked. I couldn't bring myself to love them.
Sarah Langham. A 22 yo junior editor who is intrigued by a handsome man when she's waiting for a train. When she's sixteen, she caught her father was having an affair in her parent's bedroom. Since then, her life never be the same.
Malik Fawnheart. A 34 yo divorce lawyer. And he himself is a widower. Handsome, charming, and already captured Sarah's attention by his jaw.
And they meet. The first interaction between them is interesting. I liked it. After some hours, they engaged in conversation while they still didn't know each other's name. It's funny. But it happens in real life.
So, they had the chemistry. The sexual tension between them was strong. Then, here was the twist. Will Sarah still want to see Malik even if she knows what's the real deal?
Overall, this is a nice read. Here are the reasons I deducted 2 stars:
1. The story line. Mmm, I guess I was not a fan of backwards and forwards. It sometimes ruins the mood. When things got heated, it went backwards and turned off the mood.
2. The characters. Though most characters are okay, Sarah is confusing and Malik is not alpha male enough. If it's food, both characters are half-cooked. I couldn't bring myself to love them.
November 23, 2013
I actually quite liked this book and that's huge considering the age difference between the two leads.
She's in her early twenties, and he's thirty-five.
You all know that's not my thing, lol.
But I found the story line interesting enough to keep going and I was already in too deep when the age difference was revealed.
I'll write a longer review when I find some time, but overall, I thought the book was good. There are twists and turns along the way that I didn't guess on my own. And I'd definitely recommend it.
On a weird sidenote: LOVE seeing Rebecca Berto getting more comfortable with her sex scenes. This is such an improvement from Drowning in You!
She's in her early twenties, and he's thirty-five.
You all know that's not my thing, lol.
But I found the story line interesting enough to keep going and I was already in too deep when the age difference was revealed.
I'll write a longer review when I find some time, but overall, I thought the book was good. There are twists and turns along the way that I didn't guess on my own. And I'd definitely recommend it.
On a weird sidenote: LOVE seeing Rebecca Berto getting more comfortable with her sex scenes. This is such an improvement from Drowning in You!
December 11, 2013
I was only a few paragraphs into Rebecca Berto’s ‘Pulling Me Under’, when I knew that this author was about to take me on an unforgettable journey. So as soon as ‘Entwine’ was released, I downloaded it immediately and proceeded to devour it over the course of one night.
In Entwine, as always, Rebecca Berto has created some amazingly realistic characters that I find so easy to connect to. Sarah Langham’s introduction in this story gives us a clear indication of her, at first not overtly obvious, vulnerable nature through her internal dilemma of whether or not to make her attraction clear when she is confronted with the rather sexy stranger Malik on her train journey home. Her thoughts and actions immediately had me connecting with her as not a character, but a real person. Rebecca Berto set the scene perfectly, giving a sense of what the train commute home is like and this really had me invested in the characters and story due to the realism she created within them. One scene that really sticks in my mind was where Sarah agrees to spend the evening with Malik in the nearby shopping centre, but immediately begins to worry about going off with him. This was brilliant as it reminds readers that a nice hot fast-paced romance in a book is all well and good, but in reality going off with a male stranger can have dangerous consequences.
I loved the storyline in ‘Entwine’. I’m a bit of a sucker for a bit of an age gap between my hero and heroine, possibly because I like the idea that older men have more life experience whilst younger women can bring a fresh sense of fun to a relationship with an older guy. The relationship that developed between Malik and Sarah was beautiful, and I loved the instant connection they had. Something about them meeting on a train had the romantic in me squealing (I blame Harry Potter for this obsession I have with trains), and I really enjoyed the banter they shared in the not-so-pleasant predicament of being delayed on a train, which brightened the moment for them.
I really admire Rebecca Berto for the ease with which she pulls off tricky subjects in her books. This book dips into a few different issues showing the effects of alcoholism, abandonment, adultery and how these things don’t just affect the relationship between a couple, but also the relationships that their children will form based on what they have experienced from their parents. Sarah’s vulnerability and difficulty feeling content in her adult relationships gave a clear indication of what having a cheating parent can cause, especially when that parent becomes a less permanent feature in their life.
The author’s writing style is simply wonderful. ‘Entwine’ has a perfect blend of prose-like and matter-of-fact language which I absolutely adored. Something I find saddening with a lot of contemporary fiction today is that good old fashioned ‘showing and not telling’ is often ignored in favour of having the reader get to the nitty gritty drama of the storyline more quickly instead of pacing the story. The use of ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ for the flashback scenes to Sarah’s childhood was executed perfectly, and allowed us to have snippets of information about Sarah’s past at a more suspenseful pace, allowing the reader to become more intrigued about the reasons behind Sarah’s abandonment and trust issues, rather than giving away Sarah’s entire childhood story at the start of the story.
This was a clever, thought-provoking, emotional and hot romantic read. I absolutely adored it and can’t wait for the next in the series. I need me some more Malik!
In Entwine, as always, Rebecca Berto has created some amazingly realistic characters that I find so easy to connect to. Sarah Langham’s introduction in this story gives us a clear indication of her, at first not overtly obvious, vulnerable nature through her internal dilemma of whether or not to make her attraction clear when she is confronted with the rather sexy stranger Malik on her train journey home. Her thoughts and actions immediately had me connecting with her as not a character, but a real person. Rebecca Berto set the scene perfectly, giving a sense of what the train commute home is like and this really had me invested in the characters and story due to the realism she created within them. One scene that really sticks in my mind was where Sarah agrees to spend the evening with Malik in the nearby shopping centre, but immediately begins to worry about going off with him. This was brilliant as it reminds readers that a nice hot fast-paced romance in a book is all well and good, but in reality going off with a male stranger can have dangerous consequences.
I loved the storyline in ‘Entwine’. I’m a bit of a sucker for a bit of an age gap between my hero and heroine, possibly because I like the idea that older men have more life experience whilst younger women can bring a fresh sense of fun to a relationship with an older guy. The relationship that developed between Malik and Sarah was beautiful, and I loved the instant connection they had. Something about them meeting on a train had the romantic in me squealing (I blame Harry Potter for this obsession I have with trains), and I really enjoyed the banter they shared in the not-so-pleasant predicament of being delayed on a train, which brightened the moment for them.
I really admire Rebecca Berto for the ease with which she pulls off tricky subjects in her books. This book dips into a few different issues showing the effects of alcoholism, abandonment, adultery and how these things don’t just affect the relationship between a couple, but also the relationships that their children will form based on what they have experienced from their parents. Sarah’s vulnerability and difficulty feeling content in her adult relationships gave a clear indication of what having a cheating parent can cause, especially when that parent becomes a less permanent feature in their life.
The author’s writing style is simply wonderful. ‘Entwine’ has a perfect blend of prose-like and matter-of-fact language which I absolutely adored. Something I find saddening with a lot of contemporary fiction today is that good old fashioned ‘showing and not telling’ is often ignored in favour of having the reader get to the nitty gritty drama of the storyline more quickly instead of pacing the story. The use of ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ for the flashback scenes to Sarah’s childhood was executed perfectly, and allowed us to have snippets of information about Sarah’s past at a more suspenseful pace, allowing the reader to become more intrigued about the reasons behind Sarah’s abandonment and trust issues, rather than giving away Sarah’s entire childhood story at the start of the story.
This was a clever, thought-provoking, emotional and hot romantic read. I absolutely adored it and can’t wait for the next in the series. I need me some more Malik!
November 18, 2013
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review**
**4.5 stars**
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I was excited to see how Rebecca would use her unique literary writing style in a genre that is somewhat new to her. Needless to say, it did not disappoint.
Sarah Langham see's a sexy stranger at a train station and has no idea how her life is about to become entwined with his. This stranger, who we later learn is Malik, is connected to Sarah in the most unexpected way, and for some reason they are drawn to each other.
The chemistry between the two is palpable, and despite their age difference, their connection is very real. Naturally, every story must have a twist and the proverbial villain, and while the villain(s) in this book are obvious, the twist and the very reason Sarah and Malik are connected, is something no one will see coming.
This book was thrilling to read, and the sexual chemistry was ((hot)). You will be rooting for Sarah and Malik even more, and wishing for their story to continue for just a little while longer!
Overall, I'd say this book is a great read that puts a new spin on Contemporary Romance.
**4.5 stars**
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I was excited to see how Rebecca would use her unique literary writing style in a genre that is somewhat new to her. Needless to say, it did not disappoint.
Sarah Langham see's a sexy stranger at a train station and has no idea how her life is about to become entwined with his. This stranger, who we later learn is Malik, is connected to Sarah in the most unexpected way, and for some reason they are drawn to each other.
The chemistry between the two is palpable, and despite their age difference, their connection is very real. Naturally, every story must have a twist and the proverbial villain, and while the villain(s) in this book are obvious, the twist and the very reason Sarah and Malik are connected, is something no one will see coming.
This book was thrilling to read, and the sexual chemistry was ((hot)). You will be rooting for Sarah and Malik even more, and wishing for their story to continue for just a little while longer!
Overall, I'd say this book is a great read that puts a new spin on Contemporary Romance.
November 26, 2013
I generally liked Entwine. I like how the plot was completely predicable and didn't follow any of the eye-rolling inducing tropes of NA. Sarah isn't the good girl. Malik isn't some bad boy that needs to be changed. They're both normal people with histories.
I wasn't completely sold with Entwine though. I think it's a good and interesting story, but I wasn't captured by it. I mostly liked the characters and I mostly liked the plot. I wasn't in love with the plot twist. It just didn't work for me. I wasn't a fan of the interconnectedness of the characters, it made their world so much smaller.
Another thing I was kind of annoyed about was trying to figure it out where it was set. It didn't say it immediately and I found that distracting. I found it distracting, because at first I was like it's totally in America, because I saw "dollars". Then I saw "mum" and thought okay, it's in the UK. Until I saw "Melbourne" and realized that I was an idiot.
Overall, I liked it. I wasn't in love but Entwine is an interesting read.
e-Copy was provided by Author for honest and unbiased review.
I wasn't completely sold with Entwine though. I think it's a good and interesting story, but I wasn't captured by it. I mostly liked the characters and I mostly liked the plot. I wasn't in love with the plot twist. It just didn't work for me. I wasn't a fan of the interconnectedness of the characters, it made their world so much smaller.
Another thing I was kind of annoyed about was trying to figure it out where it was set. It didn't say it immediately and I found that distracting. I found it distracting, because at first I was like it's totally in America, because I saw "dollars". Then I saw "mum" and thought okay, it's in the UK. Until I saw "Melbourne" and realized that I was an idiot.
Overall, I liked it. I wasn't in love but Entwine is an interesting read.
e-Copy was provided by Author for honest and unbiased review.
November 25, 2013
This is the third book I've read by this author & my favourite.
This book goes back and forth from when Sarah was younger to the present day.
On her first day at work she meets an intriguing stranger... This is their story. And what a story it is. I certainly didn't expect this twist.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story... Well done to the author :)
Received in return for an honest review.
This book goes back and forth from when Sarah was younger to the present day.
On her first day at work she meets an intriguing stranger... This is their story. And what a story it is. I certainly didn't expect this twist.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story... Well done to the author :)
Received in return for an honest review.
December 3, 2013
Love a story where two characters have a large age gap as is the case with Sarah and Malik, it makes for a more believable story line in many ways. The unexpected twist just adds intrigue too. A very potent chemistry between the two made this book a real page turner. Well done Rebecca!
November 26, 2013
“Time doesn’t have to measure love. You’re connected, and you have something special. I think that’s what counts.”–Nicholas
With one glance at a train stop, Sarah was captivated by Malik–just as much as he was captivated by her. Unable to fight the attraction pulling them together, they start a whirlwind romance, something that Sarah didn’t think she had in her. Everything seemed too good to be true…and then it all started to crumble apart. It’s up to Sarah and Malik to decide if their love is worth fighting for when their pasts catch up to them and reveal that they’re lives have already been very much entwined…
“Like we were meant to meet and we somehow must have met before. Like it was in another life, or something.”–Sarah
What a complicated situation poor Sarah and Malik find themselves in! Not to ruin the surprise (although by the author’s hints, it’s kinda obvious what their connection will be at the start). Frankly, I probably would have been too weirded out to continue with the relationship, but I’m glad that Sarah and Malik didn’t give up! From the first pages, their chemistry is obvious, and I was totally rooting for them from the very start!
The story is told in a “Now” and “Then” format where we’re swapping back and forth between the present and the past. Usually, I’m not a fan of this format since I often get jarred out of the story, but the format worked for this book, and the past scenes added substance to the present scenes. I liked that we could see the consequences of everyone’s actions and how Sarah’s father’s affair affected her and others. I especially liked her characterization and how her father’s lies and his subsequent apathy towards her changed who she was. At the same time, I liked how strong Malik is and how he’s able to heal her wounds and show her that there are men willing to fight for her. I also liked the fact that he’s not perfect and has baggage to make him feel real.
I did feel like I missed out a bit on their actual relationship. There’s intense physical attraction and the feeling like they’re soul mates at the start, but since their romance is really only over a week, it did seem a bit fast, particularly when lobbed some serious relationship barriers. It felt like they didn’t really know each other, so I wasn’t fully convinced why they were fighting so hard to be with each other (although I’m glad they did).
The main ‘villain’ in the story was truly hateful, but I felt like the villain was inconsistent by being what the story conveniently needs at particular times. In some cases, the villain was extremely conniving and calculating while at other times extremely sloppy and dumb. The other characters were pretty two-dimensional, but that’s okay since Sarah’s characterization makes up for it. The last thing I wanted to point out is that other than the initial connection, I enjoyed all the other unexpected surprised that popped up and made the story a great read.
Overall, I recommend this serious new adult romance (with a medium-high heat level due to sexual tension and love-making scenes) starring a young woman entering the real world and falling for an older man while having to deal with complicated family issues. I was entertained until the very last page. This is a 4 out of 5 for me!
(Originally posted on my blog; I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
With one glance at a train stop, Sarah was captivated by Malik–just as much as he was captivated by her. Unable to fight the attraction pulling them together, they start a whirlwind romance, something that Sarah didn’t think she had in her. Everything seemed too good to be true…and then it all started to crumble apart. It’s up to Sarah and Malik to decide if their love is worth fighting for when their pasts catch up to them and reveal that they’re lives have already been very much entwined…
“Like we were meant to meet and we somehow must have met before. Like it was in another life, or something.”–Sarah
What a complicated situation poor Sarah and Malik find themselves in! Not to ruin the surprise (although by the author’s hints, it’s kinda obvious what their connection will be at the start). Frankly, I probably would have been too weirded out to continue with the relationship, but I’m glad that Sarah and Malik didn’t give up! From the first pages, their chemistry is obvious, and I was totally rooting for them from the very start!
The story is told in a “Now” and “Then” format where we’re swapping back and forth between the present and the past. Usually, I’m not a fan of this format since I often get jarred out of the story, but the format worked for this book, and the past scenes added substance to the present scenes. I liked that we could see the consequences of everyone’s actions and how Sarah’s father’s affair affected her and others. I especially liked her characterization and how her father’s lies and his subsequent apathy towards her changed who she was. At the same time, I liked how strong Malik is and how he’s able to heal her wounds and show her that there are men willing to fight for her. I also liked the fact that he’s not perfect and has baggage to make him feel real.
I did feel like I missed out a bit on their actual relationship. There’s intense physical attraction and the feeling like they’re soul mates at the start, but since their romance is really only over a week, it did seem a bit fast, particularly when lobbed some serious relationship barriers. It felt like they didn’t really know each other, so I wasn’t fully convinced why they were fighting so hard to be with each other (although I’m glad they did).
The main ‘villain’ in the story was truly hateful, but I felt like the villain was inconsistent by being what the story conveniently needs at particular times. In some cases, the villain was extremely conniving and calculating while at other times extremely sloppy and dumb. The other characters were pretty two-dimensional, but that’s okay since Sarah’s characterization makes up for it. The last thing I wanted to point out is that other than the initial connection, I enjoyed all the other unexpected surprised that popped up and made the story a great read.
Overall, I recommend this serious new adult romance (with a medium-high heat level due to sexual tension and love-making scenes) starring a young woman entering the real world and falling for an older man while having to deal with complicated family issues. I was entertained until the very last page. This is a 4 out of 5 for me!
(Originally posted on my blog; I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
December 10, 2013
So at the start of it all we are getting to know the twisted and uncertain mess that is sixteen year old, Sarah. What she went through with her dad was tragic. I can't imagine finding out that the man you trust over any other on the planet is a shady, lying scumbag. She was lucky to have found Nicholas but she was also not too keen on fully giving her heart back then. Bent on protecting it from the inevitable heartbreak like her mom. She held herself back in deliberate ways, Nick loved her full on and even asked for her forever but she let him go instead, not willing to give in to love in and of itself. She felt strongly for him but it wasn't enough to let her heart free to love him like that.
This story is a melding of then and now and I absolutely love that. It gives you the reasoning behind her action but brings you into the present meeting on the train of a gorgeous stranger that has intrigued her to the outer limits. She's finding her mind wondering and daydreaming of things they could do as her eyes can't help but take him in piece by piece. He takes notice as well and it leads to an impromptu fist date with the impossibly good looking man.
She spends as long as she can with him and the date goes smashingly well. She is high on cloud nine when her mom questions who he is. Sarah in her intrigued and heated state with the heady flashes from the teasingly amazing night doesn't grasp the subject right away so her mom just throws it out there and oh, my, wow! Bombshell anyone?
I was floored, intrigued and worried but floored. It was so crushing but I was proud of Sarah for seeing that it was just too special to let her budding time with Malik fall by the wayside as another casualty of her father's infidelity.
I like the realistic need for space after she has her mom's bombshell confirmed by Malik himself.
Four days of giving him space and they made the decision to give it a go. I love them together, it just seems right.
That bombshell I talked about was the first of many in this gripping and mature NA read. I was shocked and then shocked again and a little confused at one point but all in all a really good story of real life drama that comes with trying to love when we are all separated by six degrees.
The steamy scenes were not drawn out and didn't get too overdone where you feel the need to turn the page but it did smolder. I am personally not an Adult Contemporary Romance reader but have read a few books with mature content. YA is still my preferred genre though hands down but in this read I was well aware and am glad for the books that warn you ahead. That way you can decide on your own instead of a surprise!
I liked the book and loved the characters and most definitely liked all the twists and turns in the story.
Rebecca Berto did an amazing job at dragging you into the story and investing you in the emotions of the characters both happy and sad as well as hate and attraction. It was a rollercoaster emotionally and my jaw hit the floor more than once. A good read.
If you love your steamy reads this is most definitely one worth reading.
I am most definitely looking forward to more in this series.
This story is a melding of then and now and I absolutely love that. It gives you the reasoning behind her action but brings you into the present meeting on the train of a gorgeous stranger that has intrigued her to the outer limits. She's finding her mind wondering and daydreaming of things they could do as her eyes can't help but take him in piece by piece. He takes notice as well and it leads to an impromptu fist date with the impossibly good looking man.
She spends as long as she can with him and the date goes smashingly well. She is high on cloud nine when her mom questions who he is. Sarah in her intrigued and heated state with the heady flashes from the teasingly amazing night doesn't grasp the subject right away so her mom just throws it out there and oh, my, wow! Bombshell anyone?
I was floored, intrigued and worried but floored. It was so crushing but I was proud of Sarah for seeing that it was just too special to let her budding time with Malik fall by the wayside as another casualty of her father's infidelity.
I like the realistic need for space after she has her mom's bombshell confirmed by Malik himself.
Four days of giving him space and they made the decision to give it a go. I love them together, it just seems right.
That bombshell I talked about was the first of many in this gripping and mature NA read. I was shocked and then shocked again and a little confused at one point but all in all a really good story of real life drama that comes with trying to love when we are all separated by six degrees.
The steamy scenes were not drawn out and didn't get too overdone where you feel the need to turn the page but it did smolder. I am personally not an Adult Contemporary Romance reader but have read a few books with mature content. YA is still my preferred genre though hands down but in this read I was well aware and am glad for the books that warn you ahead. That way you can decide on your own instead of a surprise!
I liked the book and loved the characters and most definitely liked all the twists and turns in the story.
Rebecca Berto did an amazing job at dragging you into the story and investing you in the emotions of the characters both happy and sad as well as hate and attraction. It was a rollercoaster emotionally and my jaw hit the floor more than once. A good read.
If you love your steamy reads this is most definitely one worth reading.
I am most definitely looking forward to more in this series.
November 25, 2013
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I have to thank Rebecca Berto for giving me the opportunity of reading her book, Entwine; I must say, I really enjoyed it. I wanted to read it since the first day I’ve heard of it. For me is a 4 stars book. I utterly loved it, the style, and the characters; I could feel Sarah’s insecurities like being my own ones. Even though the story is told in a 3rd POV, one can feel the connection with the characters...in this case, with Sarah, as being the only POV we can know from. I really liked the connection between past and present; it was another way of “entwining” the story and the characters.
So, we meet Sarah and Malik: they have a complicated relationship, I’d say. I really don’t want to give much information up, so you’ll need to read the book to find out why. But when I discovered who Malik was, I just couldn’t believe it; I was screaming at my kindle like a freaking idiot.
Sarah has trust issues because she discovered at the age of sixteen that her father cheated on her mother with a mysterious woman (who will be connected further in the storyline). So when she meets Malik, she in a turmoil. Their meeting is intense, deep...now I’m having problems because I want to have a similar encounter in my life, LOL.
The climax of the story was perfect, just as the end. I’m just hoping that the next book will be about them because the epilogue was off to me (way too short). That’s the only reason I gave the book four stars and not five. I really WANT to know more about Sarah and Malik, what will happen to them, how they story would go on?
One more thing I want to add to my review: I LOVED THE COVER OF THE BOOK. I’m guessing the tattoos are an allegoric symbol of the title (if it is, it’s just perfect).
Thanks again Rebbeca! UTTERLY RECOMMENDED.
First of all, I have to thank Rebecca Berto for giving me the opportunity of reading her book, Entwine; I must say, I really enjoyed it. I wanted to read it since the first day I’ve heard of it. For me is a 4 stars book. I utterly loved it, the style, and the characters; I could feel Sarah’s insecurities like being my own ones. Even though the story is told in a 3rd POV, one can feel the connection with the characters...in this case, with Sarah, as being the only POV we can know from. I really liked the connection between past and present; it was another way of “entwining” the story and the characters.
So, we meet Sarah and Malik: they have a complicated relationship, I’d say. I really don’t want to give much information up, so you’ll need to read the book to find out why. But when I discovered who Malik was, I just couldn’t believe it; I was screaming at my kindle like a freaking idiot.
Sarah has trust issues because she discovered at the age of sixteen that her father cheated on her mother with a mysterious woman (who will be connected further in the storyline). So when she meets Malik, she in a turmoil. Their meeting is intense, deep...now I’m having problems because I want to have a similar encounter in my life, LOL.
The climax of the story was perfect, just as the end. I’m just hoping that the next book will be about them because the epilogue was off to me (way too short). That’s the only reason I gave the book four stars and not five. I really WANT to know more about Sarah and Malik, what will happen to them, how they story would go on?
One more thing I want to add to my review: I LOVED THE COVER OF THE BOOK. I’m guessing the tattoos are an allegoric symbol of the title (if it is, it’s just perfect).
Thanks again Rebbeca! UTTERLY RECOMMENDED.
April 7, 2014
I was a bit late to the party on this one. I had it on my kindle for weeks before I actually read it :(.. I wish I had of read it sooner. What a fabulous story. Just goes to show what can happen when fate has other plans. Sometime we have no control over our destiny. Sarah is a young woman finding her feet in life & really thought she was on the right road to where she wanted to be.
Then her mum drops a bombshell that rocks her whole life as it is right at that moment. And I have to say even I didn't see that one coming!! I seriously doubt poor Malik saw it coming either!
As for Sarah's father, I seriously wanted to knock some sense into the man. He is completely oblivious to how his actions either in the past or the present affect his daughter & even his ex wife for that matter & really believes he has the right to continue to take, take, take.
At first I thought this was going to be just another 'young chick meets older man & they ride off into their happy ever after' story. But this was so not the case! These 2 have no easy ride to a happy ending. They have a huge obstacle & have to decide if they not just can, but actually want to overcome.
I'm not going to re tell the whole story in this review as I really believe you need to read it for yourself. This book will have you feeling what both Sarah & Malik feel as you read through their journey. Rebecca has done a fabulous job bringing these characters story to life. It is a fabulous read. I read it straight through in one go, I just could not put it down!!
I will not wait so long to read Rebecca's next book if this is an indication of her writing style I will happily one click all her books!!
November 12, 2013
Before I can get into all the goodness that is Malik, I have to say I hope another book is on it's way with Malik and Sarah because the ending to me was kind of like a cliffhanger, there were still some questions unanswered and it felt the story was only just beginning. Now you know you have a keeper in a man if you can stare at his a** for hours on end, "for that second, she unashamedly could gawk at his a**. It wasn't flat, but shaped. Even through the relatively loose material, it hinted at the cupped figure of his cheeks and on the sides, as it rode with the indents." You also know you have a keeper in a man if he lays things out right off the bat, "I'm not usually a relationship guy," he said, after so much silence Sarah had settled to barely hum the tune of the current song on the radio. "I used to be, but that was years ago, and I haven't had a girl in my own bed in eight years. Besides my own daughter, when she was smaller. So,no, no girls in my bed. Girls in my house? Yup. Just never overnight." Also at times the way Malik speaks, woo baby, need to change the panties, "eff. I'm so hard for you," he said." The book was a great read, it's just as I stated previously I don't think it's quite finished.
November 24, 2013
I received ARC for my honest opinion, here it is i really liked this flow of this story. You start the story with a young lady that so happen to have her life shattered. The family she thought she had was so not what she knew. Sarah walks into her home and hears sounds and then it triggers that her father is there with someone else. The living family she thought she had was apparently a lie. Instead of barging in she walks away holds onto that secret from her mom. Eventually her mom finds her diary and they know she knows. So its time to open the pages to that story. Sarah is scared to commit to any man until the day she meets a strange at the train station. Malik was all it took for her to feel trust and love but then a shock to all there is more to this man. Little dud she know they were closer then the thought. You will definite like this story. You will get caught up in all the surprises through each page.
November 12, 2013
Miss Berto has done it again!! I cannot say enough GO OUT AND GET THIS BOOK WHEN ITS OUT ON NOVEMBER 25th!! i cannot recommend this enough!! At the beginning when i started Entwine i was so stunned that i was crying out loud "OMG! That is so me!" Not with most things Sarah does, just some of her little quirks, and the fated train ride home when she meets Malik. The way Rebecca discribes people going about their lives at the train station is so familiar and i find myself people watching the same way Malik and Sarah do, so that i can relate. I literally cried during some of the dark, bad moments during the relationship and cheered for joy when it was resolved.
I hope i am not giving too much away. All i will say is this: Buy this book on november 25th, you won't be sorry.
P.S. I want a signed paperback!
I hope i am not giving too much away. All i will say is this: Buy this book on november 25th, you won't be sorry.
P.S. I want a signed paperback!
November 17, 2013
I loved this book soooo much!!! It was so romantic. I felt so sorry for Sarah, no one should have to go through what she did at such a young age with what happened to her family. I am so lucky I grew up around love in my family and know that both of my parents will always be there for me in any time of need. I loved how after everything Sarah went through her life and she thought the guy she really liked was cheating on her with his ex, she was independent and told him to go away and give her the space she needed to figure out what she wanted to do with him in their relationship. During that part in the book I was thinking,"You go girl"!!!! Overall this was a really entertaining book to read. I loved it a lot.
December 4, 2013
Really great book. I loved how mature and independent Sarah was, but she still craved the company of a male. She wasn't a whiny brat and while he dad was a douche, she didn't have daddy issues because of it.
Malik...mature, handsome, establish with his life. A good fit for Sarah I think. And he didn't come with baggage per say. He came with a life you'd expect of a 30 something male.
There were a few points while reading where the plot wasn't cohesive, but it didn't detract from the story.
Really great book. Looking forward to book 2.
Malik...mature, handsome, establish with his life. A good fit for Sarah I think. And he didn't come with baggage per say. He came with a life you'd expect of a 30 something male.
There were a few points while reading where the plot wasn't cohesive, but it didn't detract from the story.
Really great book. Looking forward to book 2.
November 13, 2013
*******received an ARC for an honest review***** Love the cover of this book! The story was definitely unique and one of a kind. Did not expect the twist that occurred. Loved the main characters.
December 5, 2013
It was a good, quick read.
December 2, 2013
Entwined is a contemporary romance that takes place in Australia. Sarah is 22 years old and has just finished college and has gotten her first real job as a junior editor. While at the train station on her way home a very beautiful man catches her eye, and she catches his in return. One thing leads to another and they wind up spending the evening together. Malik is a totally hottie, but he is older than Sarah, and she feels he is obviously out of her league. Sarah has a lot of emotional issues that stem from something that occurred with her family when she was a teenager. Malik has his own baggage he has had to deal with also. As their paths and lives entwine together like a vine, they find out something that could destroy any chance they have together, but they must decide if that revelation and how they deal with it will cut their relationship off at the roots, or if what they have with each other is worth holding on to.
The story is told from Sarah's point of view from a then and now perspective, relating to what is going on present day, and what happened in her teenage through university years with her family and past relationships, and also how things tie into what is going on today. While the story itself has a good premise, I personally wasn't really crazy about Sarah, or Malik for that matter. Their relationship was an insta-love type of relationship and while the chemistry was definitely their and the romance hot, it just seemed too serious too soon and a little too unrealistic for me. The things that occur and the secrets that are revealed are definitely interesting, but the story and the relationship just wasn't something that captured my attention or heart, and Sarah went from being what Malik referred to as mature beyond her age to a needy stalker mode and then back again. Malik was also a little to unrealistically devoted, but when a situation arose that tested that, even though it may have been out of his control, he did something that just didn't add up to what he was professing, though he does redeem himself. As the story unfolded, they deal with some dramatic issues as they attempt to work through things. It does end pretty well, however.
I've read and enjoyed a few of Rebecca's books in the past and she is definitely a good writer. While Entwined was a pretty good romance, it just didn't blow me away. I don't have a problem with insta-love stories in general, but my lack of ability to really like or connect with the characters and the unrealistic feel of the intensity of the relationship left me a bit underwhelmed with the novel, though I didn't dislike it. It just left me feeling a little blase, which of course is just a personal opinion. Others have really enjoyed it.
The story is told from Sarah's point of view from a then and now perspective, relating to what is going on present day, and what happened in her teenage through university years with her family and past relationships, and also how things tie into what is going on today. While the story itself has a good premise, I personally wasn't really crazy about Sarah, or Malik for that matter. Their relationship was an insta-love type of relationship and while the chemistry was definitely their and the romance hot, it just seemed too serious too soon and a little too unrealistic for me. The things that occur and the secrets that are revealed are definitely interesting, but the story and the relationship just wasn't something that captured my attention or heart, and Sarah went from being what Malik referred to as mature beyond her age to a needy stalker mode and then back again. Malik was also a little to unrealistically devoted, but when a situation arose that tested that, even though it may have been out of his control, he did something that just didn't add up to what he was professing, though he does redeem himself. As the story unfolded, they deal with some dramatic issues as they attempt to work through things. It does end pretty well, however.
I've read and enjoyed a few of Rebecca's books in the past and she is definitely a good writer. While Entwined was a pretty good romance, it just didn't blow me away. I don't have a problem with insta-love stories in general, but my lack of ability to really like or connect with the characters and the unrealistic feel of the intensity of the relationship left me a bit underwhelmed with the novel, though I didn't dislike it. It just left me feeling a little blase, which of course is just a personal opinion. Others have really enjoyed it.
September 12, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Entwine is the story of a 22-year-old woman, Sarah, who has had trust issues with men since she found out her father cheated on her mother. But then, she meets this gorgeous, mysterious man, whom she completely falls for within a week of knowing him.
Their relationship got too serious way too soon. They had great chemistry, but I believe ideal relationships aren't serious that quickly. From personal experience, getting serious too soon often leads to heartbreak. Nothing wrong with taking things slow. But who knows? Getting serious quickly could work. But in this book, it made me miss seeing them fall in love and get to know each other. It was just rushed for me. The age difference was a little weird too, but to each their own.
At first, the characters were likeable. However, Sarah got on my nerves a bit about halfway through. As much as she said she did trust Malik, she obviously didn't, which made her turn into a stalker. But, she seemed sweet still, regardless of her irrationality at times.
I liked Malik. He had his demons and his problems. I understood why he was so serious with Sarah. He's 34 and he had his heart broken. It's understood that he would want to move on from that. He's not getting any younger. He has a little girl that we don't see a whole lot of...which is fine. It's never a good idea to introduce a child to a new boyfriend/girlfriend too quickly.
Nicholas seemed like a nice guy. It bothered me when he was so upset about her saying she's slept with four guys. While it's not ideal, it doesn't mean she's a slut. Her dad caused her to feel numb and probably created some loneliness. Nicholas seemed to somewhat judge her for her past, even though he was still as sweet as pie. But it also meant it couldn't really work between them.
The little "shocker" moment of the book really wasn't that much of a shock to me. I could kinda see it coming. But I think it added to the story. I wasn't a fan of the Then and Now format, but I'm never a fan of that. However, I'm not sure how else she could've written this book without it. It did answer some questions.
For the most part, I really liked the story.
Entwine is the story of a 22-year-old woman, Sarah, who has had trust issues with men since she found out her father cheated on her mother. But then, she meets this gorgeous, mysterious man, whom she completely falls for within a week of knowing him.
Their relationship got too serious way too soon. They had great chemistry, but I believe ideal relationships aren't serious that quickly. From personal experience, getting serious too soon often leads to heartbreak. Nothing wrong with taking things slow. But who knows? Getting serious quickly could work. But in this book, it made me miss seeing them fall in love and get to know each other. It was just rushed for me. The age difference was a little weird too, but to each their own.
At first, the characters were likeable. However, Sarah got on my nerves a bit about halfway through. As much as she said she did trust Malik, she obviously didn't, which made her turn into a stalker. But, she seemed sweet still, regardless of her irrationality at times.
I liked Malik. He had his demons and his problems. I understood why he was so serious with Sarah. He's 34 and he had his heart broken. It's understood that he would want to move on from that. He's not getting any younger. He has a little girl that we don't see a whole lot of...which is fine. It's never a good idea to introduce a child to a new boyfriend/girlfriend too quickly.
Nicholas seemed like a nice guy. It bothered me when he was so upset about her saying she's slept with four guys. While it's not ideal, it doesn't mean she's a slut. Her dad caused her to feel numb and probably created some loneliness. Nicholas seemed to somewhat judge her for her past, even though he was still as sweet as pie. But it also meant it couldn't really work between them.
The little "shocker" moment of the book really wasn't that much of a shock to me. I could kinda see it coming. But I think it added to the story. I wasn't a fan of the Then and Now format, but I'm never a fan of that. However, I'm not sure how else she could've written this book without it. It did answer some questions.
For the most part, I really liked the story.
November 25, 2013
I received Entwine in exchange for an honest review.
Entwine was not what I expected. That’s not a bad thing though. It’s actually a very good thing because when I first started reading I thought that the plot was going to be predictable. It didn’t take long for the story to go in a totally unpredictable direction.
Sarah was not your average young woman. Discovering her dad’s affair not only ripped their family apart, it also kept her from really trusting men in general. It’s pretty understandable because Rebecca Berto paints a pretty vivid picture of the night Sarah’s world fell apart. Her devotion to her mother and her feelings toward her father did a pretty good job of shaping Sarah into the woman she is in the present.
A lot happens in Entwine that you need to experience for yourself. Things are revealed in layers and the story goes back and forth between ‘Then’ and ‘Now.’ I wouldn’t want to read every book in this format, but it worked for this story. So much of what was happening in the present depended on what Sarah had experienced in the past. It definitely kept things interesting.
There were a couple of little plot hiccups, but they weren’t major and I’m thinking that they may even be non-existant if I go back and reread a few key parts. Regardless, I liked the story, the characters were easy to love (and or hate – whatever is more appropriate) and even though things were brought to a satisfying close, everything wasn’t tied up in a nice neat bow at the end.
Entwine isn’t a book for everyone – especially under 18. Rebecca Berto didn’t pull any punches. The emotions were raw, tough issues were dealt with and the sex was not glossed over. There’s also an age difference that may bother some people. Just a little warning for those who may take offense to any of the above.
Entwine was not what I expected. That’s not a bad thing though. It’s actually a very good thing because when I first started reading I thought that the plot was going to be predictable. It didn’t take long for the story to go in a totally unpredictable direction.
Sarah was not your average young woman. Discovering her dad’s affair not only ripped their family apart, it also kept her from really trusting men in general. It’s pretty understandable because Rebecca Berto paints a pretty vivid picture of the night Sarah’s world fell apart. Her devotion to her mother and her feelings toward her father did a pretty good job of shaping Sarah into the woman she is in the present.
A lot happens in Entwine that you need to experience for yourself. Things are revealed in layers and the story goes back and forth between ‘Then’ and ‘Now.’ I wouldn’t want to read every book in this format, but it worked for this story. So much of what was happening in the present depended on what Sarah had experienced in the past. It definitely kept things interesting.
There were a couple of little plot hiccups, but they weren’t major and I’m thinking that they may even be non-existant if I go back and reread a few key parts. Regardless, I liked the story, the characters were easy to love (and or hate – whatever is more appropriate) and even though things were brought to a satisfying close, everything wasn’t tied up in a nice neat bow at the end.
Entwine isn’t a book for everyone – especially under 18. Rebecca Berto didn’t pull any punches. The emotions were raw, tough issues were dealt with and the sex was not glossed over. There’s also an age difference that may bother some people. Just a little warning for those who may take offense to any of the above.
November 30, 2013
*I received this book for an honest review from the author*
It's actually 4.5
The only reason why I don't give it 5 stars, because the aspect changing was sometimes a bit disturbing for me.
So Sarah Langham is a 22 years old, who I think more mature than her age.
She has trust issues, and she doesn't really forgive for her father to left her mother(for someone else)
Fate pulls them together that night on a whirlwind date, exceeding anything Sarah’s experienced before. He’s even more into her than she’s into him. Finally, she wants to trust a guy for the first time since she was sixteen.
The story is full of twist and turns, you never really know what comes next, so I loved it so much. Sarah is a loveable character, and Malik is an awsome guy.
" I love you, I really do. I'm not saying it because I've got you like this, and I didn't say it at the station because I'd stuffed up. I think about how much I love you when you do your little quirks, and lie here next to me, and open your mouth to talk. I love everything about you, and all of you as one. It's only been six weeks but my life has changed because of you, and I want you to know how important YOU ARE." - Malik
Yoou should read the book to know how they ended?!
It's actually 4.5
The only reason why I don't give it 5 stars, because the aspect changing was sometimes a bit disturbing for me.
So Sarah Langham is a 22 years old, who I think more mature than her age.
She has trust issues, and she doesn't really forgive for her father to left her mother(for someone else)
Fate pulls them together that night on a whirlwind date, exceeding anything Sarah’s experienced before. He’s even more into her than she’s into him. Finally, she wants to trust a guy for the first time since she was sixteen.
The story is full of twist and turns, you never really know what comes next, so I loved it so much. Sarah is a loveable character, and Malik is an awsome guy.
" I love you, I really do. I'm not saying it because I've got you like this, and I didn't say it at the station because I'd stuffed up. I think about how much I love you when you do your little quirks, and lie here next to me, and open your mouth to talk. I love everything about you, and all of you as one. It's only been six weeks but my life has changed because of you, and I want you to know how important YOU ARE." - Malik
Yoou should read the book to know how they ended?!
November 24, 2013
Sarah Langham has lived her life since she was 16 not trusting men because she has the misfortune of walking in on her father having an affair. She's only had one serious relationship but even that ended badly. Heading home from her first day at her first "adult" job, Sarah meets Malik Fawnheart. Instantly attracted to each other, the two have their first date that night. But unbeknownst to the two, they have a shared past that neither could have seen coming.
I really enjoyed this book. Some parts were a bit difficult to read but not for the slang or the story itself. I'm not sure if it's because it's Australian but the style was just something I'm not quite used to. However, it didn't take anything away from the enjoyment.
Sarah is an everyday kind of heroine that I think a lot of people can see themselves in. She's young and has her own baggage. I could definitely relate to her parents separation for sure which helped me care about the character that much more. And the same with Malik. There were things about him that I just adored that I think people can relate too. What really drew me in was their age difference though. My husband and I are 13 years apart so it was funny and cute to see something like that in a book.
I'm not really sure how I feel about the "twist" to be honest. I know it was there to create drama but I think there's more that could have filled that role- like their age difference. Sarah went into that a little and then nothing else was said about it.
And as a final note, love the book cover. Seriously, love it. But, I don't think it actually has much to do with the book.
*I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. Some parts were a bit difficult to read but not for the slang or the story itself. I'm not sure if it's because it's Australian but the style was just something I'm not quite used to. However, it didn't take anything away from the enjoyment.
Sarah is an everyday kind of heroine that I think a lot of people can see themselves in. She's young and has her own baggage. I could definitely relate to her parents separation for sure which helped me care about the character that much more. And the same with Malik. There were things about him that I just adored that I think people can relate too. What really drew me in was their age difference though. My husband and I are 13 years apart so it was funny and cute to see something like that in a book.
I'm not really sure how I feel about the "twist" to be honest. I know it was there to create drama but I think there's more that could have filled that role- like their age difference. Sarah went into that a little and then nothing else was said about it.
And as a final note, love the book cover. Seriously, love it. But, I don't think it actually has much to do with the book.
*I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2013
Review Originally Posted at: Book Freak
Rating: 3.5 Stars
First, I’d like to say that the cover is totally drool-worthy and just right for the lead male of the story- the hot and sinfully sexy, Malik.
Sarah’s life was never the same again after she caught her dad sleeping with another woman when she was sixteen. The infidelity drove her family apart.
At twenty-two and on her first day of her job – she saw a man. At first sight, she was immediately drawn to him. Perhaps it was the aura of mystery, his irresistible appeal or that he caught him staring at her too! They immediately hit it off – went on a date without even knowing his fame. Finally, she had the urge to trust a man for the first time after the infidelity incident with her father.
But then, they found out something startling - something that linked the both of their lives together.
Entwine was an okay read, and I like the fact that these two characters were far off from perfection. Especially Malik – who had his own past and present demons to overcome. Sarah has her own baggage, and is still bitter from her parent’s divorce and his father’s past mistakes.
The twist in the story caught me by surprise, I knew there was something between them – but I didn’t expect that was IT! Nevertheless, despite the secrets, baggage and differences – these two people deserve each other and deserve to be happy.
The only thing is that – they might have fallen in love quite fast than what I expected, they haven’t even know each other quite well. I think they needed a stronger foundation for their relationship.
Nevertheless – it was a short, steamy read, with a twist you won’t see coming.
★ARC Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.★
Rating: 3.5 Stars
First, I’d like to say that the cover is totally drool-worthy and just right for the lead male of the story- the hot and sinfully sexy, Malik.
Sarah’s life was never the same again after she caught her dad sleeping with another woman when she was sixteen. The infidelity drove her family apart.
At twenty-two and on her first day of her job – she saw a man. At first sight, she was immediately drawn to him. Perhaps it was the aura of mystery, his irresistible appeal or that he caught him staring at her too! They immediately hit it off – went on a date without even knowing his fame. Finally, she had the urge to trust a man for the first time after the infidelity incident with her father.
But then, they found out something startling - something that linked the both of their lives together.
Entwine was an okay read, and I like the fact that these two characters were far off from perfection. Especially Malik – who had his own past and present demons to overcome. Sarah has her own baggage, and is still bitter from her parent’s divorce and his father’s past mistakes.
The twist in the story caught me by surprise, I knew there was something between them – but I didn’t expect that was IT! Nevertheless, despite the secrets, baggage and differences – these two people deserve each other and deserve to be happy.
The only thing is that – they might have fallen in love quite fast than what I expected, they haven’t even know each other quite well. I think they needed a stronger foundation for their relationship.
Nevertheless – it was a short, steamy read, with a twist you won’t see coming.
★ARC Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.★
November 23, 2013
This book was given to me for an honest review.
When I was reading the first chapters of Entwine, I was instantly hooked. It is in a 3rd POV which is new to me given that it is a contemporary romance. Moreover, the format and style of the author let's us show a glimpse of Sarah's past using the "then and now" approach. I was beginning to like the character Malik, he' os comfident, mysterious and full of charisma. My favorite part of this book was Sarah and Malik's first meeting and their conversations and thoughts. I was thinking that this book is very promising and it's mystery pulls you in craving for more.
I can compare this to an independent film nominated for an award in Sundance or Tribeca Film Festival. However, I find it too unrealistic. I found myself bored and disappointed in the middle of the book. Sarah's character is confusing, she's innocent yet she's mature and then maybe when the author revealed who Malik was, I think I lost my interest into reading further and I ended up skimming and scanning the pages. The idea and concept of this book is great but the delivery was just not what i expected. It could have been written in a different way or in a different scenario.
Furthermore, I feel like it was unrealistic that the two main characters be in love, lust definitely, but love not really. Their foundation to have this solid relationship is lacking and it's like a strained relationship until the end.
I believe the author is going to do more works in the future and I'm hoping for more improvement.
I recommend this to those who likes erotic-drama.
Cheers.
When I was reading the first chapters of Entwine, I was instantly hooked. It is in a 3rd POV which is new to me given that it is a contemporary romance. Moreover, the format and style of the author let's us show a glimpse of Sarah's past using the "then and now" approach. I was beginning to like the character Malik, he' os comfident, mysterious and full of charisma. My favorite part of this book was Sarah and Malik's first meeting and their conversations and thoughts. I was thinking that this book is very promising and it's mystery pulls you in craving for more.
I can compare this to an independent film nominated for an award in Sundance or Tribeca Film Festival. However, I find it too unrealistic. I found myself bored and disappointed in the middle of the book. Sarah's character is confusing, she's innocent yet she's mature and then maybe when the author revealed who Malik was, I think I lost my interest into reading further and I ended up skimming and scanning the pages. The idea and concept of this book is great but the delivery was just not what i expected. It could have been written in a different way or in a different scenario.
Furthermore, I feel like it was unrealistic that the two main characters be in love, lust definitely, but love not really. Their foundation to have this solid relationship is lacking and it's like a strained relationship until the end.
I believe the author is going to do more works in the future and I'm hoping for more improvement.
I recommend this to those who likes erotic-drama.
Cheers.
November 18, 2013
*******I received this book for an honest review from the author*******
So the book is about a 22 yr. old girl name Sarah who is pulling her life together from her father cheating on her mom when she was 16 and breaking up their family. She would never trust a man.
She is waiting at a train station heading home from her first day at work when she sees a very attractive man.
She is drawn to him and she can't keep her eyes off of him and he can't stop looking at her too. There meeting leads to a thrilling date Sarah had never expected or experienced before.
But then they discover something.
Something that can destroy their relationship before it even starts.
I liked this book! I liked how the characters met. I was hooked from the beginning! Malik oh my! The things he would say! (Woo! Fanning myself):) And then the twist came in and I was like What!? I enjoy books with twists and suspense and this one was no different. It made me want to read even faster to see what happened. I did like that the story wasn't dragged out and the characters weren't overly dramatic, but I do hope there is another book to follow up because there are still some unanswered questions and it felt kind of like a cliffhanger.
Over all, I enjoyed this book! It was a quick read and it had some steamy and hot romance moments!;)
The shorty was well written and had a good story line!
I would give it a 3.5 stars!
So the book is about a 22 yr. old girl name Sarah who is pulling her life together from her father cheating on her mom when she was 16 and breaking up their family. She would never trust a man.
She is waiting at a train station heading home from her first day at work when she sees a very attractive man.
She is drawn to him and she can't keep her eyes off of him and he can't stop looking at her too. There meeting leads to a thrilling date Sarah had never expected or experienced before.
But then they discover something.
Something that can destroy their relationship before it even starts.
I liked this book! I liked how the characters met. I was hooked from the beginning! Malik oh my! The things he would say! (Woo! Fanning myself):) And then the twist came in and I was like What!? I enjoy books with twists and suspense and this one was no different. It made me want to read even faster to see what happened. I did like that the story wasn't dragged out and the characters weren't overly dramatic, but I do hope there is another book to follow up because there are still some unanswered questions and it felt kind of like a cliffhanger.
Over all, I enjoyed this book! It was a quick read and it had some steamy and hot romance moments!;)
The shorty was well written and had a good story line!
I would give it a 3.5 stars!
February 18, 2014
I received an ARC from the author for my Honest Review
So when Sarah was 16, her father cheated on her mother with another woman, and it broke both of their hearts. Now 22, Sarah still hates what her father has done and she doesn't really believe in love because of what her father has done, that is until she sees this very attractive guy at the train station. She and the man Malik went on a date that day and found out that they liked each other a lot. But then they both figure out something that could mess up their relationship and try to straighten out their future together.
Okay I really like this book, in the end it was like a mystery solving. It had lots of drama (which I love), and they were full of lust. It may have been lust at first sight, but then turned into love? I may work like that sometimes, but it can also become a failure. But I do like the story plot and the mysteries. I think that Sarah and Malik are good for each other. At first, I thought I liked Alyssa, even if she did have an affair with Sarah's dad, I thought that she was trying to be nice and have a good time with Sarah and her mom, but then when I figured out who this Alyssa really was, I just hated her! Haha. I kind of felt bad for Sarah's dad, but he did that to his ex-wife and needs to know what it feels like. But overall, this book was good.
So when Sarah was 16, her father cheated on her mother with another woman, and it broke both of their hearts. Now 22, Sarah still hates what her father has done and she doesn't really believe in love because of what her father has done, that is until she sees this very attractive guy at the train station. She and the man Malik went on a date that day and found out that they liked each other a lot. But then they both figure out something that could mess up their relationship and try to straighten out their future together.
Okay I really like this book, in the end it was like a mystery solving. It had lots of drama (which I love), and they were full of lust. It may have been lust at first sight, but then turned into love? I may work like that sometimes, but it can also become a failure. But I do like the story plot and the mysteries. I think that Sarah and Malik are good for each other. At first, I thought I liked Alyssa, even if she did have an affair with Sarah's dad, I thought that she was trying to be nice and have a good time with Sarah and her mom, but then when I figured out who this Alyssa really was, I just hated her! Haha. I kind of felt bad for Sarah's dad, but he did that to his ex-wife and needs to know what it feels like. But overall, this book was good.
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