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Cornerstone #1
Cornerstone
Nalena Maxwell has been branded ‘The Waste’ at her new school, due to her mom's obsessive paper hoarding. Nalena desperately wants something to change in her life, but when she receives a sign (and it's the wrong dang one) inviting her into a mysterious, ancient community, too much changes. What she knew of her family, what she thought of her life and what she believed about her future, is no longer applicable. Seventeen years worth of family skeletons come crashing into Nalena's life and it is the boy...the one that smiles at her like he wants to hear everything she'll ever say...that already knows her powerful secrets. But it is only Nalena that can choose between protecting the life that is already crumbling beneath her feet and the one that might sacrifice everything she could ever have.
230 pages, ebook
First published November 7, 2011
481 people are currently reading
2656 people want to read
About the author
Misty Provencher
38 books333 followersMisty Provencher offers readers a shelf full of stories to enjoy.
Writing under Misty Provencher, her young adult genres include stories dealing in fantasy, including magic, sci-fi, vampires, shifters, and dark fantasy.
Writing under Misty Paquette, adult readers will enjoy contemporary beach-read romances, based-on-true event stories, a romantic 80s mystery, and even a sci-fantasy.
While Provencher can ride a motorcycle, knows how to Karate chop, and has learned enough French, Spanish, and Sign Language to get herself slapped, Misty's life is dedicated to connecting with, and understanding, the people who cross her path. She is totally enchanted with the world and spends her days trying to translate her everyday muses into words.
Misty Provencher lives in the Mitten. Knock on her internet blog door at www.mistyprovencherauthor.com and wherever great coffee is sold.
Writing under Misty Provencher, her young adult genres include stories dealing in fantasy, including magic, sci-fi, vampires, shifters, and dark fantasy.
Writing under Misty Paquette, adult readers will enjoy contemporary beach-read romances, based-on-true event stories, a romantic 80s mystery, and even a sci-fantasy.
While Provencher can ride a motorcycle, knows how to Karate chop, and has learned enough French, Spanish, and Sign Language to get herself slapped, Misty's life is dedicated to connecting with, and understanding, the people who cross her path. She is totally enchanted with the world and spends her days trying to translate her everyday muses into words.
Misty Provencher lives in the Mitten. Knock on her internet blog door at www.mistyprovencherauthor.com and wherever great coffee is sold.
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April 21, 2013
This review is for the first three books in the Cornerstone series:
You know how there are indie authors who, by all rights, should be superstars? I heard that they have a secret club and that Misty Provencher is their club president. Her Cornerstone series is the most original YA I’ve read in a long time. YES! You read that right. The. Most. Original. And in a genre that is in desperate need of originality.
The Cornerstone series has been getting a lot of positive reviews, but I honestly didn’t expect to lose two nights of sleep over it, and yet I found myself fully awake at 4 am holding a cup of tea in one hand and gripping my Kindle with the other. I almost squeezed the life out of my poor Ferguson. Cornerstone, then Keystone, then Jamb, all in less than two days. Every time I dared to think that it couldn’t get any better, Misty Provencher took things a step further.
Looking back, out of the three books, Cornerstone seems to be the weakest link. Provencher didn’t rush her worldbuilding or character building in the first book, which was later repaid with the sheer brilliance of Keystone and Jamb. Her worldbuilding is, admittedly, of the sink-or-swim variety, but that is my favorite kind if the new information is timed right. I was able to discover the community alongside Nalena, and the way in which Provencher did it achieved two important goals: first, she eased me into an extremely complicated, multi-layered world; and second, the confusion I occasionally felt matched Nalena’s confusion, and that made it easier for me to identify with her and like her all the more.
Truth be told, Nalena and I didn’t get along at first. She appeared to be weak and tended to get dizzy and faint a lot, and her ability to stand up for herself left a lot to be desired. I’m afraid I have very little patience for delicate flowers and it seemed that Nalena would be just the type of character I can’t stand. But as the story progressed, she found her footing and she slowly became a different person altogether. This was perhaps most evident in her relationship with Garrett. She never allowed him to take over her life (not that he ever tried to), choosing to question her feelings and build her independence instead. Their relationship is a beautiful, mature thing, something we don’t get to see often enough. Instead of losing themselves in each other, Garrett and Nalena found a way to function as two individuals who happen to be together. The difference is subtle, but it’s present in every decision they make.
With two characters like Nalena and Garrett and a complex, ever-expanding world, a lesser author would probably neglect the secondary characters, but Misty Provencher did the exact opposite. Garrett’s family, Addo Larry, other Alos and Contegos, each of them will become your best friend by the time you’re done with the first two books. In am fully invested in each of these characters and every time something happens to one of them, I lose a small piece of my heart.
Of course none of these books is without editing issues. Homophones are often misused (their instead of they’re and so on), but if that’s the price I have to pay for such a wonderful read, I’m happy to pretend not to notice. I’m sure these will be smoothed out in time anyway since Misty seems to be an author who approaches her work with utter seriousness and professionalism.
Cornerstone is now $0.99 for Kindle. I recommend getting a copy as soon as you can, it is quite possibly the best buy you’ll ever make. My 4.5 star rating is for the entire series: there were a few things I wasn’t happy with (the cliffhanger at the end of Jamb bothered me most of all), but there were also several breathtaking, unforgettable five-star moments.
You know how there are indie authors who, by all rights, should be superstars? I heard that they have a secret club and that Misty Provencher is their club president. Her Cornerstone series is the most original YA I’ve read in a long time. YES! You read that right. The. Most. Original. And in a genre that is in desperate need of originality.
The Cornerstone series has been getting a lot of positive reviews, but I honestly didn’t expect to lose two nights of sleep over it, and yet I found myself fully awake at 4 am holding a cup of tea in one hand and gripping my Kindle with the other. I almost squeezed the life out of my poor Ferguson. Cornerstone, then Keystone, then Jamb, all in less than two days. Every time I dared to think that it couldn’t get any better, Misty Provencher took things a step further.
Looking back, out of the three books, Cornerstone seems to be the weakest link. Provencher didn’t rush her worldbuilding or character building in the first book, which was later repaid with the sheer brilliance of Keystone and Jamb. Her worldbuilding is, admittedly, of the sink-or-swim variety, but that is my favorite kind if the new information is timed right. I was able to discover the community alongside Nalena, and the way in which Provencher did it achieved two important goals: first, she eased me into an extremely complicated, multi-layered world; and second, the confusion I occasionally felt matched Nalena’s confusion, and that made it easier for me to identify with her and like her all the more.
Truth be told, Nalena and I didn’t get along at first. She appeared to be weak and tended to get dizzy and faint a lot, and her ability to stand up for herself left a lot to be desired. I’m afraid I have very little patience for delicate flowers and it seemed that Nalena would be just the type of character I can’t stand. But as the story progressed, she found her footing and she slowly became a different person altogether. This was perhaps most evident in her relationship with Garrett. She never allowed him to take over her life (not that he ever tried to), choosing to question her feelings and build her independence instead. Their relationship is a beautiful, mature thing, something we don’t get to see often enough. Instead of losing themselves in each other, Garrett and Nalena found a way to function as two individuals who happen to be together. The difference is subtle, but it’s present in every decision they make.
With two characters like Nalena and Garrett and a complex, ever-expanding world, a lesser author would probably neglect the secondary characters, but Misty Provencher did the exact opposite. Garrett’s family, Addo Larry, other Alos and Contegos, each of them will become your best friend by the time you’re done with the first two books. In am fully invested in each of these characters and every time something happens to one of them, I lose a small piece of my heart.
Of course none of these books is without editing issues. Homophones are often misused (their instead of they’re and so on), but if that’s the price I have to pay for such a wonderful read, I’m happy to pretend not to notice. I’m sure these will be smoothed out in time anyway since Misty seems to be an author who approaches her work with utter seriousness and professionalism.
Cornerstone is now $0.99 for Kindle. I recommend getting a copy as soon as you can, it is quite possibly the best buy you’ll ever make. My 4.5 star rating is for the entire series: there were a few things I wasn’t happy with (the cliffhanger at the end of Jamb bothered me most of all), but there were also several breathtaking, unforgettable five-star moments.
December 22, 2011
WOW! I "won" this book from Misty herself on Twitter. I had no idea what it was about, only that it was a new YA series. I am *SO* glad I read this!
It's the story of Naleena Maxwell (Nali) who is an outcast in her school. Her mother is a paper hoarder/writer who never finishes a story. Or so we (and Nali) think. This is just the cover for a much deeper story. Somehow, our heroine manages to snag the attention of the most popular and attractive guy at school, Garrett. And let me say, there weren't boys like that when I was in school! WHEW! LOL. After a few incidents, we learn the truth about Nali's mother, Garrett, and Nali herself. She then has to decide whether she wants to live a normal life or step in to fulfill her destiny.
Once I started this book, I couldn't stop reading. I found myself salivating for more. I wanted to know everything immediately! And Garrett.... oh, I swoon! Edward Who? He is the guy we all dream about and then some. I think I found myself a new fictional crush. He's protective, but not stifling. He lets Nali take care of herself and helps only when necessary. Once we finally learn the truth about Nali and her mother, you obviously know which choice will be made. The ending had me saddened. I expected one outcome, but was surprised by another. Misty left me hanging!! I am so looking forward to "Keystone", book two!
It's the story of Naleena Maxwell (Nali) who is an outcast in her school. Her mother is a paper hoarder/writer who never finishes a story. Or so we (and Nali) think. This is just the cover for a much deeper story. Somehow, our heroine manages to snag the attention of the most popular and attractive guy at school, Garrett. And let me say, there weren't boys like that when I was in school! WHEW! LOL. After a few incidents, we learn the truth about Nali's mother, Garrett, and Nali herself. She then has to decide whether she wants to live a normal life or step in to fulfill her destiny.
Once I started this book, I couldn't stop reading. I found myself salivating for more. I wanted to know everything immediately! And Garrett.... oh, I swoon! Edward Who? He is the guy we all dream about and then some. I think I found myself a new fictional crush. He's protective, but not stifling. He lets Nali take care of herself and helps only when necessary. Once we finally learn the truth about Nali and her mother, you obviously know which choice will be made. The ending had me saddened. I expected one outcome, but was surprised by another. Misty left me hanging!! I am so looking forward to "Keystone", book two!
June 6, 2012
Five Stars: This is an indie book that you must read!
Nalena walks home from school. She shifts her heavy backpack on her shoulder as she struggles to balance the three reams of paper in her other hand. She detests paper day. Every week she stops at the office supply store to pick up three packs of paper for her mother. Despite the fact that her home is filled with stacks and stacks of paper. Everywhere you look, including the oven and the furniture there are piles of papers. Nalena hates that her mother hoards paper, but she can't say no to her, either. Her mother is her rock and together they face the world and weather the storm. Even when they lost their home due the stacks of paper, they managed. Even though the paper hoarding has earned her the nickname "The Waste" at school, Nalena loves her mother and stands by her side. At night, Nalena goes to the library to study. It is the only place where she can spread out and be free from the paper. She is all settled at her quiet, hidden away table when a handsome boy approaches and sits down. She expects that he is there waiting for someone. He refuses to leave despite her repeated requests.
The next night he is back. On a return trip from the bathroom, she hears Garrett arguing with the pretty head cheerleader, Jen. She admonishes him for hanging out with "The Waste", but he refuses to listen and even defends Nali. Nali can't take it anymore. She flees the library leaving her things behind. In the darkened woods without her flashlight, she loses her way. A hand clamps onto her in the woods and a man in a mask tries to attack her. He strikes her arm and pain envelopes her. Suddenly, Garrett is there, rescuing her. Garrett rushes her home to get her mom and then they head to the hospital. Soon Nalena's view of the world comes crashing down as she learns that her mother has been keeping some big, important secrets, and that there may be more to the paper than meaningless scribbles. What is the purpose of the paper?
What I Liked:
*I love finding fantastic indie books. I know it often feels like trying to find a needle in the haystack, but when you do find one that astounds you, it makes the search worth the time. Cornerstone is one of those magical finds. If you like indie books, read this one. You won't be disappointed, especially since you can get a copy on Amazon right now for $.99. This book will amaze you. Not to mention it is properly edited and you would never know it was a self pubbed book. Truly, I can't imagine a publisher not wanting to snatch this one up.
*I was blown away by this book. It starts out focusing on Nalena and her mother's paper hoarding. Once Garrett shows up and Nalena is attacked, the book takes a big turn and the story heads in a completely new direction that surprised me. I was expecting to read a book about a girl suffering from the endless ridicule because of her mother's habit and what I got was a riveting read with an interesting paranormal twist. I had no idea the book would take such an interesting direction. I was completely glued to this book!
*Garrett, ladies let me tell you if you are looking for a swoon worthy adorable male lead, Garrett is it! He is absolutely wonderful. Not only did I love Garrett, I also adored his brothers, especially Sean. I found it particularly funny that at Garrett's house there are four hot boys so at their house, the phone is always ringing and the girls are often too shy to speak, so the boys have a funny, unique way to answer the phone.
*Toward the end of the story, a guru type gentleman is introduced known as the Addo. This guy is exactly the opposite of what you would expect from a wise old man. He wears sweats, tube socks and sandals, and eats an exorbitant amount of cookies, while giving his own brand of sage advice. I loved this character.
*This book has one of those romances that keeps you guessing, it is a slow builder filled with sparks and tension and when it finally blooms it is magic. If you are tired of insta-love and love triangles you will enjoy this one.
And The Not So Much:
*I have very few criticisms for this book. I only wished that I had a better grasp on the secret society. How big and widespread is it? Has it always existed? Are people only born into it or can they be recruited? I wanted to know a bit more about the other types of people besides the Contego, the Alo and the Addo.
*I was curious as to why all the records by the Alo were recorded on paper instead of computer and what happened to all the information? Did it just stay in storage? I needed just a touch more clarification on this.
If you are in a bit of a reading rut and you are looking hungrily for something exciting, I highly recommend Cornerstone. It is a book that has an imaginative an unexpected storyline, along with terrific characters. The secondary characters are just as engaging as the protagonists. The ideas presented in this book left my head spinning. I can hardly wait to dive into book two. Go get a copy of this right now on Amazon will you can still snatch it up for $.99!
Favorite Quotations:
"My dad's just a frozen smile in a brushed-brass frame on our living room wall."
"The windows are only covered with a film of milky dust and the porch is as rickety as an old man's mouth."
"Maybe the only things he hears about is the stuff that directly concerns him, like cheerleader breeding rituals or soccer stats."
"I try to listen to them talk. I'd like to hear every word that Garrett says, but my thoughts drift like feathers in a fan."
"His touch is a color. Indigo. It is more gentle than the fluid sky of his eyes and warmer than the midnight ink of his hair."
"I wait with the ache deepening every second that the heat of his mouth scribbles across my cheek."
"Following rumors with the truth is like having a banana split for dinner and broccoli for dessert."
"The music begins with the muted chords of a guitar; the beat as deep and dark as shadows."
"There's no way for Garrett to know that she's probably got enough padding her bra to stuff a mattress."
"His kiss kiss is a color too. Silver. Like raw wires held together until they explode in sparks."
Orginally posted @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/”
Nalena walks home from school. She shifts her heavy backpack on her shoulder as she struggles to balance the three reams of paper in her other hand. She detests paper day. Every week she stops at the office supply store to pick up three packs of paper for her mother. Despite the fact that her home is filled with stacks and stacks of paper. Everywhere you look, including the oven and the furniture there are piles of papers. Nalena hates that her mother hoards paper, but she can't say no to her, either. Her mother is her rock and together they face the world and weather the storm. Even when they lost their home due the stacks of paper, they managed. Even though the paper hoarding has earned her the nickname "The Waste" at school, Nalena loves her mother and stands by her side. At night, Nalena goes to the library to study. It is the only place where she can spread out and be free from the paper. She is all settled at her quiet, hidden away table when a handsome boy approaches and sits down. She expects that he is there waiting for someone. He refuses to leave despite her repeated requests.
The next night he is back. On a return trip from the bathroom, she hears Garrett arguing with the pretty head cheerleader, Jen. She admonishes him for hanging out with "The Waste", but he refuses to listen and even defends Nali. Nali can't take it anymore. She flees the library leaving her things behind. In the darkened woods without her flashlight, she loses her way. A hand clamps onto her in the woods and a man in a mask tries to attack her. He strikes her arm and pain envelopes her. Suddenly, Garrett is there, rescuing her. Garrett rushes her home to get her mom and then they head to the hospital. Soon Nalena's view of the world comes crashing down as she learns that her mother has been keeping some big, important secrets, and that there may be more to the paper than meaningless scribbles. What is the purpose of the paper?
What I Liked:
*I love finding fantastic indie books. I know it often feels like trying to find a needle in the haystack, but when you do find one that astounds you, it makes the search worth the time. Cornerstone is one of those magical finds. If you like indie books, read this one. You won't be disappointed, especially since you can get a copy on Amazon right now for $.99. This book will amaze you. Not to mention it is properly edited and you would never know it was a self pubbed book. Truly, I can't imagine a publisher not wanting to snatch this one up.
*I was blown away by this book. It starts out focusing on Nalena and her mother's paper hoarding. Once Garrett shows up and Nalena is attacked, the book takes a big turn and the story heads in a completely new direction that surprised me. I was expecting to read a book about a girl suffering from the endless ridicule because of her mother's habit and what I got was a riveting read with an interesting paranormal twist. I had no idea the book would take such an interesting direction. I was completely glued to this book!
*Garrett, ladies let me tell you if you are looking for a swoon worthy adorable male lead, Garrett is it! He is absolutely wonderful. Not only did I love Garrett, I also adored his brothers, especially Sean. I found it particularly funny that at Garrett's house there are four hot boys so at their house, the phone is always ringing and the girls are often too shy to speak, so the boys have a funny, unique way to answer the phone.
*Toward the end of the story, a guru type gentleman is introduced known as the Addo. This guy is exactly the opposite of what you would expect from a wise old man. He wears sweats, tube socks and sandals, and eats an exorbitant amount of cookies, while giving his own brand of sage advice. I loved this character.
*This book has one of those romances that keeps you guessing, it is a slow builder filled with sparks and tension and when it finally blooms it is magic. If you are tired of insta-love and love triangles you will enjoy this one.
And The Not So Much:
*I have very few criticisms for this book. I only wished that I had a better grasp on the secret society. How big and widespread is it? Has it always existed? Are people only born into it or can they be recruited? I wanted to know a bit more about the other types of people besides the Contego, the Alo and the Addo.
*I was curious as to why all the records by the Alo were recorded on paper instead of computer and what happened to all the information? Did it just stay in storage? I needed just a touch more clarification on this.
If you are in a bit of a reading rut and you are looking hungrily for something exciting, I highly recommend Cornerstone. It is a book that has an imaginative an unexpected storyline, along with terrific characters. The secondary characters are just as engaging as the protagonists. The ideas presented in this book left my head spinning. I can hardly wait to dive into book two. Go get a copy of this right now on Amazon will you can still snatch it up for $.99!
Favorite Quotations:
"My dad's just a frozen smile in a brushed-brass frame on our living room wall."
"The windows are only covered with a film of milky dust and the porch is as rickety as an old man's mouth."
"Maybe the only things he hears about is the stuff that directly concerns him, like cheerleader breeding rituals or soccer stats."
"I try to listen to them talk. I'd like to hear every word that Garrett says, but my thoughts drift like feathers in a fan."
"His touch is a color. Indigo. It is more gentle than the fluid sky of his eyes and warmer than the midnight ink of his hair."
"I wait with the ache deepening every second that the heat of his mouth scribbles across my cheek."
"Following rumors with the truth is like having a banana split for dinner and broccoli for dessert."
"The music begins with the muted chords of a guitar; the beat as deep and dark as shadows."
"There's no way for Garrett to know that she's probably got enough padding her bra to stuff a mattress."
"His kiss kiss is a color too. Silver. Like raw wires held together until they explode in sparks."
Orginally posted @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/”
August 8, 2012
I seriously, really enjoyed this book!
I've had so many people tell me to read it and finally had a minute to read, so I went for it. I'm so glad I did. The pacing was perfect, the dialogue was very believable and flowing, the Reese family is awesome! I loved them. The thought of having that many boys in one family (I have 2 of my own) makes me cringe, but they were an awesome family. I love it when books have good family values. And even all the crap that her mom did, whether is was warranted or not, she still loved and respected her and that was awesome, too.
And Garret. I loved him. I saw a couple other people say that they didn't like how he sat and watched all that stuff happen to her before, but he didn't know her. Once you understand the rules of their 'people' and everything, I really don't see how you can think badly of him. Especially at the lengths he goes to, once he does introduce himself, to rectify it all. He was a sweetheart and a half and I loved him.
I loved the heart wrenching moments. The look at school bullying is something I've written about myself and really appreciate when an author can put a message in her book. This poor girl.... The bad girl was so bad, the good guy was so good, the mom was so motherly and the girl was absolutely likable and lovable. I want to go to her high school and befriend her and ask her to introduce me to the oldest Reese boy, Sean. *wink*
Loved it!
5 swooning, aching, anxious stars from me!
I've had so many people tell me to read it and finally had a minute to read, so I went for it. I'm so glad I did. The pacing was perfect, the dialogue was very believable and flowing, the Reese family is awesome! I loved them. The thought of having that many boys in one family (I have 2 of my own) makes me cringe, but they were an awesome family. I love it when books have good family values. And even all the crap that her mom did, whether is was warranted or not, she still loved and respected her and that was awesome, too.
And Garret. I loved him. I saw a couple other people say that they didn't like how he sat and watched all that stuff happen to her before, but he didn't know her. Once you understand the rules of their 'people' and everything, I really don't see how you can think badly of him. Especially at the lengths he goes to, once he does introduce himself, to rectify it all. He was a sweetheart and a half and I loved him.
I loved the heart wrenching moments. The look at school bullying is something I've written about myself and really appreciate when an author can put a message in her book. This poor girl.... The bad girl was so bad, the good guy was so good, the mom was so motherly and the girl was absolutely likable and lovable. I want to go to her high school and befriend her and ask her to introduce me to the oldest Reese boy, Sean. *wink*
Loved it!
5 swooning, aching, anxious stars from me!
July 7, 2013
3.5/5
Rare is the book that has me declaring it Highly Original (See the caps AND the bold font?!) Though CORNERSTONE is not free of flaws, the good outweigh the bad in this one, so much so that I’m urging people in search of a different sort of YA to pick this one up.
It’s her world that’s bound to impress. How it’s clothed in mystery as well as how we learn what is alongside her. Her learning is frustrating and slow and it's made even more FRUSTRATING by the people around her, But what is revealed: Man, dare I repeat it myself? Different!
That said there’s also the not-great standards of mean girls and popular boys. Plus sad girls and friends who aren’t really fiends. All that takes some of the shine from this away, but her world and the craziness it offers? Again: Different!
As an added bonus there’s the fact that the lead's a thinking one! I was LOVING her suspicion and her wariness of the change. ‘Till she wasn’t… because while she kept herself at a distance, there were other moments of her slipping up into typical YA mode, doing this drool-swoon thing that knocked her down from Awesome Lead to Less Awesome Lead in my estimation. *Sigh* So, my love for her is cut short by things going predictably, BUT all that’s made acceptable because the world here and what makes it special is original. I’ve yet to come across anything like this, and though not everything is made quite clear... I loved what I did get.
Rare is the book that has me declaring it Highly Original (See the caps AND the bold font?!) Though CORNERSTONE is not free of flaws, the good outweigh the bad in this one, so much so that I’m urging people in search of a different sort of YA to pick this one up.
It’s her world that’s bound to impress. How it’s clothed in mystery as well as how we learn what is alongside her. Her learning is frustrating and slow and it's made even more FRUSTRATING by the people around her, But what is revealed: Man, dare I repeat it myself? Different!
That said there’s also the not-great standards of mean girls and popular boys. Plus sad girls and friends who aren’t really fiends. All that takes some of the shine from this away, but her world and the craziness it offers? Again: Different!
As an added bonus there’s the fact that the lead's a thinking one! I was LOVING her suspicion and her wariness of the change. ‘Till she wasn’t… because while she kept herself at a distance, there were other moments of her slipping up into typical YA mode, doing this drool-swoon thing that knocked her down from Awesome Lead to Less Awesome Lead in my estimation. *Sigh* So, my love for her is cut short by things going predictably, BUT all that’s made acceptable because the world here and what makes it special is original. I’ve yet to come across anything like this, and though not everything is made quite clear... I loved what I did get.
July 21, 2014
This is a great book! Loved it! Had me guessing the whole time & I never wanted to put the book down!
I don't usually write reviews of more than a line or two, like above, but I feel differently for independently published books. So here's my pov. I have a hard time believing a publisher would deny this story, but so excited that Misty went it alone! This is true indie book & the story was not butchered into predictable plots that publishers are doing to a lot of books these days. Please remember to support indie authors & you will not be disappointed with this book!
I don't usually write reviews of more than a line or two, like above, but I feel differently for independently published books. So here's my pov. I have a hard time believing a publisher would deny this story, but so excited that Misty went it alone! This is true indie book & the story was not butchered into predictable plots that publishers are doing to a lot of books these days. Please remember to support indie authors & you will not be disappointed with this book!
September 23, 2012
MICHELLE'S REVIEW:
RATING: 5 GARRETT STARS WITH A SIDE ORDER OF SEAN
This book was an absolute GEM of a read. I LOVE reading an Indie author who writes a darn good book and this was a darn good book.
The Waste, is the nickname of our lead protagonist who is only seventeen years old, Nalena to her mum.
Nalena once a week picks up three reams of paper for her mum, who appears to be a hoarder in the extreme of paper piles, with her daily writing administrations filling their home.
We are talking serious fire hazard and break your neck hazard.
This story has a lot of layers and I simply loved this original tale. The Reese family are ALL awesome characters. Right down to six year old Iris. Mark, Brandon , Sean, who is the oldest ,and the gorgeous Garrett, make up the Reese boys.
Garrett is a book boyfriend , Team T-Shirt guy..... in spades. Sean is closing in for a near second. Mark and Brandon are jailbait, so they must be left alone until they are older.
Misty Provencher has injected wonderful originality and imagination into her tale of Nalena who is shunned by the kids at Simon Valley High after Jen visited her home and saw the state of it. Hence the nickname , The Waste.
The mysterious Garrett plonks himself down at Nalena’s study table in the library , a major WT?? for Nalena as nobody , especially a hot guy, ever sits at her table. She prefers to stay invisible......but that is all about to change.
When the hot guy starts giving The Waste lifts to school, and sitting with her, Jen and the school crowd don’t know what to make of it.
This story just kept evolving. It was awesome! Now I don’t want to give too much away as this is a GEM of a read and I want you to find out for yourselves. I do want to say that I loved all Misty’s characters, whether they were good or bad guys.
Addo is just this wonderful, wise,Yoda type character who.. ...well ,you have to read his dialogue. He is funny, and I just wanted to hug him, just a lovely character. Cookies!!
We learn so much more about Evangeline, Nalena’s mum, and I felt almost sorry for her and what she was compelled to do daily, and how tense she was if she ran out of paper. We aren’t talking OCD here.
Garrett and Nalena are just a match made , they really are. They just fit so well and they were meant to fit.
Sean, he is a babe too. He is the tea leaves reading brother. I know that boy has a book coming. Well, I don’t know, but I would hope he does. I think his character will connect with readers easily.
I want to explain the original thing Misty has in this story but I don’t want to spoil anything.
What I will say is, if you like Brigid Kemmerer’s writing and Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing, then you will like Misty Provencher’s writing.
No, this is not an Alien book, lol! But it is a very original idea Misty has , which makes me yell.... YAY!!!
I love how nice the Reese family is. Mark and Brandon will play Tea Party with Iris and Mr Boodles, even though they are way too old to be playing with Mr Boodles.
The story just keeps moving and the emotion is awesome and sad and awwwww, and eeeeeppp!! Everything weaves together nicely and you get a nice twist.
The bad girls are bad, and the only girl friend , sort of, Cora , that Nalena has, well she redeemed herself in my eyes in the end. Nalena was just this invisible student who stayed under the radar as much as she could, until........
This book introduced us to the characters and the ???? which I loved!!! I can’t wait to receive my paperback copy of Keystone and crack it open to read more Garrett and the whole thing of the thing that I can’t tell you about.
I may even rugby tackle my post man, I am rather grabby , grabby for Keystone.
Misty has a delightfully delicious recipe in this YA book. Humor, action, layers to the story and characters, gorgeous characters, emotion and originality. Visually I loved how Misty made me ‘feel’ when Nalena was learning about ‘stuff’ and the spinning etc, was very ‘cool’ to read. I was there!
That is how I felt.
This author deserves to be published :D
FAVE QUOTE:
When the phone rings, I stop cutting to watch Sean pick up the phone. I wait for him to glance at me, to say something familiar that would mean it is my mom on the other end. Instead, there is a long pause after he says hello and then Sean grimaces.
“For Mark, press one.” he says and pauses. “For Brandon, press two.” Another pause. Then, he makes his voice as thick and silly as a talk show host. “For Sean, press three.” He does an extra long pause and then frowns. “For all other calls, hang up, because Garrett’s taken.” Pause.
“Hello? Anyone? C’mon, Heavy Breather, if you’re going to call, you at least have to press a number if you’re not going to talk.”
RATING: 5 GARRETT STARS WITH A SIDE ORDER OF SEAN
This book was an absolute GEM of a read. I LOVE reading an Indie author who writes a darn good book and this was a darn good book.
The Waste, is the nickname of our lead protagonist who is only seventeen years old, Nalena to her mum.
Nalena once a week picks up three reams of paper for her mum, who appears to be a hoarder in the extreme of paper piles, with her daily writing administrations filling their home.
We are talking serious fire hazard and break your neck hazard.
This story has a lot of layers and I simply loved this original tale. The Reese family are ALL awesome characters. Right down to six year old Iris. Mark, Brandon , Sean, who is the oldest ,and the gorgeous Garrett, make up the Reese boys.
Garrett is a book boyfriend , Team T-Shirt guy..... in spades. Sean is closing in for a near second. Mark and Brandon are jailbait, so they must be left alone until they are older.
Misty Provencher has injected wonderful originality and imagination into her tale of Nalena who is shunned by the kids at Simon Valley High after Jen visited her home and saw the state of it. Hence the nickname , The Waste.
The mysterious Garrett plonks himself down at Nalena’s study table in the library , a major WT?? for Nalena as nobody , especially a hot guy, ever sits at her table. She prefers to stay invisible......but that is all about to change.
When the hot guy starts giving The Waste lifts to school, and sitting with her, Jen and the school crowd don’t know what to make of it.
This story just kept evolving. It was awesome! Now I don’t want to give too much away as this is a GEM of a read and I want you to find out for yourselves. I do want to say that I loved all Misty’s characters, whether they were good or bad guys.
Addo is just this wonderful, wise,Yoda type character who.. ...well ,you have to read his dialogue. He is funny, and I just wanted to hug him, just a lovely character. Cookies!!
We learn so much more about Evangeline, Nalena’s mum, and I felt almost sorry for her and what she was compelled to do daily, and how tense she was if she ran out of paper. We aren’t talking OCD here.
Garrett and Nalena are just a match made , they really are. They just fit so well and they were meant to fit.
Sean, he is a babe too. He is the tea leaves reading brother. I know that boy has a book coming. Well, I don’t know, but I would hope he does. I think his character will connect with readers easily.
I want to explain the original thing Misty has in this story but I don’t want to spoil anything.
What I will say is, if you like Brigid Kemmerer’s writing and Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing, then you will like Misty Provencher’s writing.
No, this is not an Alien book, lol! But it is a very original idea Misty has , which makes me yell.... YAY!!!
I love how nice the Reese family is. Mark and Brandon will play Tea Party with Iris and Mr Boodles, even though they are way too old to be playing with Mr Boodles.
The story just keeps moving and the emotion is awesome and sad and awwwww, and eeeeeppp!! Everything weaves together nicely and you get a nice twist.
The bad girls are bad, and the only girl friend , sort of, Cora , that Nalena has, well she redeemed herself in my eyes in the end. Nalena was just this invisible student who stayed under the radar as much as she could, until........
This book introduced us to the characters and the ???? which I loved!!! I can’t wait to receive my paperback copy of Keystone and crack it open to read more Garrett and the whole thing of the thing that I can’t tell you about.
I may even rugby tackle my post man, I am rather grabby , grabby for Keystone.
Misty has a delightfully delicious recipe in this YA book. Humor, action, layers to the story and characters, gorgeous characters, emotion and originality. Visually I loved how Misty made me ‘feel’ when Nalena was learning about ‘stuff’ and the spinning etc, was very ‘cool’ to read. I was there!
That is how I felt.
This author deserves to be published :D
FAVE QUOTE:
When the phone rings, I stop cutting to watch Sean pick up the phone. I wait for him to glance at me, to say something familiar that would mean it is my mom on the other end. Instead, there is a long pause after he says hello and then Sean grimaces.
“For Mark, press one.” he says and pauses. “For Brandon, press two.” Another pause. Then, he makes his voice as thick and silly as a talk show host. “For Sean, press three.” He does an extra long pause and then frowns. “For all other calls, hang up, because Garrett’s taken.” Pause.
“Hello? Anyone? C’mon, Heavy Breather, if you’re going to call, you at least have to press a number if you’re not going to talk.”
November 28, 2011
When the book first starts out, it’s Nalena explaining her mom's hoarding addiction to paper and not finishing stories. All her mom does is write out a character and plots pretty much. And it’s gotten so out of control they have to rent out storage units to put all the paper. It’s really heartbreaking what Nalena goes through at home and at school. Once someone saw all the paper when unexpectantly showing up at her house, the whole school knew about it the next day....calling her The Waste. So when Garrett starts showing interest in Nalena at the library one night, she thinks either A) he obviously doesn’t know she is the school’s outcast or B) it’s all a joke. But one night after being attacked in the woods, secrets start emerging surrounding not only her family but Garrett’s family as well. Nalena must now make a choice on which path to take; the ‘safe’Simple Life path or one that could lead her straight into the enemies’ snare.
First of all, I just want to say how much I adore this book. So awesomely well written, I flew through the first half, only to pace myself as it got closer to the end. Cause with the end, comes waiting for the next book. AND.I.HATE.WAITING! But loved the characters, especially the whole Reese family. Garrett is adorable, funny, and absolutely scrumptious. (Ok cougar moment over). Would love to see more Sean in the future books. *cough* Could totally see a spin-off staring Garrett’s older brother *cough* And even though Nali came off as weak at first, it didn’t take long for her to become one kick butt character. But though there were times I wanted to shake/slap/yell at Garrett and Nali for not seeing what us readers could obviously see between them, I enjoyed the pace the story took in letting them find their way to each other.
Please, please go read this awesome first book to what is most definitely going to be an awesome series.
First of all, I just want to say how much I adore this book. So awesomely well written, I flew through the first half, only to pace myself as it got closer to the end. Cause with the end, comes waiting for the next book. AND.I.HATE.WAITING! But loved the characters, especially the whole Reese family. Garrett is adorable, funny, and absolutely scrumptious. (Ok cougar moment over). Would love to see more Sean in the future books. *cough* Could totally see a spin-off staring Garrett’s older brother *cough* And even though Nali came off as weak at first, it didn’t take long for her to become one kick butt character. But though there were times I wanted to shake/slap/yell at Garrett and Nali for not seeing what us readers could obviously see between them, I enjoyed the pace the story took in letting them find their way to each other.
Please, please go read this awesome first book to what is most definitely going to be an awesome series.
June 6, 2012
Nalena is known as The Waste at school, because of her mother’s bizarre obsession with paper. But Nalena’s life gets a whole lot more bizarre when she receives a sign that she isn’t who she thinks she is. Neither is her mother. And that knowledge is going to change everything.
I loved Cornerstone. Seriously. Why? 1) While there are familiar elements in common with many other teen paranormal romance stories, there are also a lot of original ideas and unique characters. 2) Nalena is no wallflower. While she is head over heels for Garrett, she won’t take any nonsense and gives as good as she gets. 3) Misty Provencher writes beautifully, and the editing is pretty good too. The pace was great. There was a good balance between budding romance, mystery, tension and adrenalin filled scenes. 4) I like the message that fear weakens us. As Nalena is instructed: Don’t bring fear into the fight. Overall: highly recommend this.
I loved Cornerstone. Seriously. Why? 1) While there are familiar elements in common with many other teen paranormal romance stories, there are also a lot of original ideas and unique characters. 2) Nalena is no wallflower. While she is head over heels for Garrett, she won’t take any nonsense and gives as good as she gets. 3) Misty Provencher writes beautifully, and the editing is pretty good too. The pace was great. There was a good balance between budding romance, mystery, tension and adrenalin filled scenes. 4) I like the message that fear weakens us. As Nalena is instructed: Don’t bring fear into the fight. Overall: highly recommend this.
July 14, 2012
My goal has been to try to read more self published books this year but it's not always easy because I've tried to read quite a few that were horrible (mostly terrible editing) and I've read a lot that were good, but not quite amazing. I haven't read that many that totally blew my mind and this one did that. Totally and completely. Cornerstone had me riveted from page one as we are introduced to Nalena and her mother and her mothers paper hoarding. I immediately found this fascinating and I felt this was a clue to the future of the book. Especially when I learned that what her mother writes all over these papers is peoples names and something about them. To Nalena these are characters that her mother has come up with for stories that she never writes. And her mother keeps these stacks of papers everywhere, even in the oven (unplugged of course). And she does this writing compulsively all day long. She doesn't work, she doesn't do anything but write. While this could be a compulsive disorder I immediately knew there was more to it.
The story sucked me and held me the entire way through but don't expect to get answers right away. I suppose I grew frustrated because I needed to know more so badly but it wasn't really a bad thing either. I enjoyed the journey of getting to know Nalena and her mother as well as Garrett and his large and very quirky family. Clues are everywhere as you continue through the story and piecing them together was slow going but yet a fantastic ride. And the answers when they came were fantastic because this was a very unique take on something paranormal-like without really feeling paranormal. I don't know what else to call it though... But there's not a vampire, zombie or a werewolf in sight.
I thought that the romance might be insta-love but it wasn't! It was instant attraction but Nalena has a bit of a low self esteem and really doesn't believe that Garrett could ever like her. Garrett is different from other boys though and doesn't care one wit about what people think of him. He takes Nalena under his wing and while it appears that they are 'together' to the general population of the school, they aren't quite... not really. I loved all interaction with these two because the vibe between them is strong and Garrett just has this personality that you can't help but be drawn to. He's so hard to explain but he was so easy to 'get' as I was reading. He's not a bad boy, but he's not a 'goodie two shoes' either. One thing I can say is that he's so dreamy... He actually kind of reminds me a bit of Cricket in Lola and the Boy Next Door. Just personality wise as he didn't dress like him.
Oh, and I have to mention, editing in this one was perfect! If there were mistakes of any sort I didn't happen to notice them (which doesn't mean they weren't there, but they must have not been very obvious). This is also a clean read. There's kissing but that's about it. I don't recall any cursing.
I highly recommend this to YA readers as well as adult readers who are eager for something a bit different. Something paranormal-like but yet not really paranormal.
I must also note that I see this book has all high ratings. Right now I'm not seeing one review with less then 4 stars. As a reviewer I prefer to see a variety of ratings as it concerns me that maybe all the reviewers are family or friends of the author. I honestly have to give this one 5 stars because I loved it so much. Yes, it's not a completely perfect book, but because it captured me so completely and had me entranced the entire time I just can't give it less. But I purchased this book and had no prior contact with the author. It wasn't until I read it that I start corresponding with her just because I loved it so much and wanted to tell her so. My review is in no way biased, this is my complete honest opinion of the book and my guess is that the high ratings are because of the awesome'ness of the book. So you better get on reading it cause you're missing out!
You can find this review and others like it at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
The story sucked me and held me the entire way through but don't expect to get answers right away. I suppose I grew frustrated because I needed to know more so badly but it wasn't really a bad thing either. I enjoyed the journey of getting to know Nalena and her mother as well as Garrett and his large and very quirky family. Clues are everywhere as you continue through the story and piecing them together was slow going but yet a fantastic ride. And the answers when they came were fantastic because this was a very unique take on something paranormal-like without really feeling paranormal. I don't know what else to call it though... But there's not a vampire, zombie or a werewolf in sight.
I thought that the romance might be insta-love but it wasn't! It was instant attraction but Nalena has a bit of a low self esteem and really doesn't believe that Garrett could ever like her. Garrett is different from other boys though and doesn't care one wit about what people think of him. He takes Nalena under his wing and while it appears that they are 'together' to the general population of the school, they aren't quite... not really. I loved all interaction with these two because the vibe between them is strong and Garrett just has this personality that you can't help but be drawn to. He's so hard to explain but he was so easy to 'get' as I was reading. He's not a bad boy, but he's not a 'goodie two shoes' either. One thing I can say is that he's so dreamy... He actually kind of reminds me a bit of Cricket in Lola and the Boy Next Door. Just personality wise as he didn't dress like him.
Oh, and I have to mention, editing in this one was perfect! If there were mistakes of any sort I didn't happen to notice them (which doesn't mean they weren't there, but they must have not been very obvious). This is also a clean read. There's kissing but that's about it. I don't recall any cursing.
I highly recommend this to YA readers as well as adult readers who are eager for something a bit different. Something paranormal-like but yet not really paranormal.
I must also note that I see this book has all high ratings. Right now I'm not seeing one review with less then 4 stars. As a reviewer I prefer to see a variety of ratings as it concerns me that maybe all the reviewers are family or friends of the author. I honestly have to give this one 5 stars because I loved it so much. Yes, it's not a completely perfect book, but because it captured me so completely and had me entranced the entire time I just can't give it less. But I purchased this book and had no prior contact with the author. It wasn't until I read it that I start corresponding with her just because I loved it so much and wanted to tell her so. My review is in no way biased, this is my complete honest opinion of the book and my guess is that the high ratings are because of the awesome'ness of the book. So you better get on reading it cause you're missing out!
You can find this review and others like it at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
September 11, 2012
I am so grateful to Misty for allowing me to be a part of this Blog Tour. I have to say that I love reading Indie books. There is such a rawness to it that draws you in and you can't put the book down. To me there is no censorship and I love that! Well enough blabbing on.
Nelena is a girl who is just trying to fit in at school. She is called names because her mother is a little quirky and collects papers and writes names and stuff all over them. Kids can be cruel and cruel they are to Nelena but she loves her mother and stands by her. Then one day Nelena meets a new boy Garrett and things start to change for them. Nelena finds out she is something different and her family has kept secrets from her that will change the course of her life.
In Cornerstone Misty brings out so many things that come together to make an epic story for me. I loved how Garrett helped Nelena out with the decision that could make or break her. I loved how the family secrets were kept for the safety of Nelena. Come along for the most magical ride where secrets are unraveled and revealed and when the dust settles who will be left standing. This book is a must read and when you start it make sure everything is done because you will ignore things to finish this book. You will want to see where it goes. I am looking forward to book two Keystone.
Nelena is a girl who is just trying to fit in at school. She is called names because her mother is a little quirky and collects papers and writes names and stuff all over them. Kids can be cruel and cruel they are to Nelena but she loves her mother and stands by her. Then one day Nelena meets a new boy Garrett and things start to change for them. Nelena finds out she is something different and her family has kept secrets from her that will change the course of her life.
In Cornerstone Misty brings out so many things that come together to make an epic story for me. I loved how Garrett helped Nelena out with the decision that could make or break her. I loved how the family secrets were kept for the safety of Nelena. Come along for the most magical ride where secrets are unraveled and revealed and when the dust settles who will be left standing. This book is a must read and when you start it make sure everything is done because you will ignore things to finish this book. You will want to see where it goes. I am looking forward to book two Keystone.
November 29, 2011
Cornerstone is a Must Read
I was totally captivated with this book. This story about a 17year old girl named Nalena pulled at my heart. Nalena is an outcast in High School. She's been raised by a single Mom that spends every waking moment writing what Nalena thinks are unfinished plot lines. Her Mom Evangeline can't throw out any of the pages she writes. It has cost Nalena her home, financial security and worst of all it's the reason she was given the nickname The Waste at school. When her Mom finally starts to trust Nalena with her families history she wishes having a Mom that hoards paper was her biggest problem.
There are lots of characters to love in this story. I fell in love with Garrett right along with Nalena. The supernatural community in the story was different and easy to accept. I couldn't put the book down. I really look forward to the next book in the series. Congratulations to the author Misty Provencher for creating an amazing story and for her determination to get it published on her own.
I was totally captivated with this book. This story about a 17year old girl named Nalena pulled at my heart. Nalena is an outcast in High School. She's been raised by a single Mom that spends every waking moment writing what Nalena thinks are unfinished plot lines. Her Mom Evangeline can't throw out any of the pages she writes. It has cost Nalena her home, financial security and worst of all it's the reason she was given the nickname The Waste at school. When her Mom finally starts to trust Nalena with her families history she wishes having a Mom that hoards paper was her biggest problem.
There are lots of characters to love in this story. I fell in love with Garrett right along with Nalena. The supernatural community in the story was different and easy to accept. I couldn't put the book down. I really look forward to the next book in the series. Congratulations to the author Misty Provencher for creating an amazing story and for her determination to get it published on her own.
May 6, 2016
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3.5 stars -- I've had this book on my TBR pile for YEARS it feels like. I'd heard good things, and since she's going to be an author at Utopia this year (again), I wanted to read it before then! I ended up with mixed feelings about this book. There were aspects that I adored and totally sucked me in, but there were also quite a few aspects that just rubbed me the wrong way.... And even with this higher rating, I highly doubt I will continue on with the series...I just have way too much to read, and so my standards have shifted, you know?
I found Nalena to be very intriguing from the beginning. I tend to gravitate towards main characters with self-esteem issues (the bullied in this case), and so my heart ached for her and her precarious situation at school brought on by her mother's paper hoarding. The problem is that she could be hard to get behind all the time. Sometimes the way she saw her crush on Garrett had me cringing internally, and that's a me problem all the way. She just flip flopped in her emotions so much it was giving me whiplash. Now, quite frankly, this is probably pretty accurate for a 17 year old...but I guess I've lost my memories of those times, so it was so hard to empathize with her. One minute she's agonizing b/c he can't possibly feel the same way, and the next she's reacting with amazing amounts of hope from the slightest grin from him. It just didn't work for me personally. It's funny though, b/c I would start to sympathize with her and get a good feel for her and what kind of character I would be reading, and then it just felt like there was a 180, so it probably aggravated me more than it normally would.
Garrett was intriguing. I kind of loved him and his whole chaotic family. I loved how happy and smiling he always was. I loved watching the siblings fight like real siblings would. I loved just how gregarious they all could be. I kind of wanted more from the romance department there, but I'm sure I would get more if I continued with the series.
I can't decide how I feel about Nali's mother. It's such a strange situation that they're in. Because of who she is and what she does and what her role is in this paranormal world, there is an excuse for the paper hoarding. But because she kept that all from Nali, she kind of let her unnecessarily suffer for it, you know? And I kind of get her reasons, but it's hard. So I'm just a big old ball of conflict when it comes to her.
As for the the paranormal aspects -- it was amazingly unique. But at times I had a hard time following it and keeping up with all I was being told. Now maybe it was just that I wasn't in the right mode for such a detailed world, but I still don't really feel like I "got" all of it, you know? And sometimes the descriptions for what was happening to Nali (like her first description of the bubble I guess) just weren't enough for me. I just honestly could not picture it in my head. Again, this could be just me. I'm not going to lay this at others feet if I just wasn't having good brain time, you know? I will say I loved Addo Larry though. He killed me.
So all in all, I was sucked in to the book, but there were just too many moments of confusion to have me clamouring for the next one. And quite frankly, I just have too many other books to read to keep going on a book that left me feeling downs as well as ups.
3.5 stars -- I've had this book on my TBR pile for YEARS it feels like. I'd heard good things, and since she's going to be an author at Utopia this year (again), I wanted to read it before then! I ended up with mixed feelings about this book. There were aspects that I adored and totally sucked me in, but there were also quite a few aspects that just rubbed me the wrong way.... And even with this higher rating, I highly doubt I will continue on with the series...I just have way too much to read, and so my standards have shifted, you know?
I found Nalena to be very intriguing from the beginning. I tend to gravitate towards main characters with self-esteem issues (the bullied in this case), and so my heart ached for her and her precarious situation at school brought on by her mother's paper hoarding. The problem is that she could be hard to get behind all the time. Sometimes the way she saw her crush on Garrett had me cringing internally, and that's a me problem all the way. She just flip flopped in her emotions so much it was giving me whiplash. Now, quite frankly, this is probably pretty accurate for a 17 year old...but I guess I've lost my memories of those times, so it was so hard to empathize with her. One minute she's agonizing b/c he can't possibly feel the same way, and the next she's reacting with amazing amounts of hope from the slightest grin from him. It just didn't work for me personally. It's funny though, b/c I would start to sympathize with her and get a good feel for her and what kind of character I would be reading, and then it just felt like there was a 180, so it probably aggravated me more than it normally would.
Garrett was intriguing. I kind of loved him and his whole chaotic family. I loved how happy and smiling he always was. I loved watching the siblings fight like real siblings would. I loved just how gregarious they all could be. I kind of wanted more from the romance department there, but I'm sure I would get more if I continued with the series.
I can't decide how I feel about Nali's mother. It's such a strange situation that they're in. Because of who she is and what she does and what her role is in this paranormal world, there is an excuse for the paper hoarding. But because she kept that all from Nali, she kind of let her unnecessarily suffer for it, you know? And I kind of get her reasons, but it's hard. So I'm just a big old ball of conflict when it comes to her.
As for the the paranormal aspects -- it was amazingly unique. But at times I had a hard time following it and keeping up with all I was being told. Now maybe it was just that I wasn't in the right mode for such a detailed world, but I still don't really feel like I "got" all of it, you know? And sometimes the descriptions for what was happening to Nali (like her first description of the bubble I guess) just weren't enough for me. I just honestly could not picture it in my head. Again, this could be just me. I'm not going to lay this at others feet if I just wasn't having good brain time, you know? I will say I loved Addo Larry though. He killed me.
So all in all, I was sucked in to the book, but there were just too many moments of confusion to have me clamouring for the next one. And quite frankly, I just have too many other books to read to keep going on a book that left me feeling downs as well as ups.
September 1, 2016
I bought this book knowing nothing about it except for what Misty herself had posted on her blog... and what others were tweeting about it. After posting several chapters, she decided to self-publish and I rushed to buy it.
I got hooked at the first chapter. All those tweets were right - this is a uniquely compelling story.
Teen Nalena Maxwell has a tough life. Her mother is nuts and her dad is totally out of the picture. Because her mother hoards paper, everyone at school calls her The Waste. The paper is EVERYWHERE. Nalena has even learned to eat meals balanced on her lap because every inch of their home holds her mother's stories.
The problem is, they're never finished. And no matter how hard Nalena begs, her mother has never finished a single one and worse, refuses to tell Nalena why.
The story begins with typical teenage angsty issues - Mom's an embarrassment, nobody likes her, etc., etc., until Garrett starts showing up at the library where Nalena well - hides. Lucky for her, as it turns out. Nalena is injured and requires protection. From Garrett. Fasten your seatbelts!
This story is beautifully written with an almost lyrical quality. The characters are so compelling and by the end, you'll BEG for book 2.
I am.
I got hooked at the first chapter. All those tweets were right - this is a uniquely compelling story.
Teen Nalena Maxwell has a tough life. Her mother is nuts and her dad is totally out of the picture. Because her mother hoards paper, everyone at school calls her The Waste. The paper is EVERYWHERE. Nalena has even learned to eat meals balanced on her lap because every inch of their home holds her mother's stories.
The problem is, they're never finished. And no matter how hard Nalena begs, her mother has never finished a single one and worse, refuses to tell Nalena why.
The story begins with typical teenage angsty issues - Mom's an embarrassment, nobody likes her, etc., etc., until Garrett starts showing up at the library where Nalena well - hides. Lucky for her, as it turns out. Nalena is injured and requires protection. From Garrett. Fasten your seatbelts!
This story is beautifully written with an almost lyrical quality. The characters are so compelling and by the end, you'll BEG for book 2.
I am.
May 19, 2013
This was so different from other YA books I have read. I really loved the concept. What a great idea. I was immediately drawn in and loved the characters. I was so confused about what the heck was going on through most of the book. Just when I think all the secrets are revealed there are more. My heart really went out to Nalena. I mean her mom is a hoarder and the terrible nickname that the kids at school call her (The Waste) just broke my heart for her.
But this wasn't what I thought it would be about it turned out to be so much more. Then we meet Garrett. And because of what Nalena goes through at school I was suspicious of Garrett in the beginning. But In the end I ended up loving the Reece family. But the ending... oh man really?? I just was hurting for everybody. The one thing I was kinda expecting but the other I wasn't. The only thing I wish was that there was more of a defined moment to describe what Garrett and Nalena are together, because you never got that. It was more of her wishing and hoping and him pulling her close and then backing away. Also Garrett's POV would have been great. I need the next book asap.
But this wasn't what I thought it would be about it turned out to be so much more. Then we meet Garrett. And because of what Nalena goes through at school I was suspicious of Garrett in the beginning. But In the end I ended up loving the Reece family. But the ending... oh man really?? I just was hurting for everybody. The one thing I was kinda expecting but the other I wasn't. The only thing I wish was that there was more of a defined moment to describe what Garrett and Nalena are together, because you never got that. It was more of her wishing and hoping and him pulling her close and then backing away. Also Garrett's POV would have been great. I need the next book asap.
May 10, 2012
While I enjoyed the concept, the pacing, and the main characters, this story would have benefited from professional editing. Dialogue is often incorrectly punctuated, and the author uses some awfully jarring similes ("the porch is as rickety as an old man's mouth"; "the room grows as warm as a kangaroo pouch"). There are several instances of homophone confusion and random typos as well. That said, this is worth checking out if you're looking for a YA paranormal read, especially if you're looking for budget-friendly books for your Kindle.
June 30, 2015
The story is very unique and interesting so I definitely was able to read this very quickly and enjoyed it. I was a bit iffy with the insta-love. Maybe they're infatuated with each other but not in love. They hardly know anything about each other but they each state at the other like they hung the moon. Also, it's one of those books that the author decides to just end at the point and start the next book at the same point. Like they just cut it in half to make two books. The book just leaves you hanging and feeling incomplete. the plot just got started and the book just ends.
August 1, 2015
Interesting story with a few minor things I didn't care for and there were a couple surprises in the story that I didn't expect. The characters were nice, but still it was just an okay read for me...can't really explain why except that it didn't wow me. :/
April 18, 2013
This book is an absolute gem! In a category that is riddled with stale old stereotypes and eye-rolling cringe worthy characterizations, Cornerstone reads like fresh flower growing in a spring morning. While I don't think the concepts are new (and really there isn't truly any new concept in the world anymore), somehow the way it's presented and written makes it extremely fresh. It has some flaws so my actual rating is closer to 3.5 than 4 BUT given that this is a indie self-published book I decided to rate it a 4 because more people seriously NEED to read this book.
If I had to describe the book it would be a WAY BETTER written version of Twilight. HAHAHHAHA no seriously, the romance in here is written a lot better (although it has the same tropes like drop dead gorgeous guy chasing a socially awkward girl, bullying because she's dating said gorgeous guy, etc... I could go on and on) and the world building for this is actually so much better (no it doesn't have vampires but it involves an ancient community).
The book starts off with just a brief introduction to Nalena and her mother's hoarding condition. Then it puts you right into the action and you have no clue as to what is going on (just like the main character herself) in the hands of a less skilled author, this could have ended up as a disaster but Misty Provencher dangles enough 'carrots' to keep the reader going on. This really kept the pace of the book going and I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know more about their world.
Speaking of which, the writing is very top notch which is highly impressive given that this is a self-published Indie book. Although there are some grammatical errors strewn throughout (like the infamous than vs then or their vs they're) but I can live with those things (Grammar Nazis be warned though!). The writing style reads like a contemporary YA fiction but the plot itself is actually more urban paranormal. I thought that was quite an interesting contrast and it reminded me a lot of Bridge to Terabithia. I guess it's because the contemporary elements play equal weight in developing the character (like how the main character has to deal with bullying from cheerleaders).
I also really like the characterization, Nalena (the MC) initially starts off quite docile and weak willed but I can understand where she's coming from as children are cruel and getting bullied does that to you. I really love how there's tremendous character growth in her but still at a realistic pace. She's still a bit apprehensive (socially awkward as well) but at the same time there's a quiet strength in her towards the end that wasn't present before. I really love how realistic the growth was and it makes me sympathize with her character even more.
I also love the Reese's! They're so fun and each of them are fully fleshed out and have such clear characterization I can see them in my head as real people. I use to know a family that had that many siblings and it reminded me of my time with them.
Now the only thing that I didn't like as much was the romance. While there were some parts that were extremely sweet and swoon worthy, there were some parts I felt that moved along a little too fast and some actions that were so cliche had it been written by a less skilled author I would have been rolling my eyes but somehow Misty makes palatable. The cliche stuff would be popular boy falls in love with social outcast girl, protecting her name and honor, saving her several times and the dreaded insta-love thingy (omg it sounds like Twilight right?!). Thankfully the insta-love is mostly on Garrett's part and I'm glad Nalena didn't head dive into it (she acknowledges the physical attraction but doesn't kid herself that she's in 'love' with Garrett). I still don't get how Garrett could have fallen so quickly in love with Nalena and I can't help but feel this nagging feeling that he has some kind of ulterior motive.
Garrett is also a strange character, he has some really swoon worthy knight in shinning armor moments and when you first are introduced he seems like genuinely nice and sweet guy. Then you get to know him a little better and he proceeds to exhibit some chauvinistic and immature tendencies. Like for example he simply introduces Nalena as his GF somewhere along the book (without consulting her) and always makes assumptions in their romance (and in a really smug way too) and seems to think that she's equally as head over heels as he is. Sorry Garrett as lovable as you are, you still need to work it ok! Then he throws a semi-hissy fit when Nalena clearly chooses her mother over him. It's all very strange because genuinely he is a nice guy but I suppose it makes Garrett real because he has these flaws? I'm very curious to see if there's any purpose to give him these character ticks and if they will play a bigger role in the upcoming books.
Overall a very great start to what appears to be a very intriguing series. I've been told that the 2nd and 3rd books are a lot more polished so I can't imagine what they'd be like if the first book is all ready pretty good.
It's going for 0.99 cents on Amazon, so whatcha waiting for! Get it!!!! :)
If I had to describe the book it would be a WAY BETTER written version of Twilight. HAHAHHAHA no seriously, the romance in here is written a lot better (although it has the same tropes like drop dead gorgeous guy chasing a socially awkward girl, bullying because she's dating said gorgeous guy, etc... I could go on and on) and the world building for this is actually so much better (no it doesn't have vampires but it involves an ancient community).
The book starts off with just a brief introduction to Nalena and her mother's hoarding condition. Then it puts you right into the action and you have no clue as to what is going on (just like the main character herself) in the hands of a less skilled author, this could have ended up as a disaster but Misty Provencher dangles enough 'carrots' to keep the reader going on. This really kept the pace of the book going and I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know more about their world.
Speaking of which, the writing is very top notch which is highly impressive given that this is a self-published Indie book. Although there are some grammatical errors strewn throughout (like the infamous than vs then or their vs they're) but I can live with those things (Grammar Nazis be warned though!). The writing style reads like a contemporary YA fiction but the plot itself is actually more urban paranormal. I thought that was quite an interesting contrast and it reminded me a lot of Bridge to Terabithia. I guess it's because the contemporary elements play equal weight in developing the character (like how the main character has to deal with bullying from cheerleaders).
I also really like the characterization, Nalena (the MC) initially starts off quite docile and weak willed but I can understand where she's coming from as children are cruel and getting bullied does that to you. I really love how there's tremendous character growth in her but still at a realistic pace. She's still a bit apprehensive (socially awkward as well) but at the same time there's a quiet strength in her towards the end that wasn't present before. I really love how realistic the growth was and it makes me sympathize with her character even more.
I also love the Reese's! They're so fun and each of them are fully fleshed out and have such clear characterization I can see them in my head as real people. I use to know a family that had that many siblings and it reminded me of my time with them.
Now the only thing that I didn't like as much was the romance. While there were some parts that were extremely sweet and swoon worthy, there were some parts I felt that moved along a little too fast and some actions that were so cliche had it been written by a less skilled author I would have been rolling my eyes but somehow Misty makes palatable. The cliche stuff would be popular boy falls in love with social outcast girl, protecting her name and honor, saving her several times and the dreaded insta-love thingy (omg it sounds like Twilight right?!). Thankfully the insta-love is mostly on Garrett's part and I'm glad Nalena didn't head dive into it (she acknowledges the physical attraction but doesn't kid herself that she's in 'love' with Garrett). I still don't get how Garrett could have fallen so quickly in love with Nalena and I can't help but feel this nagging feeling that he has some kind of ulterior motive.
Garrett is also a strange character, he has some really swoon worthy knight in shinning armor moments and when you first are introduced he seems like genuinely nice and sweet guy. Then you get to know him a little better and he proceeds to exhibit some chauvinistic and immature tendencies. Like for example he simply introduces Nalena as his GF somewhere along the book (without consulting her) and always makes assumptions in their romance (and in a really smug way too) and seems to think that she's equally as head over heels as he is. Sorry Garrett as lovable as you are, you still need to work it ok! Then he throws a semi-hissy fit when Nalena clearly chooses her mother over him. It's all very strange because genuinely he is a nice guy but I suppose it makes Garrett real because he has these flaws? I'm very curious to see if there's any purpose to give him these character ticks and if they will play a bigger role in the upcoming books.
Overall a very great start to what appears to be a very intriguing series. I've been told that the 2nd and 3rd books are a lot more polished so I can't imagine what they'd be like if the first book is all ready pretty good.
It's going for 0.99 cents on Amazon, so whatcha waiting for! Get it!!!! :)
September 13, 2012
RATING: 5 GARRETT STARS WITH A SIDE ORDER OF SEAN
This book was an absolute GEM of a read. I LOVE reading an Indie author who writes a darn good book and this was a darn good book.
The Waste, is the nickname of our lead protagonist who is only seventeen years old, Nalena to her mum.
Nalena once a week picks up three reams of paper for her mum, who appears to be a hoarder in the extreme of paper piles, with her daily writing administrations filling their home.
We are talking serious fire hazard and break your neck hazard.
This story has a lot of layers and I simply loved this original tale. The Reese family are ALL awesome characters. Right down to six year old Iris. Mark, Brandon , Sean, who is the oldest ,and the gorgeous Garrett, make up the Reese boys.
Garrett is a book boyfriend , Team T-Shirt guy..... in spades. Sean is closing in for a near second. Mark and Brandon are jailbait, so they must be left alone until they are older.
Misty Provencher has injected wonderful originality and imagination into her tale of Nalena who is shunned by the kids at Simon Valley High after Jen visited her home and saw the state of it. Hence the nickname , The Waste.
The mysterious Garrett plonks himself down at Nalena’s study table in the library , a major WT?? for Nalena as nobody , especially a hot guy, ever sits at her table. She prefers to stay invisible......but that is all about to change.
When the hot guy starts giving The Waste lifts to school, and sitting with her, Jen and the school crowd don’t know what to make of it.
This story just kept evolving. It was awesome! Now I don’t want to give too much away as this is a GEM of a read and I want you to find out for yourselves. I do want to say that I loved all Misty’s characters, whether they were good or bad guys.
Addo is just this wonderful, wise,Yoda type character who.. ...well ,you have to read his dialogue. He is funny, and I just wanted to hug him, just a lovely character. Cookies!!
We learn so much more about Evangeline, Nalena’s mum, and I felt almost sorry for her and what she was compelled to do daily, and how tense she was if she ran out of paper. We aren’t talking OCD here.
Garrett and Nalena are just a match made , they really are. They just fit so well and they were meant to fit.
Sean, he is a babe too. He is the tea leaves reading brother. I know that boy has a book coming. Well, I don’t know, but I would hope he does. I think his character will connect with readers easily.
I want to explain the original thing Misty has in this story but I don’t want to spoil anything.
What I will say is, if you like Brigid Kemmerer’s writing and Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing, then you will like Misty Provencher’s writing.
No, this is not an Alien book, lol! But it is a very original idea Misty has , which makes me yell.... YAY!!!
I love how nice the Reese family is. Mark and Brandon will play Tea Party with Iris and Mr Boodles, even though they are way too old to be playing with Mr Boodles.
The story just keeps moving and the emotion is awesome and sad and awwwww, and eeeeeppp!! Everything weaves together nicely and you get a nice twist.
The bad girls are bad, and the only girl friend , sort of, Cora , that Nalena has, well she redeemed herself in my eyes in the end. Nalena was just this invisible student who stayed under the radar as much as she could, until........
This book introduced us to the characters and the ???? which I loved!!! I can’t wait to receive my paperback copy of Keystone and crack it open to read more Garrett and the whole thing of the thing that I can’t tell you about.
I may even rugby tackle my post man, I am rather grabby , grabby for Keystone.
Misty has a delightfully delicious recipe in this YA book. Humor, action, layers to the story and characters, gorgeous characters, emotion and originality. Visually I loved how Misty made me ‘feel’ when Nalena was learning about ‘stuff’ and the spinning etc, was very ‘cool’ to read. I was there!
That is how I felt.
This author deserves to be published :D
FAVE QUOTE:
When the phone rings, I stop cutting to watch Sean pick up the phone. I wait for him to glance at me, to say something familiar that would mean it is my mom on the other end. Instead, there is a long pause after he says hello and then Sean grimaces.
“For Mark, press one.” he says and pauses. “For Brandon, press two.” Another pause. Then, he makes his voice as thick and silly as a talk show host. “For Sean, press three.” He does an extra long pause and then frowns. “For all other calls, hang up, because Garrett’s taken.” Pause.
“Hello? Anyone? C’mon, Heavy Breather, if you’re going to call, you at least have to press a number if you’re not going to talk.”
This book was an absolute GEM of a read. I LOVE reading an Indie author who writes a darn good book and this was a darn good book.
The Waste, is the nickname of our lead protagonist who is only seventeen years old, Nalena to her mum.
Nalena once a week picks up three reams of paper for her mum, who appears to be a hoarder in the extreme of paper piles, with her daily writing administrations filling their home.
We are talking serious fire hazard and break your neck hazard.
This story has a lot of layers and I simply loved this original tale. The Reese family are ALL awesome characters. Right down to six year old Iris. Mark, Brandon , Sean, who is the oldest ,and the gorgeous Garrett, make up the Reese boys.
Garrett is a book boyfriend , Team T-Shirt guy..... in spades. Sean is closing in for a near second. Mark and Brandon are jailbait, so they must be left alone until they are older.
Misty Provencher has injected wonderful originality and imagination into her tale of Nalena who is shunned by the kids at Simon Valley High after Jen visited her home and saw the state of it. Hence the nickname , The Waste.
The mysterious Garrett plonks himself down at Nalena’s study table in the library , a major WT?? for Nalena as nobody , especially a hot guy, ever sits at her table. She prefers to stay invisible......but that is all about to change.
When the hot guy starts giving The Waste lifts to school, and sitting with her, Jen and the school crowd don’t know what to make of it.
This story just kept evolving. It was awesome! Now I don’t want to give too much away as this is a GEM of a read and I want you to find out for yourselves. I do want to say that I loved all Misty’s characters, whether they were good or bad guys.
Addo is just this wonderful, wise,Yoda type character who.. ...well ,you have to read his dialogue. He is funny, and I just wanted to hug him, just a lovely character. Cookies!!
We learn so much more about Evangeline, Nalena’s mum, and I felt almost sorry for her and what she was compelled to do daily, and how tense she was if she ran out of paper. We aren’t talking OCD here.
Garrett and Nalena are just a match made , they really are. They just fit so well and they were meant to fit.
Sean, he is a babe too. He is the tea leaves reading brother. I know that boy has a book coming. Well, I don’t know, but I would hope he does. I think his character will connect with readers easily.
I want to explain the original thing Misty has in this story but I don’t want to spoil anything.
What I will say is, if you like Brigid Kemmerer’s writing and Jennifer L. Armentrout’s writing, then you will like Misty Provencher’s writing.
No, this is not an Alien book, lol! But it is a very original idea Misty has , which makes me yell.... YAY!!!
I love how nice the Reese family is. Mark and Brandon will play Tea Party with Iris and Mr Boodles, even though they are way too old to be playing with Mr Boodles.
The story just keeps moving and the emotion is awesome and sad and awwwww, and eeeeeppp!! Everything weaves together nicely and you get a nice twist.
The bad girls are bad, and the only girl friend , sort of, Cora , that Nalena has, well she redeemed herself in my eyes in the end. Nalena was just this invisible student who stayed under the radar as much as she could, until........
This book introduced us to the characters and the ???? which I loved!!! I can’t wait to receive my paperback copy of Keystone and crack it open to read more Garrett and the whole thing of the thing that I can’t tell you about.
I may even rugby tackle my post man, I am rather grabby , grabby for Keystone.
Misty has a delightfully delicious recipe in this YA book. Humor, action, layers to the story and characters, gorgeous characters, emotion and originality. Visually I loved how Misty made me ‘feel’ when Nalena was learning about ‘stuff’ and the spinning etc, was very ‘cool’ to read. I was there!
That is how I felt.
This author deserves to be published :D
FAVE QUOTE:
When the phone rings, I stop cutting to watch Sean pick up the phone. I wait for him to glance at me, to say something familiar that would mean it is my mom on the other end. Instead, there is a long pause after he says hello and then Sean grimaces.
“For Mark, press one.” he says and pauses. “For Brandon, press two.” Another pause. Then, he makes his voice as thick and silly as a talk show host. “For Sean, press three.” He does an extra long pause and then frowns. “For all other calls, hang up, because Garrett’s taken.” Pause.
“Hello? Anyone? C’mon, Heavy Breather, if you’re going to call, you at least have to press a number if you’re not going to talk.”
March 8, 2013
(Source: Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk.)
17-year-old Nali lives with her mom who is a paper hoarder. Every few days Nali has to stop at the office supply shop to pick up 1500 sheets of paper, which her mother then fills with random sentences, and stacks up in their house. There’s hardly any space to even walk around their home now, and everyone at school makes fun of Nali for this.
When Nali is attacked near the library one night, and ends up with a broken arm, she is rescued by Garrett, a popular boy at school, but one who seems to have an interest in her. It seems that the attack wasn’t random though, and Nali is soon about to find out that there is more to her life, and Garrett’s life than she ever realised.
What has Nali’s mother been hiding from her her entire life? Why does she scribble random things on pieces of paper? What do Garrett and his family have to do with it? And who was the man who attacked her in the woods?
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but it certainly wasn’t what I got.
I know people may think me nuts for doing this, but sometimes when I’ve been recommended a book loads, I don’t read the blurb, because I don’t want to spoil a book that so many people have recommended to me because they loved it.
Cornerstone was one of these books. So many people have recommended this to me, I’ve seen people tweeting about it, it’s turned up in ‘best of 2012’ lists, it was one of my book club’s monthly reads, and it was even free on kindle. Looking at the cover of this one I thought it was an adult book, and that it probably has something to do with sand, hieroglyphics, ancient powers, a bit of mystery, something along those lines, but it wasn’t any of those things. Time for a cover change? Maybe.
So, onto the story. I’m not really sure what to make of the story. The beginning of the story felt like a contemporary romance, but then we started to get odd paranormal elements, and I just wasn’t sure it flowed well from one to the other.
Nali’s ‘powers’ were interesting, and I don’t think I’ve come across a similar idea before. I liked that she had this ‘bubble’ thing, and how fear circumvented her powers, I just wasn’t really sure how she was going to use these powers. Other than running fast and dodging stones that people threw at her, I didn’t think that her powers were all that impressive, although these may continue to grow as she is trained?
I did like the romance between Nali and Garrett, although there wasn’t really enough of it for me. Garrett was an okay character, but I really thought that the communication between the two could have been improved upon. I’m getting really sick of these relationships where people go totally off the deep end over a misunderstanding. I really wish people would just talk to each other!
Nali and Garrett totally had this problem. Garrett would say one thing, and Nali would take it completely the wrong way, and go off with totally the wrong impression of him.
Nali seems to be really good at not listening to all of a story though, she hears something, interprets it her own way, and comes to completely the wrong conclusion every time. So annoying. I wanted to just grab hold of her by the shoulders, give her a good shake, and tell her to stop for a minute, listen, and give people time to explain themselves!
There were a few things in this story that made it unique – the cornerstone for instance, and I thought the idea of having a choice over whether or not you wanted to be part of the whole thing was pretty good, although I thought that choosing not to be involved would be the more difficult option in the long run.
There were a couple of twists at the end of this story, I can’t say that I saw them coming, I don’t think I was really invested enough in the story to guess what was coming next, and although they were a surprise, I can’t say I was really all that impressed. I think more than anything I was just pleased that I had gotten to the end.
Maybe it’s just the mood I’m in currently, but the whole thing was just ‘okay’ for me. I can’t say that I really want to read the sequel either.
Overall; a YA paranormal, with some unique touches, but only okay for me.
6 out of 10.
17-year-old Nali lives with her mom who is a paper hoarder. Every few days Nali has to stop at the office supply shop to pick up 1500 sheets of paper, which her mother then fills with random sentences, and stacks up in their house. There’s hardly any space to even walk around their home now, and everyone at school makes fun of Nali for this.
When Nali is attacked near the library one night, and ends up with a broken arm, she is rescued by Garrett, a popular boy at school, but one who seems to have an interest in her. It seems that the attack wasn’t random though, and Nali is soon about to find out that there is more to her life, and Garrett’s life than she ever realised.
What has Nali’s mother been hiding from her her entire life? Why does she scribble random things on pieces of paper? What do Garrett and his family have to do with it? And who was the man who attacked her in the woods?
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but it certainly wasn’t what I got.
I know people may think me nuts for doing this, but sometimes when I’ve been recommended a book loads, I don’t read the blurb, because I don’t want to spoil a book that so many people have recommended to me because they loved it.
Cornerstone was one of these books. So many people have recommended this to me, I’ve seen people tweeting about it, it’s turned up in ‘best of 2012’ lists, it was one of my book club’s monthly reads, and it was even free on kindle. Looking at the cover of this one I thought it was an adult book, and that it probably has something to do with sand, hieroglyphics, ancient powers, a bit of mystery, something along those lines, but it wasn’t any of those things. Time for a cover change? Maybe.
So, onto the story. I’m not really sure what to make of the story. The beginning of the story felt like a contemporary romance, but then we started to get odd paranormal elements, and I just wasn’t sure it flowed well from one to the other.
Nali’s ‘powers’ were interesting, and I don’t think I’ve come across a similar idea before. I liked that she had this ‘bubble’ thing, and how fear circumvented her powers, I just wasn’t really sure how she was going to use these powers. Other than running fast and dodging stones that people threw at her, I didn’t think that her powers were all that impressive, although these may continue to grow as she is trained?
I did like the romance between Nali and Garrett, although there wasn’t really enough of it for me. Garrett was an okay character, but I really thought that the communication between the two could have been improved upon. I’m getting really sick of these relationships where people go totally off the deep end over a misunderstanding. I really wish people would just talk to each other!
Nali and Garrett totally had this problem. Garrett would say one thing, and Nali would take it completely the wrong way, and go off with totally the wrong impression of him.
Nali seems to be really good at not listening to all of a story though, she hears something, interprets it her own way, and comes to completely the wrong conclusion every time. So annoying. I wanted to just grab hold of her by the shoulders, give her a good shake, and tell her to stop for a minute, listen, and give people time to explain themselves!
There were a few things in this story that made it unique – the cornerstone for instance, and I thought the idea of having a choice over whether or not you wanted to be part of the whole thing was pretty good, although I thought that choosing not to be involved would be the more difficult option in the long run.
There were a couple of twists at the end of this story, I can’t say that I saw them coming, I don’t think I was really invested enough in the story to guess what was coming next, and although they were a surprise, I can’t say I was really all that impressed. I think more than anything I was just pleased that I had gotten to the end.
Maybe it’s just the mood I’m in currently, but the whole thing was just ‘okay’ for me. I can’t say that I really want to read the sequel either.
Overall; a YA paranormal, with some unique touches, but only okay for me.
6 out of 10.
April 11, 2013
I didn’t know it was in a paranormal genre when I first started read it. (Yes, I didn’t read the synopsis.) I thought it was contemporary until I reached the part where Nalena saw rings and bubble and she wasn’t inside her own skin anymore. She was standing beside her body and watching her own face. I didn’t prepare to enter a paranormal world so I was perplexed for a while.
I really enjoyed the first half. I know that most paranormal books where the main characters aren’t aware of a supernatural world always being kept in the dark and everything will be reveal along the story. So I waited. Hoping that when it was time for the explanation of this world build, I’d finally understand it.
Unfortunately, it was really vague. And It wasn’t convincing. The structure of the storyline wasn’t strong enough to support the whole book it made me confused and frustrated the whole second half. Like when Garrett said that Sean could fortune telling from tea leaves; he looked at their cups and saw a sign for Contego in both cups. Then everyone seemed to be able to see it. So what was the big deal with that?
I found the writing style was hard to concentrate on sometimes. I quite didn’t understand the babbling Nalena often did. To me, It didn’t make sense. And also some metaphors that I’ve never came across before. Like, “His mouth tastes like citrus.” I didn’t even know what does citrus mean. Why citrus?
I was frustrated with Nalena’s mom. She knew that Nalena had trouble at school because of her paper hoarding. The least she could do was tell Nalena the truth. Not just let her daughter suffer through it by herself. And when Nalena knew the truth, her mom expected Nalena to decide what path of the life she wanted to choose. She was like, just knew the truth yesterday, and her mom wanted her to choose tomorrow. Or how her mom kept telling her that the decision wasn’t up to her mom but Nalena herself. But in the end her mom wasn’t happy with Nalena’s choice. Nalena had to ask her to support her decision.
When Addo told Nalena she needed to come early the next morning and with a good spirit. I thought it was just another metaphor, but no. He literally meant a spirit. So, aside from telepathy now they could summon a spirit? Oh, I didn’t mention about telepathy before. Nalena suddenly could talk mind to mind with Addo when she came to see him. Later, her mom and Garrett seemed to have that ability, too.
One of the impression processes was holding the Cornerstone in a palm for 3 days. Nalena already had the cast on the one arm. (Which I just found out at the very moment that it was her right arm. Now I was curious how she got things done so far with her left hand. Because Nalena implied that she couldn’t use her casted arm and hand smoothly.) Didn't it occur to anyone, who supposed to know this process, that Nalena already couldn't use her right hand effectively, strapping a rock up to her other hand would disable her from using both of her hands. Yeah, it was cute when Garrett feed her, but I couldn’t help thinking how can she use a toilet or take a bath? What about the school? Was she going to skip 3 more days? Why didn't they wait until she removed her cast? Did she really have to do it now? There was no mention of the duration when she needed to do it.
After the impression, Nalena told her mom she was going to leave with Garrett. She seemed like she didn't even care what her daughter was going to go with a guy she said that she shouldn't be with. She was so caught up with her old friends. But when her mom arrived home, Nalena was already got passed the pain process. She was all sorry that she didn't be there for her. Hah, she supposed to know the process, but still she seemed didn't care much about her daughter when she left.
This part at almost the end was my last straw;
All in all, Great idea but bad storytelling.
I really enjoyed the first half. I know that most paranormal books where the main characters aren’t aware of a supernatural world always being kept in the dark and everything will be reveal along the story. So I waited. Hoping that when it was time for the explanation of this world build, I’d finally understand it.
Unfortunately, it was really vague. And It wasn’t convincing. The structure of the storyline wasn’t strong enough to support the whole book it made me confused and frustrated the whole second half. Like when Garrett said that Sean could fortune telling from tea leaves; he looked at their cups and saw a sign for Contego in both cups. Then everyone seemed to be able to see it. So what was the big deal with that?
I found the writing style was hard to concentrate on sometimes. I quite didn’t understand the babbling Nalena often did. To me, It didn’t make sense. And also some metaphors that I’ve never came across before. Like, “His mouth tastes like citrus.” I didn’t even know what does citrus mean. Why citrus?
I was frustrated with Nalena’s mom. She knew that Nalena had trouble at school because of her paper hoarding. The least she could do was tell Nalena the truth. Not just let her daughter suffer through it by herself. And when Nalena knew the truth, her mom expected Nalena to decide what path of the life she wanted to choose. She was like, just knew the truth yesterday, and her mom wanted her to choose tomorrow. Or how her mom kept telling her that the decision wasn’t up to her mom but Nalena herself. But in the end her mom wasn’t happy with Nalena’s choice. Nalena had to ask her to support her decision.
When Addo told Nalena she needed to come early the next morning and with a good spirit. I thought it was just another metaphor, but no. He literally meant a spirit. So, aside from telepathy now they could summon a spirit? Oh, I didn’t mention about telepathy before. Nalena suddenly could talk mind to mind with Addo when she came to see him. Later, her mom and Garrett seemed to have that ability, too.
One of the impression processes was holding the Cornerstone in a palm for 3 days. Nalena already had the cast on the one arm. (Which I just found out at the very moment that it was her right arm. Now I was curious how she got things done so far with her left hand. Because Nalena implied that she couldn’t use her casted arm and hand smoothly.) Didn't it occur to anyone, who supposed to know this process, that Nalena already couldn't use her right hand effectively, strapping a rock up to her other hand would disable her from using both of her hands. Yeah, it was cute when Garrett feed her, but I couldn’t help thinking how can she use a toilet or take a bath? What about the school? Was she going to skip 3 more days? Why didn't they wait until she removed her cast? Did she really have to do it now? There was no mention of the duration when she needed to do it.
After the impression, Nalena told her mom she was going to leave with Garrett. She seemed like she didn't even care what her daughter was going to go with a guy she said that she shouldn't be with. She was so caught up with her old friends. But when her mom arrived home, Nalena was already got passed the pain process. She was all sorry that she didn't be there for her. Hah, she supposed to know the process, but still she seemed didn't care much about her daughter when she left.
This part at almost the end was my last straw;
All in all, Great idea but bad storytelling.
March 17, 2013
"I let myself think, I hope he loves me, and then I wonder if I’ve said it out loud. I try hard to remember if I’d formed the words with my lips. No. I didn’t. I’m sure I didn’t. I’m convinced of it, until he murmurs back, “Don’t worry. He does."
RECAP
Nalena Maxwell is used to being called "The Waste" at her high school because of her mothers obsession with paper. Every week Nali is obligated to lug home reams of paper for her mother to fill up and clutter her home with. Nali is ready for a change and for answers. Why doesn't her mother ever get passed one line of a story plot? Why can't she stop writing? And why is the hottest guy in school now paying attention to her?
When Garret Reese pushes into her life, Nali doesn't understand why he's paying her any mind and being so kind. After he saved her from a viscous attack Nali realizes that maybe he does care. But more importantly the question is how do his parents and her mother know each other?
When she finally gets answers to her questions Nali is about to realize that maybe some answers aren't meant to be revealed. Now she must make a choice...
Protect the people you love or turn your back on your destiny...
MY TAKE
So when I read this book as a bookclub read for this month and at first was hesitant. Honestly, the cover looked plain to me and so I wasn't too interested. I know...you shouldn't base a book by its cover. Sue me. :-) At the end I'm glad I gave this book a try. I was looking for a book that wasn't so predictable and this was just that.
Nali is kept in the dark about her mothers obsessive behavior and grows frustrated. She is constantly left in the dark throughout the book so I understood why she would be upset and why she would complain. I, however, thought that she jumped to conclusions too much and that she didn't take things seriously. She made irrational decisions without thinking things through. Especially when her decision was crucial. That was what frustrated me about her. And the consequences to her behavior were brutal.
Now the relationship between her and Garrett was almost non existence in this book. Not that there wasn't any but that its the friendship stage of any relationship. Nali is oblivious to Garrett's feelings and her own throughout the book. But don't get me wrong Garrett was a sweetheart! I enjoyed his parts in this and his kindness towards both Nali and her mother. I liked that he knew that he wanted to be a Contego (a warrior) in life and that just made him hot. :-) As well as I liked his relationship with his brothers and sister.
I have to mention the Reese family because they were incredible! The Reese family are all Contego (minus one) and they protect the other members of their "community". I won't go into details about this part because it will ruin the book. Any who, I enjoyed meeting them in this book and look forward to learning more about them...especially Sean. :-) I enjoyed the "system" they had for girl callers since the household was filled with four teenage guys.
Also present was the Addo and I liked his sense of humor and charismatic attitude. I can't wait to read more about this society that they live in and hopefully get some answers to some of MY questions about the other fractions in the society.
The action in this book really shows up at the end and it what I'm thinking the lead in to the other books in this series. The good guys underestimate the bad ones in this book but after the end of the book 1 they realize that they shouldn't have. It ends in sadness and I can' wait to read more.
BUY (I believe its free) this. READ it. ENJOY it!
HAPPY READING!
RECAP
Nalena Maxwell is used to being called "The Waste" at her high school because of her mothers obsession with paper. Every week Nali is obligated to lug home reams of paper for her mother to fill up and clutter her home with. Nali is ready for a change and for answers. Why doesn't her mother ever get passed one line of a story plot? Why can't she stop writing? And why is the hottest guy in school now paying attention to her?
When Garret Reese pushes into her life, Nali doesn't understand why he's paying her any mind and being so kind. After he saved her from a viscous attack Nali realizes that maybe he does care. But more importantly the question is how do his parents and her mother know each other?
When she finally gets answers to her questions Nali is about to realize that maybe some answers aren't meant to be revealed. Now she must make a choice...
Protect the people you love or turn your back on your destiny...
MY TAKE
So when I read this book as a bookclub read for this month and at first was hesitant. Honestly, the cover looked plain to me and so I wasn't too interested. I know...you shouldn't base a book by its cover. Sue me. :-) At the end I'm glad I gave this book a try. I was looking for a book that wasn't so predictable and this was just that.
Nali is kept in the dark about her mothers obsessive behavior and grows frustrated. She is constantly left in the dark throughout the book so I understood why she would be upset and why she would complain. I, however, thought that she jumped to conclusions too much and that she didn't take things seriously. She made irrational decisions without thinking things through. Especially when her decision was crucial. That was what frustrated me about her. And the consequences to her behavior were brutal.
Now the relationship between her and Garrett was almost non existence in this book. Not that there wasn't any but that its the friendship stage of any relationship. Nali is oblivious to Garrett's feelings and her own throughout the book. But don't get me wrong Garrett was a sweetheart! I enjoyed his parts in this and his kindness towards both Nali and her mother. I liked that he knew that he wanted to be a Contego (a warrior) in life and that just made him hot. :-) As well as I liked his relationship with his brothers and sister.
I have to mention the Reese family because they were incredible! The Reese family are all Contego (minus one) and they protect the other members of their "community". I won't go into details about this part because it will ruin the book. Any who, I enjoyed meeting them in this book and look forward to learning more about them...especially Sean. :-) I enjoyed the "system" they had for girl callers since the household was filled with four teenage guys.
Also present was the Addo and I liked his sense of humor and charismatic attitude. I can't wait to read more about this society that they live in and hopefully get some answers to some of MY questions about the other fractions in the society.
The action in this book really shows up at the end and it what I'm thinking the lead in to the other books in this series. The good guys underestimate the bad ones in this book but after the end of the book 1 they realize that they shouldn't have. It ends in sadness and I can' wait to read more.
BUY (I believe its free) this. READ it. ENJOY it!
HAPPY READING!
January 14, 2012
Intriguing start to a series. The story and the supernaturally society described had a positive message, and I'm looking forward to learning more about how the community functions and what it does. It was also clean, which is always a wonderful surprised in YA.
My hesitation with this book, however, has a lot to do with the characters. Minor spoilers throughout:
When the story begins, Nalena lives alone with her mother who is a paper horder. Their house is covered in piles of papers where her mother writes her ‘stories.’ All day, every day. As a result of this, they are poor and can barely pay their bills or put food on the table. Nalena is also ostracized and terribly bullied at school, which has left her with a near co-dependency on her mother and a low self-esteem. Thus I do sympathize with the struggles she goes through in the book to begin to stand up for herself, make her own decisions, and trust the people around her. Although we eventually find out more about her mother and why she is the way she is, I found myself rather annoyed at her throughout the book, especially in how she tries to influence Nalena. Then there’s Garrett the ‘hero’ of the story. He was sweet , stood up for Nalena and seemed to really care about her. However, I found myself wondering along with Nali where he was during the many years that she was bullied at school. Why he never said anything and only stood up for her now. Plus his previous association with Jen (the catalyist for Nali’s bullying) confused and angered me. I wanted him to explain himself to Nali a little better, and I’m not sure I’ve totally forgiven him for not doing anything for so long. I wanted to shake him and Nali at times, because it’s clear they care about each other, but they just kept misunderstanding and second guessing each other.
I was frustrated with her mother for isolating Nali and not telling her anything, leaving Nali feeling alone and worthless. Then for trying to force her daughter into a decision without giving her all the information she needed. I was frustrated with Garrett for not realizing that he needed to be the one to stand up and tell Nali how he feels, because she is so emotionally damaged that she doesn’t know who or what to believe. All her friends so far have turned out to be false so she second guesses everything, and I don’t think that he helps much. I was frustrated for Nali because no one tells her anything for so long, and she is left feeling lost and alone. I understand why she was so attached to her mother – because her mother was the only steady person in her life who seemed to care about her – but I didn’t agree with many decisions that her mother made, so I had a lot of trouble liking her. Also, her mother tries to guilt Nali into making the decision that she wants.
Although I sympathize with Nali the most in the story and get why she acts the way that she does, I found myself wanting to shake her at times and make her make a decision for herself for once.
I really hope that Nali gains a stronger support system in the next book, especially from Garrett. She needs someone that she trusts implicitly who has her best interests at heart. I think he wanted to be this, but does a poor job at showing her. They really need to sit down and have an honest conversation with each other, which hopefully, would clear up a lot of their issues.
Despite all this, I am eager to read the next installment in the series. I am looking forward to watching Nalena gain confidence and grow more into herself.
My hesitation with this book, however, has a lot to do with the characters. Minor spoilers throughout:
When the story begins, Nalena lives alone with her mother who is a paper horder. Their house is covered in piles of papers where her mother writes her ‘stories.’ All day, every day. As a result of this, they are poor and can barely pay their bills or put food on the table. Nalena is also ostracized and terribly bullied at school, which has left her with a near co-dependency on her mother and a low self-esteem. Thus I do sympathize with the struggles she goes through in the book to begin to stand up for herself, make her own decisions, and trust the people around her. Although we eventually find out more about her mother and why she is the way she is, I found myself rather annoyed at her throughout the book, especially in how she tries to influence Nalena. Then there’s Garrett the ‘hero’ of the story. He was sweet , stood up for Nalena and seemed to really care about her. However, I found myself wondering along with Nali where he was during the many years that she was bullied at school. Why he never said anything and only stood up for her now. Plus his previous association with Jen (the catalyist for Nali’s bullying) confused and angered me. I wanted him to explain himself to Nali a little better, and I’m not sure I’ve totally forgiven him for not doing anything for so long. I wanted to shake him and Nali at times, because it’s clear they care about each other, but they just kept misunderstanding and second guessing each other.
I was frustrated with her mother for isolating Nali and not telling her anything, leaving Nali feeling alone and worthless. Then for trying to force her daughter into a decision without giving her all the information she needed. I was frustrated with Garrett for not realizing that he needed to be the one to stand up and tell Nali how he feels, because she is so emotionally damaged that she doesn’t know who or what to believe. All her friends so far have turned out to be false so she second guesses everything, and I don’t think that he helps much. I was frustrated for Nali because no one tells her anything for so long, and she is left feeling lost and alone. I understand why she was so attached to her mother – because her mother was the only steady person in her life who seemed to care about her – but I didn’t agree with many decisions that her mother made, so I had a lot of trouble liking her. Also, her mother tries to guilt Nali into making the decision that she wants.
Although I sympathize with Nali the most in the story and get why she acts the way that she does, I found myself wanting to shake her at times and make her make a decision for herself for once.
I really hope that Nali gains a stronger support system in the next book, especially from Garrett. She needs someone that she trusts implicitly who has her best interests at heart. I think he wanted to be this, but does a poor job at showing her. They really need to sit down and have an honest conversation with each other, which hopefully, would clear up a lot of their issues.
Despite all this, I am eager to read the next installment in the series. I am looking forward to watching Nalena gain confidence and grow more into herself.
May 16, 2012
Cornerstone at first seems like it's just your average, teenage girl that doesn't fit in and suddenly gets lucky when the popular guy starts to follow her around and ask questions/ Red Flags. She knows she's going to be the brunt of some cruel joke by some girls that don't like her. In fact, no one likes her. They call her the Waste because she lives with her mother in a home filled high with paper. Stacks upon stacks of paper that her mother writes on, stories she starts but never finishes. And once, a long time ago, when she was trying to make friends, a girl came by unannounced and saw all the paper, hence the name. Now Nalena doesn't know why Garrett is asking questions about her or showing up at her library table or defending her. And what's with this crazy stuff happening with her out of body experiences. And the man in the woods with the shovel trying to kill her? All very good questions that get answered in due time.
A lot of times when I'm reading, I skim books, especially long books because there are times when the character's mind wanders and it doesn't seem pertinent, or there are lengthy descriptions, but in this book, that never happened. Everything seemed to have meaning. The story line was original, though some might call it religious, I thought it more life affirming. There are supernatural powers and there are bad guys.
Mom and Nalena have been on there own forever, living on welfare and suddenly Nalena finds this whole big family living right under her nose and that there is a purpose to her mother's writing and that there is a community that would pay for her services. And then there is Garrett. Because of a perceived threat on Nalena and her mother Evangeline's life, the two move into the home of Garrett's parents. This is tough as Nalena is majorly crushing on Garrett and she is getting mixed signals from him. There are highs and lows for them throughout their time together But the romance is not rushed at all. It is slow and even when their feelings for each other are clear, Garrett wants to take things slow. Refreshing for YA!
Many lows come towards the end of the novel and there is a sneak peak into the second novel. If it's as good as the first it will be bought as soon as it is available. The author has a way with words, that I really enjoyed. Her metaphors like "my thoughts drift like feathers in a fan" and "but she laughs, a fluttery streamer of a laugh that doesn't float with me."
I really enjoyed the complexity of the novel and the side stories that went along with it. I can't wait to see where it's headed and I hope you'll take my advice and don't pass this one up! It's an awesome read!
Thanks Candace for asking me to help out and thanks Misty for writing such a great novel!
A lot of times when I'm reading, I skim books, especially long books because there are times when the character's mind wanders and it doesn't seem pertinent, or there are lengthy descriptions, but in this book, that never happened. Everything seemed to have meaning. The story line was original, though some might call it religious, I thought it more life affirming. There are supernatural powers and there are bad guys.
Mom and Nalena have been on there own forever, living on welfare and suddenly Nalena finds this whole big family living right under her nose and that there is a purpose to her mother's writing and that there is a community that would pay for her services. And then there is Garrett. Because of a perceived threat on Nalena and her mother Evangeline's life, the two move into the home of Garrett's parents. This is tough as Nalena is majorly crushing on Garrett and she is getting mixed signals from him. There are highs and lows for them throughout their time together But the romance is not rushed at all. It is slow and even when their feelings for each other are clear, Garrett wants to take things slow. Refreshing for YA!
Many lows come towards the end of the novel and there is a sneak peak into the second novel. If it's as good as the first it will be bought as soon as it is available. The author has a way with words, that I really enjoyed. Her metaphors like "my thoughts drift like feathers in a fan" and "but she laughs, a fluttery streamer of a laugh that doesn't float with me."
I really enjoyed the complexity of the novel and the side stories that went along with it. I can't wait to see where it's headed and I hope you'll take my advice and don't pass this one up! It's an awesome read!
Thanks Candace for asking me to help out and thanks Misty for writing such a great novel!
September 28, 2012
Overall: As someone with first hand experience with a horder, this story definitely touched me on a personal level. It’s hard watching someone you love ruin their life (and your own) because they cannot overcome a psychological problem. I never had friends over my house (ever) so I never experienced the redicule that Nalena did from her classmates. Mine didn’t know what my home life was like living with someone that rather buy a new set of dishes than wash the two or three sets stacked in the kitchen sink. Nalena was more aware that her mother had problems than I did – for a time, I thought that it was normal to have half of the shower covered with empty shampoo bottles yellow and coated with soap scum. I’d like to personally thank the author for making it feel authentic, even if Nalena’s mother had better motives for her paper-filled house than the typical horder.
Characters: My absolute favorite character is Addo. He’s colorful personality (and clothes) shine in every scene he’s in. I couldn’t help but smile in one of the scenes where he makes cookies for Nalena, the majority of them are gone by the time she arrives, and slowly during the scene, the remainder of the cookies dissapear one bite at a time – and Addo acts like a druggie getting his high with every bite. And while this is going on, Addo is delivering very serious and life-changing news to Nalena. The contrast is startling, but presented amazingly well.
There is no instant love between Nalena and Garrett. She actually tells him off upon first meeting, expecting this popular guy to make fun of her like everyone else. For much of the novel Nalena is more furious with Garrett’s decisions than in love with him, but when they are together the chemistry is sizzling.
Plot: I think this story is more about Nalena’s relationship with her mother than Nalena discovering her powers. It’s definitely hard enough for a teenager to deal with the ridicule associated with living with a horder; it is even more difficult when that horder is actually hording for the sake of mankind. Nalena has no choice but to support her mother’s weird habits, even when it directly conflicts with the attention of a cute boy named Garrett.
I found myself equally frustrated as Nalena by the lack of answers for much of the novel. I understand that some things could not be revealed early, but it felt like the author was stalling at times – a lot of filler when all I wanted was to know WTF was happening. And that alone kept me from rating this book five stars.
Ending: Nalena chooses what I thought she would choose but definitely not for the same reasons. It’s a bittersweet ending, but a good place to pause the series.
Characters: My absolute favorite character is Addo. He’s colorful personality (and clothes) shine in every scene he’s in. I couldn’t help but smile in one of the scenes where he makes cookies for Nalena, the majority of them are gone by the time she arrives, and slowly during the scene, the remainder of the cookies dissapear one bite at a time – and Addo acts like a druggie getting his high with every bite. And while this is going on, Addo is delivering very serious and life-changing news to Nalena. The contrast is startling, but presented amazingly well.
There is no instant love between Nalena and Garrett. She actually tells him off upon first meeting, expecting this popular guy to make fun of her like everyone else. For much of the novel Nalena is more furious with Garrett’s decisions than in love with him, but when they are together the chemistry is sizzling.
Plot: I think this story is more about Nalena’s relationship with her mother than Nalena discovering her powers. It’s definitely hard enough for a teenager to deal with the ridicule associated with living with a horder; it is even more difficult when that horder is actually hording for the sake of mankind. Nalena has no choice but to support her mother’s weird habits, even when it directly conflicts with the attention of a cute boy named Garrett.
I found myself equally frustrated as Nalena by the lack of answers for much of the novel. I understand that some things could not be revealed early, but it felt like the author was stalling at times – a lot of filler when all I wanted was to know WTF was happening. And that alone kept me from rating this book five stars.
Ending: Nalena chooses what I thought she would choose but definitely not for the same reasons. It’s a bittersweet ending, but a good place to pause the series.
March 18, 2013
The Writer's View - book reviews from a writer's perspective.
Wow, this was a great book! What really sucked me in was the gorgeous writing. Provencher has some of the most gorgeous prose I've come across in a long time. The best part is that it never feels forced or overly-flowery. Her metaphors and descriptions are all poignant and distinct and well-timed, creating impressions and visuals that are entirely original. No cliches here! If you're a writer, I recommend picking up this book just to get a brain-full of gorgeous prose. If you're looking for a fun urban fantasy read with some sweet romance, I also highly recommend this novel. It's free on Amazon, so you can't go wrong!
Another thing I loved about this book was the unique urban fantasy world Provencher created. Everything was totally original and new -- no vamps, no werewolves, no fae, etc. I do like urban fantasy, but sometimes I get bored with vamps, etc. I really enjoyed a fresh new take on a genre that's getting pretty worn out.
My only nit is the punctuation in the dialogue. I'm not what I would call a grammar whiz, but a lot of the punctuation in the dialogue looked incorrect to me. For instance, periods were often used instead of commas at the end of a dialogue tag. Since there's a lot of dialogue, I found it a bit distracting. I was able to overlook it because the writing was so well done.
Group Personality
What really tickled me about this book was the dynamic of Nalena and Garrett's respective families. Nalena is the MC and Garrett is her love interest. Nalena is an only child with a single mother. Garrett is from a family of five kids. It was cool watching Nalena and Garrett's family meet up in the story and see how much they contrasted. As an only child myself, I remember what it was like going to the home of friends with large families. Provencher captured the beautiful chaos of a large family so well from the POV of an only child. It really took me back to my teenage years.
This got me thinking about how important it is to give groups of characters their own collective personality. I think this is especially true in speculative fiction, where you have elves, vampires, dwarves, etc. -- all these different groups and cultures have a chance to shine if the author takes the time to make them unique and distinct. I think a lot of times it is easy just to make everyone seem human. Now, if only I can remember this important lesson when I'm writing!
Wow, this was a great book! What really sucked me in was the gorgeous writing. Provencher has some of the most gorgeous prose I've come across in a long time. The best part is that it never feels forced or overly-flowery. Her metaphors and descriptions are all poignant and distinct and well-timed, creating impressions and visuals that are entirely original. No cliches here! If you're a writer, I recommend picking up this book just to get a brain-full of gorgeous prose. If you're looking for a fun urban fantasy read with some sweet romance, I also highly recommend this novel. It's free on Amazon, so you can't go wrong!
Another thing I loved about this book was the unique urban fantasy world Provencher created. Everything was totally original and new -- no vamps, no werewolves, no fae, etc. I do like urban fantasy, but sometimes I get bored with vamps, etc. I really enjoyed a fresh new take on a genre that's getting pretty worn out.
My only nit is the punctuation in the dialogue. I'm not what I would call a grammar whiz, but a lot of the punctuation in the dialogue looked incorrect to me. For instance, periods were often used instead of commas at the end of a dialogue tag. Since there's a lot of dialogue, I found it a bit distracting. I was able to overlook it because the writing was so well done.
Group Personality
What really tickled me about this book was the dynamic of Nalena and Garrett's respective families. Nalena is the MC and Garrett is her love interest. Nalena is an only child with a single mother. Garrett is from a family of five kids. It was cool watching Nalena and Garrett's family meet up in the story and see how much they contrasted. As an only child myself, I remember what it was like going to the home of friends with large families. Provencher captured the beautiful chaos of a large family so well from the POV of an only child. It really took me back to my teenage years.
This got me thinking about how important it is to give groups of characters their own collective personality. I think this is especially true in speculative fiction, where you have elves, vampires, dwarves, etc. -- all these different groups and cultures have a chance to shine if the author takes the time to make them unique and distinct. I think a lot of times it is easy just to make everyone seem human. Now, if only I can remember this important lesson when I'm writing!
June 16, 2014
Misty Provencher has earned my “I immediately bought book 2″ endorsement and I’m sure this review is going to be riddled with “happy” words like fantastic, wonderful, amazing, etc. (You’ve been warned).
Cornerstone is fantastic! It’s unique but familiar. Have you ever found a piece of art, or a quilt, or in this case a book, that the more you looked at it or the more you read of it the more you identified with it? Well that was Cornerstone for me. There were some underlying messages that I picked up on but I can’t really share because it would give some things away but I found comfort and encouragement within the pages of this great story.
The story of Nalena and her mother’s paper hoarding habit is such a unique foundation to build a story upon. Of course there is more to the story than just paper hoarding. We discover that there is a reason for the madness that consumes Nalena’s mother and we journey with Nalena as she discovers who and what she has been protected from.
I love the characters and the way they interact with each other. It was easy to picture each one and their personalities jumped off the pages, especially Addo’s.
There is mystery, romance, suspense, and many surprises to be found in Cornerstone. The romance is slow building and you find out things along the way that explains Garret’s devotion to Nalena. Garret is wonderful. He has the whole hero thing going on but he also encourages Nalena to protect herself.
The main character is seventeen so I’m not sure if things change in later books but so far I would rate book 1 as clean read and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to teens or adults.There are paranormal aspects but they aren’t your typical paranormal elements. I’m going to keep that a mystery so that you will read the book and discover it for yourself. ;)
The writing is wonderful, the world building fantastic, the characters amazing and it was a book that once I started reading it I didn’t put it down until I finished it and then I immediately bought book 2, Keystone.
Cornerstone is currently FREE so go ahead and snatch this one up.
Happy Reading!
Series Information: Cornerstone Series
Cornerstone (The Cornerstone Series, Book One) – Currently FREE
Keystone (The Cornerstone Series, Book Two)
Jamb (The Cornerstone Series, Book Three)
Capstone (The Cornerstone Series, Book Four)
Cornerstone is fantastic! It’s unique but familiar. Have you ever found a piece of art, or a quilt, or in this case a book, that the more you looked at it or the more you read of it the more you identified with it? Well that was Cornerstone for me. There were some underlying messages that I picked up on but I can’t really share because it would give some things away but I found comfort and encouragement within the pages of this great story.
The story of Nalena and her mother’s paper hoarding habit is such a unique foundation to build a story upon. Of course there is more to the story than just paper hoarding. We discover that there is a reason for the madness that consumes Nalena’s mother and we journey with Nalena as she discovers who and what she has been protected from.
I love the characters and the way they interact with each other. It was easy to picture each one and their personalities jumped off the pages, especially Addo’s.
There is mystery, romance, suspense, and many surprises to be found in Cornerstone. The romance is slow building and you find out things along the way that explains Garret’s devotion to Nalena. Garret is wonderful. He has the whole hero thing going on but he also encourages Nalena to protect herself.
The main character is seventeen so I’m not sure if things change in later books but so far I would rate book 1 as clean read and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to teens or adults.There are paranormal aspects but they aren’t your typical paranormal elements. I’m going to keep that a mystery so that you will read the book and discover it for yourself. ;)
The writing is wonderful, the world building fantastic, the characters amazing and it was a book that once I started reading it I didn’t put it down until I finished it and then I immediately bought book 2, Keystone.
Cornerstone is currently FREE so go ahead and snatch this one up.
Happy Reading!
Series Information: Cornerstone Series
Cornerstone (The Cornerstone Series, Book One) – Currently FREE
Keystone (The Cornerstone Series, Book Two)
Jamb (The Cornerstone Series, Book Three)
Capstone (The Cornerstone Series, Book Four)
August 12, 2012
This book starts out with Nalena walking home from school after a stop at the office supply store. She stops to pick up 3 reams of paper from her mother. For some strange reason her mother writes but never finishes anything she started. She writes little bits of information that have no relevance or understand to anyone but her. Here is a little bit of information from the book:
“Christos DelMinos, 14, stabbed, instead of his 3 year old niece; Martin Fowler, 24, returned the money he’d stolen but not all of it; Linda Hayes, 63, invited depressed neighbor in for long talk.”
Well maybe someone understand what Evangeline, Nalenas mother, is writing but Nalena does not. Or at least during the beginning she does not understand.
Nalena is called The Waste at school. At one time a so-called friend dropped by to see her and saw all the paper stacked in the duplex and assumed wrong. But we all know what happens when we assume something. Then a cranky old over-worked social worker thinks that Evangeline is not carrying out her parental responsibility in being a parent to Nalena. It seems like Nalena is just a lone out cast that no one wants anything to do with.
Nalena goes to the library after her bologna sandwich supper. While she is studying one of the popular guys at school comes over to sit at the table she is studying at. Of course Nalena is suspicious of him and wonders what he wants. Well for that information you need to read the book. Okay now I have to stop telling you about the book. If I keep writing I will give away the whole plot and then it would not be any fun to read the book.
This book is a great young adult read. The author catches the readers attention with the first page. Then the plot, oh wow. The plot is just so intriguing. It will grab your attention and keep you guessing on what is happening next.
While I will admit I do not normally read YA books this one is a great read for anyone. This book is the first in a series. The second book is titles Keystone. I do not know much about the second book in this series but I do know is that I will be looking forward to the release.
Thanks for a great read Misty.
“Christos DelMinos, 14, stabbed, instead of his 3 year old niece; Martin Fowler, 24, returned the money he’d stolen but not all of it; Linda Hayes, 63, invited depressed neighbor in for long talk.”
Well maybe someone understand what Evangeline, Nalenas mother, is writing but Nalena does not. Or at least during the beginning she does not understand.
Nalena is called The Waste at school. At one time a so-called friend dropped by to see her and saw all the paper stacked in the duplex and assumed wrong. But we all know what happens when we assume something. Then a cranky old over-worked social worker thinks that Evangeline is not carrying out her parental responsibility in being a parent to Nalena. It seems like Nalena is just a lone out cast that no one wants anything to do with.
Nalena goes to the library after her bologna sandwich supper. While she is studying one of the popular guys at school comes over to sit at the table she is studying at. Of course Nalena is suspicious of him and wonders what he wants. Well for that information you need to read the book. Okay now I have to stop telling you about the book. If I keep writing I will give away the whole plot and then it would not be any fun to read the book.
This book is a great young adult read. The author catches the readers attention with the first page. Then the plot, oh wow. The plot is just so intriguing. It will grab your attention and keep you guessing on what is happening next.
While I will admit I do not normally read YA books this one is a great read for anyone. This book is the first in a series. The second book is titles Keystone. I do not know much about the second book in this series but I do know is that I will be looking forward to the release.
Thanks for a great read Misty.
June 19, 2016
I got this book free on Amazon and had it in my collection to maybe read one of these days. Our group reads and reviews indie books and this was one that we decided to read. I don't know that I expected too much out of it really. Just another book on my kindle, right? Wrong. This story has entranced me. It has exceeded my expectations so much that I am looking at these indie books in a whole new light.
Nalena Maxwell leads a lonely life. She is new to this school and she is hated. When she first moved here, she was befriended by the head cheerleader and life was good. That was until Jen decided to just pop by her home one day and then everything went down hill. Nalena's mom is a paper hoarder and their apartment, along with 17 storage units, is filled with paper from floor to ceiling. Every free space is filled with paper. This is how she gets the name The Waste at school. She is the lowest of the low in her school now. This is why she is surprised when the most popular boy at school, Garrett, makes a bee line for her table at the library one night. What is he doing? Is he there to make fun of her or does he just not know who she is? Then he starts asking about her at school. Now she is a target for the head cheerleader who says she is with him. When she goes back to the library, he is there waiting for her again. He is lovely and she hopes this isn't some sort of joke. Then she is attacked in the woods and Garrett somehow is there to save her. He isn't bothered by the paper and doesn't make fun of her. He actually seems to understand and suddenly Nalena's world is turned upside down and sideways.
The premise of this story is different and interesting. It is a mesmerizing world that will suck you in and leave you wanting more. The characters are all wonderful. They play their parts well and I didn't find any of them lacking. Nalena could be a stronger female, but I think that that will come with time. Garrett is perfect. Dark hair and blue eyes and ......just perfect.
I loved this book so much that I finished book 1 and immediately bought and started book 2. It is a wonderful book and I recommend it to everyone!
Nalena Maxwell leads a lonely life. She is new to this school and she is hated. When she first moved here, she was befriended by the head cheerleader and life was good. That was until Jen decided to just pop by her home one day and then everything went down hill. Nalena's mom is a paper hoarder and their apartment, along with 17 storage units, is filled with paper from floor to ceiling. Every free space is filled with paper. This is how she gets the name The Waste at school. She is the lowest of the low in her school now. This is why she is surprised when the most popular boy at school, Garrett, makes a bee line for her table at the library one night. What is he doing? Is he there to make fun of her or does he just not know who she is? Then he starts asking about her at school. Now she is a target for the head cheerleader who says she is with him. When she goes back to the library, he is there waiting for her again. He is lovely and she hopes this isn't some sort of joke. Then she is attacked in the woods and Garrett somehow is there to save her. He isn't bothered by the paper and doesn't make fun of her. He actually seems to understand and suddenly Nalena's world is turned upside down and sideways.
The premise of this story is different and interesting. It is a mesmerizing world that will suck you in and leave you wanting more. The characters are all wonderful. They play their parts well and I didn't find any of them lacking. Nalena could be a stronger female, but I think that that will come with time. Garrett is perfect. Dark hair and blue eyes and ......just perfect.
I loved this book so much that I finished book 1 and immediately bought and started book 2. It is a wonderful book and I recommend it to everyone!
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