What do you think?
Rate this book
Atonement #1
Atonement
The first installment of The Atonement Series.
Deirdre Bardot is a PhD student at Harvard and on her way home for Thanksgiving when she finds out her father has been murdered in a vicious hit and run by a drunk driver.
Forced to piece her life together after such a traumatic event, Deirdre moves back to Seattle to be closer to her younger sister, Caitlyn, and their mother.
When her psychiatrist, Dr. van der Meer, suggests she needs to get away from it all and take a vacation, her best friend decides to introduce her to a friend of his who has more or less the same idea. Colin is perfect: he's good looking, self-deprecating and sexy as hell but he also happens to be the Dr. van der Meer's son.
Deirdre finds herself falling hard for a guy she barely knows and one who is equally into her as she is into him. They decide a trip to Western Europe together is the perfect way to get to know one another a whole lot better.
Then an unspeakable and random act of violence occurs one night and Colin realizes he is forced to reveal a secret to Deirdre he has been hiding...a secret that is breaking him, and in doing so to free his conscience, he just might destroy the relationship he has created with Deirdre and lose her forever.
Publisher's Note: Due to mature adult themes, sexually explicit scenes and adult language, this novel is not suitable for minors under the age of 18.
Deirdre Bardot is a PhD student at Harvard and on her way home for Thanksgiving when she finds out her father has been murdered in a vicious hit and run by a drunk driver.
Forced to piece her life together after such a traumatic event, Deirdre moves back to Seattle to be closer to her younger sister, Caitlyn, and their mother.
When her psychiatrist, Dr. van der Meer, suggests she needs to get away from it all and take a vacation, her best friend decides to introduce her to a friend of his who has more or less the same idea. Colin is perfect: he's good looking, self-deprecating and sexy as hell but he also happens to be the Dr. van der Meer's son.
Deirdre finds herself falling hard for a guy she barely knows and one who is equally into her as she is into him. They decide a trip to Western Europe together is the perfect way to get to know one another a whole lot better.
Then an unspeakable and random act of violence occurs one night and Colin realizes he is forced to reveal a secret to Deirdre he has been hiding...a secret that is breaking him, and in doing so to free his conscience, he just might destroy the relationship he has created with Deirdre and lose her forever.
Publisher's Note: Due to mature adult themes, sexually explicit scenes and adult language, this novel is not suitable for minors under the age of 18.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2012
21 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 9, 2013
D.N.F!!
Ok so I tried to read this but I felt like I was schizophrenic when reading. I hate giving bad reviews or DNF's but I had to. :(
An author told me a tip that before you publish a book you should always read it out lout first to hear the dialogue. I don't this happened as the dialogue felt very forced and awkward.
I had to stop reading it after finding so many incohesive thoughts.
Like in one chapter Deidre says she doesn't do one night stands and then about 10 sentences later in the next chapter she has a one night stand because she has needs. WHAT!!!!!
Then in the prologue she is not with his ex because of the infidelity but 8 chapters later she says that her ex never cheated.
The list could go on but I had to stop because I was getting so frustrated with the thoughts all over the place. However, I did skim through the rest and the next one as I was curious enough to see how it ended but not curious enough to actually read through them. :(
Sorry but I just had to vent. I know others will disagree with this review and that is the beauty of agreeing to disagree.
Ok so I tried to read this but I felt like I was schizophrenic when reading. I hate giving bad reviews or DNF's but I had to. :(
An author told me a tip that before you publish a book you should always read it out lout first to hear the dialogue. I don't this happened as the dialogue felt very forced and awkward.
I had to stop reading it after finding so many incohesive thoughts.
Like in one chapter Deidre says she doesn't do one night stands and then about 10 sentences later in the next chapter she has a one night stand because she has needs. WHAT!!!!!
Then in the prologue she is not with his ex because of the infidelity but 8 chapters later she says that her ex never cheated.
The list could go on but I had to stop because I was getting so frustrated with the thoughts all over the place. However, I did skim through the rest and the next one as I was curious enough to see how it ended but not curious enough to actually read through them. :(
Sorry but I just had to vent. I know others will disagree with this review and that is the beauty of agreeing to disagree.
December 4, 2012
Boy. Really got duped by all the 5 star ratings this book had on Amazon. I was really disappointed with this. It may be because I had high expectations but I didn't bother to finish reading. Everyone has Ivy League degrees and lots of money. No character development, in the first 30% book I found myself stupefied several times by actions of heroine and thought where in the heck did that come from? Ugh...Totally frustrated with this book.
December 12, 2012
Unbelievably bad! I will never trust Amazon without checking Goodreads first. The characters are unbelievable. They are all shallow and self absorbed. They don't mean anything they say. The heroine is especially annoying. She never has one night stands because she's not "wired" that way and then has one the next night. That scene was the beginning of the end for me. I hated it after that. She announces major life changes like she is ordering coffee. Unbelievable!! I didn't enjoy anything about this book.
July 8, 2014
Like the others did you have an editor? I again paid money that I lost and now time for reading garbage. I dont know where the other five star reviews are from, people who like reading about condoms maybe? Seriously? Where is your editor? I could continue to trash this book but, I think I have more integrity. Also I dont like the author trying to gain and rake in cash in using the word atonement. Get over it This has already taken up too much of my time. Paying $3.99 was a waste so sorry to report that
January 25, 2013
Liked it...will read number 2 in the series. Curious to see how Deirdre and Collin will be once back in Seattle and "working".
September 17, 2017
A Good book to read
Just loved reading it and couldn't stop, the story was good on to reading book two now to see how the story ends.
Just loved reading it and couldn't stop, the story was good on to reading book two now to see how the story ends.
January 7, 2013
Do yourself a favor and do not read any reviews of this book or google it in anyway. So many people have spoilers out there and I accidentally saw one and I know that I would have enjoyed my read so much more if I had not seen the spoiler I saw. After reading this book, I can see what all of the buzz is about. The author's writing style is very engrossing. I love how you actually go on the main character's little inner "stream of consciousness" type thoughts while she is having conversations with others. It added this sense of depth to the story. I am explaining it wrong, but it was my favorite part of the story. I did not overly connect or like the characters. Basically, they were super rich late 20's/ early 30's kids. I say kids because they had never really grown up. I kind of thought of them as Gossip Girl in different location 10 years later and in many ways it made the story seem unbelievable. My dislike of them and this lack of "reality" did not make the book any easier to put down though. I am looking forward to where she takes them from here. There are so many ways it can go and I have no idea the direction she is heading.
January 8, 2013
See this review and more at www.tattooedbookreview.com
Dramatic, emotional, and sexy, Atonement is an intriguing romance.
Two people are trapped in the odd rut that can occur between college and the real world. Circumstances have prevented them from moving forward with their lives, and finding a potential life partner finally spurs them to evaluate their lives, and what they really want.
Though I didn't find any of the main characters particularly relatable (that doesn't mean that other readers won't), I still very much enjoyed Colin and Deirdre's romance and the way it develops. The author builds plenty of sexual tension but handles the couple's interactions carefully, allowing them to establish an intense emotional connection; a connection that is necessary for the difficulties their relationship must endure.
This plot flows easily, with twists and turns and dramatic moments. It is a story of honesty, forgiveness, and healing, ending in a dramatic moment that has me eager to read more about these characters.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Dramatic, emotional, and sexy, Atonement is an intriguing romance.
Two people are trapped in the odd rut that can occur between college and the real world. Circumstances have prevented them from moving forward with their lives, and finding a potential life partner finally spurs them to evaluate their lives, and what they really want.
Though I didn't find any of the main characters particularly relatable (that doesn't mean that other readers won't), I still very much enjoyed Colin and Deirdre's romance and the way it develops. The author builds plenty of sexual tension but handles the couple's interactions carefully, allowing them to establish an intense emotional connection; a connection that is necessary for the difficulties their relationship must endure.
This plot flows easily, with twists and turns and dramatic moments. It is a story of honesty, forgiveness, and healing, ending in a dramatic moment that has me eager to read more about these characters.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2012
This was a good story that definitely had a lot of components, including intrigue. In the beginning, there's the introduction of, really, all the main characters. We read from the main character's POV: Deirdre, throughout the whole novel. I think she's a believable character at times, but I thought there was just a bit more conversation between characters, more than I'm usually used to. I think the concept of taking a European trip was interesting and I think it did bond the soon to be lovers, Deirdre and Colin. I can tell right from the beginning, that Colin was keeping a secret from Deirdre, and you'll definitely know what it is, by the end of the story, and towards the end, it does make you question, if this couple will make it as a couple in the second book, so that will be an intense read.
My Rating: 3.5/5
My Rating: 3.5/5
January 30, 2013
I am not quite sure where to begin. I feel as though I can not give a proper review without giving away spoilers so I will attempt to be vague. The constant reminder of not being 22 annoyed me as well as having the definition of bath salts brought up twice. So many details in this book and then its wrapped up quickly. I find that with all that happened with Deidre and Collin it was too easily forgiven as if it just is what it is. To sum it up I wish details to some things in this book were more and others were less. I also found some aspects to far from real life. Really wanted to enjoy this book but felt void when I finished it.
December 28, 2012
Elle has become one of my favorite authors and in saying that, she does it again with "Atonement"! A really good, well written love story with chemistry that is believable between the characters....it kept me turning the pages until I finished the book. A nice steamy hot read that I recommend you add to your TBR list.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
May 27, 2013
I'm kind of torn on this one. I loved the plot line and the twists and turns that this book took but the writing really threw me. Some parts were really confusing and the initial chapters just didn't seem realistic to me and I'm a sucker for how things play out to be realistic. It also seemed like there were some inconsistencies. But I am curious to know how the next book turns out and to read more about Caitlyn and Liam in their own book!
Read
January 3, 2013I never do bad reviews but with this book I need to do it!!! What an awful book, I never had read such a bad book, it was that bad that I didn't finish the reading, and I always finish a book but this it's not worth it, not my time, not my money!!! So If you smart enough DON'T BUY IT!!!! Cause you will regret it!!!!
January 20, 2013
At first i wasn't going to write a reason for a poor rate i gave to this book. SPOILER ALERT: as soon as she meet the guy she plans a vacation, falls in love, sleep with the brother, etc..... EVERYTHING! Even down to meeting his grandparents. Every freakin thing. This book was bad and rush, rush, rushed. No i don't want to wait for book two because she stupid with a Harvard degree.Not believable.
July 31, 2014
For the love of Pete, what a confusing and unrealistic story with even worse characters.
I tried to finish this but I just couldn't. There were so many instances where the storyline didn't make sense based on earlier chapters, that I truly wonder if there was any editing done prior to publishing.
I tried to finish this but I just couldn't. There were so many instances where the storyline didn't make sense based on earlier chapters, that I truly wonder if there was any editing done prior to publishing.
December 16, 2012
Yeh this book was very readable but I just didn't buy the emotions between characters. I think you should feel betrayed and jealous to some degree in certain situations, not yeh baby well get over it.
January 9, 2013
It bothered me that she had no idea what he was going to tell her. Also - it was such an abrupt ending. Her reaction was so far from anything even close to reality. I will probably read the next one just to see but I was not very impressed overall.
February 8, 2013
The story line seemed interesting but the writing seems to have missed the mark. It just did not deliver. Character develop did not seem to ever happen. The conversations between characters seemed forced and jumped all over the place.. just not a well developed story.
January 31, 2013
Waiting for Book 2 now!
April 29, 2013
Crazy turn of events in this one! Good story but be prepared for a twist!
May 14, 2013
Really enjoy the book. Colin and Deirdre had a fast relationship that had alt of emotions. Can't wait for the next one.
May 9, 2013
I did not enjoy this book at all. I didn't like the characters and I didn't like the tone of the book.
May 24, 2013
A fast, easy read but not very likeable characters. The whole story was rushed through and it was pretty unbelievable. Don't know if I want to be bothered reading the next one.
Want to read
July 22, 2014Rapture
August 20, 2014
Didn't get too far. Not my cu of tea
January 21, 2017
WHAT THE HELL!!!!
Where to start with this book let me
Where to start with this book let me
Want to read
December 26, 2018pretty predictable I reckon but now read this author before.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews