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Pre-Earth #1
This Morning I Woke Up Dead
What would you do? What rules would you break to be with your soul mate? This morning Hadley Christensen and Dominic Morris woke up living their dream lives. They are engaged and each has promising careers in the medical field. They are happier and more fulfilled than they have ever been, and they are ready to begin their happily ever after.
Sadly, on her way to work, Hadley is in an accident. Before taking her last breath, she realizes she is already dead - and everyone on Earth is too. Now Hadley and Dominic must each find a way to live without one another. How do they continue when they are two parts of one flame?
Hadley is given permission by the Masters to contact Dominic in the hopes he will also realize he is already dead. If Dominic can open his mind to hear Hadley they can be together forever. Is Dominic ready to give up life the way he knows it?
Sadly, on her way to work, Hadley is in an accident. Before taking her last breath, she realizes she is already dead - and everyone on Earth is too. Now Hadley and Dominic must each find a way to live without one another. How do they continue when they are two parts of one flame?
Hadley is given permission by the Masters to contact Dominic in the hopes he will also realize he is already dead. If Dominic can open his mind to hear Hadley they can be together forever. Is Dominic ready to give up life the way he knows it?
210 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2013
18 people are currently reading
789 people want to read
About the author
Mindy Larson
12 books113 followersMindy Larson is a Amazon best selling author. Her works include
the paranormal romance, Pre-Earth series. She also writes paranormal erotica, and has a shifter romance novella to be released fall of 2015.
She has always had a vivid imagination that has only improved with her love of reading and writing. Today she is bringing her imagination to life in her books.
When not writing, Mindy enjoys spending time with the love of her life and five children.
Learn more about Mindy and her upcoming books on her website at:http://thismorningiwokeupdead.blogspo... or her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ThisMorningI...
the paranormal romance, Pre-Earth series. She also writes paranormal erotica, and has a shifter romance novella to be released fall of 2015.
She has always had a vivid imagination that has only improved with her love of reading and writing. Today she is bringing her imagination to life in her books.
When not writing, Mindy enjoys spending time with the love of her life and five children.
Learn more about Mindy and her upcoming books on her website at:http://thismorningiwokeupdead.blogspo... or her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ThisMorningI...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 1, 2013
Ebook provided by author in exchange for honest review.
This Morning I Woke Up Dead is a story like no other. It's a captivating book that shows us that love knows no bounds.
In this story, we see how powerful love is. Mindy Larson really makes us believe in true love with this book.
Here's a small tidbit from the synopsis:
This is the reason I picked this up.
Reminiscent of Elsewhere, this book takes us on a journey to the afterlife.
From the very beggining, I was captivated by the author's beautiful and poetic prose. She had such a way with words.
Another aspect I really loved about this story was the characters. All the characters were unique and special in their own way.
I especially loved Hadley and Dominic, the protagonists. Both of them had really nice voices. Their love was beautiful and tragic at the same time. They were the very definition of "soul-mates". I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. I loved every minute of reading their love story.
This book, in a way, found a way to preach to us. It found a way to get into your mind and make you re-think your stance on life.
I am so glad that I read this book, because, frankly, it's one of the best romances I've ever read.
You should definitely pick this up.
5 stars.
This Morning I Woke Up Dead is a story like no other. It's a captivating book that shows us that love knows no bounds.
In this story, we see how powerful love is. Mindy Larson really makes us believe in true love with this book.
Here's a small tidbit from the synopsis:
This Morning I Woke Up Dead takes you on a journey of discovery as two souls fight against their undeniably difficult situation of being tormented and separated by different realms of existence, proving that those who are destined to be together will not be kept apart by a beating heart.
This is the reason I picked this up.
Reminiscent of Elsewhere, this book takes us on a journey to the afterlife.
From the very beggining, I was captivated by the author's beautiful and poetic prose. She had such a way with words.
Memories are forever cemented to your soul. They cannot make you forget
Another aspect I really loved about this story was the characters. All the characters were unique and special in their own way.
I especially loved Hadley and Dominic, the protagonists. Both of them had really nice voices. Their love was beautiful and tragic at the same time. They were the very definition of "soul-mates". I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. I loved every minute of reading their love story.
This book, in a way, found a way to preach to us. It found a way to get into your mind and make you re-think your stance on life.
I am so glad that I read this book, because, frankly, it's one of the best romances I've ever read.
You should definitely pick this up.
5 stars.
April 12, 2013
Description from Author:
Edited for length of the blog.
This Morning I Woke Up Dead takes you on a journey of discovery as two souls fight against their undeniably difficult situation of being tormented and separated by different realms of existence, proving that those who are destined to be together will not be kept apart by a beating heart.
My Review and Thoughts:
I cried.
Yep, that is exactly how I am going to start this review.
I cried.
It has been a long while since a book, or even a movie, has stirred and affected my soul in a way Mindy Larson’s “This Morning I Woke Up Dead” has managed to do. I try very hard to stay away from “YA Romance” novels, because they are usually overly written, cheesy and unrealistic. But this one piqued my interest. Death. Ghosts. Afterlife.
With those three things alone, I can over look sap. I was presently surprised to find that the book was lacking sap.
If you’re the type of book reader who cringes at overly mushy, or over the top, romantic love scenes, then this book is perfect. There are no obnoxious love scenes. There was gentle scenes that made me mourn painfully for the two main characters. Their love Is better written than a lot of YA romantic books.
Mindy does such a fabulous job with the character building and creation, that you become completely immersed into both worlds she has created. From jump, my heart clung to Dominic’s character. I felt his pain. I wanted to just hug him.
All the other characters that were mixed in with the main character’s lives were very poetically strung together by Mindy. She really did do a fabulous job of marrying life, after life and seven degrees of separation together. The scenes played out with ease, and I found myself turning page after page without getting lost.
One of the things I loved the most about this book was her chapter and sentence set ups. She took each chapter from the first view point of either main character; Hadley or Dominic. I loved how I did not have to keep waiting to see what happened like with some authors. Mindy did very well with staying on topic and not straying off course with some unneeded secondary plot outline. It read smooth and enjoyable.
Her sentence structure was impressive too. Some sentences were so simple they only needed one word, but the emotion and impact behind them hit hard.
Example, “Left foot. Right foot. Left. Right.” – I have been here. I have walked those very same steps. I felt the pain and sorrow with each and every letter typed out on the page.
I LOVED the author’s creative take on spiders, crabs, insects. It makes me want to look at them differently too… and Lord knows I hate me some spiders.
Confusing Areas/Negative Aspects:
Towards the end of the book something pretty major happens to one of the supporting characters. The author writes, “He is in custody…..” but does not go into detail about who was brought into custody, what happened specifically to the character, and left it too open. I felt this was the only open ended portion of the book. I had a feeling whom the author was subtly referring to, but because it was left pretty open I would either elaborate or omit that section.
After discussing this with the author, I was confirmed on who my suspicion thought It was… eager, nosy beaver I am, I want to know details of what happened.
The only other portion of the book that left me scratching my scalp was the variance in worlds; Pre-Earth, Earth, Thereafter. I guess the cycles had me confused, and the After world had me confused. But this is not a negative reflection on this book. Mindy does a beautiful job on everything else within.
Overall View:
Buy this book. .. OR GO TO THE LINK ABOVE TO WIN IT!! But really, it is hauntingly entertaining and romantically entrapping. Make this author well known, so she will put out many more beautifully written books. There are so many ways she can expand on this book. I was excited to find out that she has intentions of making it into a series. I will definitely be following her for updates.
Edited for length of the blog.
This Morning I Woke Up Dead takes you on a journey of discovery as two souls fight against their undeniably difficult situation of being tormented and separated by different realms of existence, proving that those who are destined to be together will not be kept apart by a beating heart.
My Review and Thoughts:
I cried.
Yep, that is exactly how I am going to start this review.
I cried.
It has been a long while since a book, or even a movie, has stirred and affected my soul in a way Mindy Larson’s “This Morning I Woke Up Dead” has managed to do. I try very hard to stay away from “YA Romance” novels, because they are usually overly written, cheesy and unrealistic. But this one piqued my interest. Death. Ghosts. Afterlife.
With those three things alone, I can over look sap. I was presently surprised to find that the book was lacking sap.
If you’re the type of book reader who cringes at overly mushy, or over the top, romantic love scenes, then this book is perfect. There are no obnoxious love scenes. There was gentle scenes that made me mourn painfully for the two main characters. Their love Is better written than a lot of YA romantic books.
Mindy does such a fabulous job with the character building and creation, that you become completely immersed into both worlds she has created. From jump, my heart clung to Dominic’s character. I felt his pain. I wanted to just hug him.
All the other characters that were mixed in with the main character’s lives were very poetically strung together by Mindy. She really did do a fabulous job of marrying life, after life and seven degrees of separation together. The scenes played out with ease, and I found myself turning page after page without getting lost.
One of the things I loved the most about this book was her chapter and sentence set ups. She took each chapter from the first view point of either main character; Hadley or Dominic. I loved how I did not have to keep waiting to see what happened like with some authors. Mindy did very well with staying on topic and not straying off course with some unneeded secondary plot outline. It read smooth and enjoyable.
Her sentence structure was impressive too. Some sentences were so simple they only needed one word, but the emotion and impact behind them hit hard.
Example, “Left foot. Right foot. Left. Right.” – I have been here. I have walked those very same steps. I felt the pain and sorrow with each and every letter typed out on the page.
I LOVED the author’s creative take on spiders, crabs, insects. It makes me want to look at them differently too… and Lord knows I hate me some spiders.
Confusing Areas/Negative Aspects:
Towards the end of the book something pretty major happens to one of the supporting characters. The author writes, “He is in custody…..” but does not go into detail about who was brought into custody, what happened specifically to the character, and left it too open. I felt this was the only open ended portion of the book. I had a feeling whom the author was subtly referring to, but because it was left pretty open I would either elaborate or omit that section.
After discussing this with the author, I was confirmed on who my suspicion thought It was… eager, nosy beaver I am, I want to know details of what happened.
The only other portion of the book that left me scratching my scalp was the variance in worlds; Pre-Earth, Earth, Thereafter. I guess the cycles had me confused, and the After world had me confused. But this is not a negative reflection on this book. Mindy does a beautiful job on everything else within.
Overall View:
Buy this book. .. OR GO TO THE LINK ABOVE TO WIN IT!! But really, it is hauntingly entertaining and romantically entrapping. Make this author well known, so she will put out many more beautifully written books. There are so many ways she can expand on this book. I was excited to find out that she has intentions of making it into a series. I will definitely be following her for updates.
April 9, 2013
Have you ever wondered about deja vu or why you simply feel drawn to some people, even those you've just met?
"Whenever I had a deja vu, I immediately tried to understand why and what I was remembering exactly.
When I read the synopsis for this book I was immediately intrigued. I am one of those people that likes to understand the meaning behind weird, unexplainable things. For instance, a deja vu, or why when you meet certain people, you just simply feel drawn to them. Or have you ever looked at the clock at the same time everyday and gone crazy trying to understand it's significance in your life? I have...(mine is 11:17) and that was what Mindy Larson's "This Morning I Woke Up Dead" dealt with.
"Georgette's memories will slowly fade little by little as she begins to speak again as an infant. Learn a word. Lose a memory. As time passes, some begin to remember things with a feeling of deja vu or through dreams. Memories are forever cemented to your soul."
I really enjoyed the concept behind the book and the author creates an interesting tier of realms that we all have the pleasure of enjoying at some point in our life cycles. "You will start a new life cycle...then you die...then earth...this realm."
I was fascinated by her differentiation between "soul mates" and "soul twins," I was drawn to the characters, could relate to the love that they shared and felt bad that their lives were ripped apart before it even had a chance to begin. I sympathized as Dominic attempted to get on with his life, and could even relate to those feelings of guilt you feel when someone close to you dies. Moving on is never easy... but what if all you had to do to be with that person was to admit to yourself and truly believe that in your life on earth, you were already dead? Seems simple enough, except being dead but believing you are alive is still living to some degree right? After all, if you accept that you are dead, as Hadley does, you loss everything. It really makes you think about how you live your life, how you treat others, and how you spend your time, which is why I loved Mindy's explanation for what happens to all of the "bad" people when they begin a new life cycle.
Throughout the whole story I continued to think, huh, I always wondered about that... what a neat spin or WOW, that's a really fascinating explanation...what if? I love books that make us take a step back and think outside the box. The spirituality that Mindy brought forth was deep and touching to say the least. I can honestly say I walked away from this book thought provoked and curious and as you can see, there were several parts where I could not help myself but to bookmark some of beautiful wording.
The reason I rated this book as a 4-star "I liked it" was because there were too many coincidences between the character connections, which I supposed were written that way from a spiritual, soul mate (soul family) perspective. However, the loss both Dominic and Emerson experienced, followed by all of the loss Dominic suffered thereafter just felt like too much. I would have liked to see him realize his true destiny without being so pushed to the brink...Unless, maybe it is only in our most desperate moments that we are willing to face the truth...
A fascinating read that I recommend to anyone who believes in soul mates and the ideal that some love is boundless, even in death!
"I am gray colored yarn. Dominic is chocolate brown. Harper is light blue. My mother us emerald. My father is sapphire. Together, we make a beautiful tapestry. Apart we are loose ends, waiting, hoping to be woven together again."
**Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of "This Morning I Woke Up Dead" in exchange for an honest review.
Congratulations Mindy!! I look forward to reading "Thirteen Choices"
"Whenever I had a deja vu, I immediately tried to understand why and what I was remembering exactly.
When I read the synopsis for this book I was immediately intrigued. I am one of those people that likes to understand the meaning behind weird, unexplainable things. For instance, a deja vu, or why when you meet certain people, you just simply feel drawn to them. Or have you ever looked at the clock at the same time everyday and gone crazy trying to understand it's significance in your life? I have...(mine is 11:17) and that was what Mindy Larson's "This Morning I Woke Up Dead" dealt with.
"Georgette's memories will slowly fade little by little as she begins to speak again as an infant. Learn a word. Lose a memory. As time passes, some begin to remember things with a feeling of deja vu or through dreams. Memories are forever cemented to your soul."
I really enjoyed the concept behind the book and the author creates an interesting tier of realms that we all have the pleasure of enjoying at some point in our life cycles. "You will start a new life cycle...then you die...then earth...this realm."
I was fascinated by her differentiation between "soul mates" and "soul twins," I was drawn to the characters, could relate to the love that they shared and felt bad that their lives were ripped apart before it even had a chance to begin. I sympathized as Dominic attempted to get on with his life, and could even relate to those feelings of guilt you feel when someone close to you dies. Moving on is never easy... but what if all you had to do to be with that person was to admit to yourself and truly believe that in your life on earth, you were already dead? Seems simple enough, except being dead but believing you are alive is still living to some degree right? After all, if you accept that you are dead, as Hadley does, you loss everything. It really makes you think about how you live your life, how you treat others, and how you spend your time, which is why I loved Mindy's explanation for what happens to all of the "bad" people when they begin a new life cycle.
Throughout the whole story I continued to think, huh, I always wondered about that... what a neat spin or WOW, that's a really fascinating explanation...what if? I love books that make us take a step back and think outside the box. The spirituality that Mindy brought forth was deep and touching to say the least. I can honestly say I walked away from this book thought provoked and curious and as you can see, there were several parts where I could not help myself but to bookmark some of beautiful wording.
The reason I rated this book as a 4-star "I liked it" was because there were too many coincidences between the character connections, which I supposed were written that way from a spiritual, soul mate (soul family) perspective. However, the loss both Dominic and Emerson experienced, followed by all of the loss Dominic suffered thereafter just felt like too much. I would have liked to see him realize his true destiny without being so pushed to the brink...Unless, maybe it is only in our most desperate moments that we are willing to face the truth...
A fascinating read that I recommend to anyone who believes in soul mates and the ideal that some love is boundless, even in death!
"I am gray colored yarn. Dominic is chocolate brown. Harper is light blue. My mother us emerald. My father is sapphire. Together, we make a beautiful tapestry. Apart we are loose ends, waiting, hoping to be woven together again."
**Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of "This Morning I Woke Up Dead" in exchange for an honest review.
Congratulations Mindy!! I look forward to reading "Thirteen Choices"
December 4, 2013
Firstly, for this being Mindy's first book, it is amazing, so well written and so good and it had a massive pull on me!
Normally I find books that have the story split between the two main characters to be annoying as I always tend to feel lost and confused as to what is happening, but with Hadley and Dominic this wasn't the case at all!
The story it's self was gripping, I loved the see the struggle that both characters were going through. Hadleys desperation to get through to Dominic and Dominics desperation to just carry on and be able to contact Hadley. Also reading some history of the characters from both good and bad times helped me to understand them better and it made me feel for them. Also the fact that the second main characters (Emerson and Logan) played a significant part in the lives of Hadley and Dominic helped to bring the feelings of the characters together having them all a common goal for wanting the lost loved one.
The efforts and the descriptions of the characters and their feelings over the happening events made me feel like I was connecting with the book, therefore sucking me further into the story and the plot!
This would be a great read for anyone who is looking for something different but amazingly good!
I'd just like to take two seconds to thank Nerd Girl (hit them up on Facebook, or Twitter, @Nerd_Girl_NG) for the competitions they run and for the fact that the copy of the book I have was from their competition!
I also just want to share my favorite quote from this book, being on the first page it really grabbed my attention,
"While were on earth we can play. Love. Find our talents. Those who are smart, use them. It's a pity that not near enough of the population do. Most waste their time on earth gossiping, arguing, spending too much money, worrying about everything and anything. We cause pain. To ourselves and others. The opposite of living."
To me this practically describes today's popultion to a T!
Defiantly recommend reading this book!
Normally I find books that have the story split between the two main characters to be annoying as I always tend to feel lost and confused as to what is happening, but with Hadley and Dominic this wasn't the case at all!
The story it's self was gripping, I loved the see the struggle that both characters were going through. Hadleys desperation to get through to Dominic and Dominics desperation to just carry on and be able to contact Hadley. Also reading some history of the characters from both good and bad times helped me to understand them better and it made me feel for them. Also the fact that the second main characters (Emerson and Logan) played a significant part in the lives of Hadley and Dominic helped to bring the feelings of the characters together having them all a common goal for wanting the lost loved one.
The efforts and the descriptions of the characters and their feelings over the happening events made me feel like I was connecting with the book, therefore sucking me further into the story and the plot!
This would be a great read for anyone who is looking for something different but amazingly good!
I'd just like to take two seconds to thank Nerd Girl (hit them up on Facebook, or Twitter, @Nerd_Girl_NG) for the competitions they run and for the fact that the copy of the book I have was from their competition!
I also just want to share my favorite quote from this book, being on the first page it really grabbed my attention,
"While were on earth we can play. Love. Find our talents. Those who are smart, use them. It's a pity that not near enough of the population do. Most waste their time on earth gossiping, arguing, spending too much money, worrying about everything and anything. We cause pain. To ourselves and others. The opposite of living."
To me this practically describes today's popultion to a T!
Defiantly recommend reading this book!
June 12, 2013
This story is the epitome of what if. I found myself asking that question throughout the book as I tried to picture what happened, and how it would end.
There are two main characters in this story, and they each talk in the first person as it goes from one to the other. It keeps you from wondering what the person is thinking and feeling and instead wondering what they will do or understand next.
I can't, and maybe you won't either, help but feel their distraught emotions and love for each other. You want them to reconnect, and you don't really care how they do it. Dead, alive, it makes no matter as long as they get back together. Crazy right? Of course if they were people I actually knew, I might not be so cavalier with their lives. But then again, maybe I would. That is if I felt the same emotions with them as the author made me feel with these characters.
The concept the author explored, death, is one we all think about, and probably a lot more than we want to. It is a fact of life, but what we know of it is completely limited and inadequate to make us feel comfortable and safe to transition to that state even though we know it is our final journey. The unknown is a haunting thing to say the very least. So we wonder, and the what if questions saturate our thoughts. What if it is nicer than here? What if we would be happier? What if our knowledge and concepts are not even close? See what I mean?
The characters did the same thing. One tried to figure out what was happening, and the other tried to find peace with what was. Or rather what was believed to be reality. But then as things happened, questioning the unknown was the only solace they had. The only peaceful and soothing solution to bathe their minds was questioning what was real and what could be real if only they could grasp the supposed impossible with both hands and hang on. For some reason, maybe it was how we were taught in school about science; we always seem to need physical validation to believe. Of course it's okay in religion to have faith, but somehow everything else is off limits. Funny right? How shallow and mind limiting we can be.
Overall the story was entertaining, and emotionally charged. You felt what the characters felt, and sought to find an acceptable conclusion without keeping the two apart. As they rode the waves of the moving tide with each other, you wanted one of them to grab hold of the other, and not let go. Either way, they needed to be together. Read the book, and I think you will agree, one moving on without the other just wasn't acceptable.
This book was given to me by the author for an honest review. It was an easy chore.
There are two main characters in this story, and they each talk in the first person as it goes from one to the other. It keeps you from wondering what the person is thinking and feeling and instead wondering what they will do or understand next.
I can't, and maybe you won't either, help but feel their distraught emotions and love for each other. You want them to reconnect, and you don't really care how they do it. Dead, alive, it makes no matter as long as they get back together. Crazy right? Of course if they were people I actually knew, I might not be so cavalier with their lives. But then again, maybe I would. That is if I felt the same emotions with them as the author made me feel with these characters.
The concept the author explored, death, is one we all think about, and probably a lot more than we want to. It is a fact of life, but what we know of it is completely limited and inadequate to make us feel comfortable and safe to transition to that state even though we know it is our final journey. The unknown is a haunting thing to say the very least. So we wonder, and the what if questions saturate our thoughts. What if it is nicer than here? What if we would be happier? What if our knowledge and concepts are not even close? See what I mean?
The characters did the same thing. One tried to figure out what was happening, and the other tried to find peace with what was. Or rather what was believed to be reality. But then as things happened, questioning the unknown was the only solace they had. The only peaceful and soothing solution to bathe their minds was questioning what was real and what could be real if only they could grasp the supposed impossible with both hands and hang on. For some reason, maybe it was how we were taught in school about science; we always seem to need physical validation to believe. Of course it's okay in religion to have faith, but somehow everything else is off limits. Funny right? How shallow and mind limiting we can be.
Overall the story was entertaining, and emotionally charged. You felt what the characters felt, and sought to find an acceptable conclusion without keeping the two apart. As they rode the waves of the moving tide with each other, you wanted one of them to grab hold of the other, and not let go. Either way, they needed to be together. Read the book, and I think you will agree, one moving on without the other just wasn't acceptable.
This book was given to me by the author for an honest review. It was an easy chore.
January 11, 2014
This Morning I woke up Dead was a really interesting read. I am happy to see that this is going to be a series because the book initially explores the concept of three different realms of living and dead. It introduces a concept of a pre-earth. But once the idea of the afterlife is laid out, the story of Hadley and Dominic kind of take over and we don't really get to explore the ideas of pre-earth and earth again. So I would really like some more information about the different realms in the next book. But I didn't even realize that we didn't get more information about them until after I was done reading the book, because I was so swept up in the story of Hadley and Dominic.
The book is told in dual narrative between the two of them and I loved that. That is quickly becoming my preferred method of narration. I just love switching back and forth between the guy and the girl and getting the story from each of their unique perspectives. And in This Morning I Woke up Dead it was even more unique because Hadley and Dominic were in different realms of existence. The story includes numerous flash backs throughout and that was a good method for the story because we got to know more about Hadley and Dominic's relationship, ad well as learning back stories on Hadley's "guide" Logan and Dominic's sister helped make the story seem more complete. I liked how effortlessly Mindy Larson made everything flow. The book never felt disjointed and it was full of emotion.
Right from the very first Dominic chapter, I was hooked. He was so sad. This Morning I woke up Dead definitely drums up some emotion. Dominic struggles through so much of the book. I felt so bad for him. He was dealing with the loss of his finance and you could tell they had such a great relationship through their flashbacks. We got to see how they met and what they did. It was really cute. Their relationship did almost seem a little too perfect. I thought since the author made frequent use of flashbacks that she could have thrown in a short fight or hardship that they had to make the relationship seem more realistic, but even without that you could tell that these two shared a special kind of bond.
This Morning I woke up Dead was a really good read. I can't wait to check out the next book and see what is going to happen next. I hope we get to learn more about pre-earth and the concept of the realms and of twin flames. This book is an emotional journey for all of the characters and for the reader. It takes you through some tough times, but Mindy Larson does an excellent job. I really enjoyed this story.
The book is told in dual narrative between the two of them and I loved that. That is quickly becoming my preferred method of narration. I just love switching back and forth between the guy and the girl and getting the story from each of their unique perspectives. And in This Morning I Woke up Dead it was even more unique because Hadley and Dominic were in different realms of existence. The story includes numerous flash backs throughout and that was a good method for the story because we got to know more about Hadley and Dominic's relationship, ad well as learning back stories on Hadley's "guide" Logan and Dominic's sister helped make the story seem more complete. I liked how effortlessly Mindy Larson made everything flow. The book never felt disjointed and it was full of emotion.
Right from the very first Dominic chapter, I was hooked. He was so sad. This Morning I woke up Dead definitely drums up some emotion. Dominic struggles through so much of the book. I felt so bad for him. He was dealing with the loss of his finance and you could tell they had such a great relationship through their flashbacks. We got to see how they met and what they did. It was really cute. Their relationship did almost seem a little too perfect. I thought since the author made frequent use of flashbacks that she could have thrown in a short fight or hardship that they had to make the relationship seem more realistic, but even without that you could tell that these two shared a special kind of bond.
This Morning I woke up Dead was a really good read. I can't wait to check out the next book and see what is going to happen next. I hope we get to learn more about pre-earth and the concept of the realms and of twin flames. This book is an emotional journey for all of the characters and for the reader. It takes you through some tough times, but Mindy Larson does an excellent job. I really enjoyed this story.
April 2, 2013
I was given an eBook copy of this book in exchange of an honest review
Rating: 5 stars <3
We're all dead, but we don't know it. Hadley realized she was dead, making her go to the next realm (as some would say heaven). And her fiance Dominic is left on Earth as "alive". And the only way for them to be together once again is for him to realize too,that we are all dead.
I got really engaged with the synopsis of the book with all the afterlife mystery. The author knows how to use words. They suck you in from the very first page until you end it; they flow effortlessly in the pages.
It's a book that makes you really think about what's going on in your life. Are you living as fully as you can? Are you merely existing? What am I good at?
I loved how in this kind of book the religions weren't involved, not that I am necessarily against them. But there are times when you get to think, how about we read a book where there aren't any gods? No Greek, no Nordic, no Mayan, God, etc.
The plot was fabulous. The twist it takes, the way pieces here and there end up together it's amazing. You foresee a few things without it being too obvious nor too frustrating. At the end of the book, a lot of the questions that appeared were answered as well as a few unanswered, left to make you think all night over it... It ends with the suspense, the hope, that there might be a sequel, or maybe not.
A thing I'm always very picky about are the characters. Here the characters have a voice of their own. When you read, you instantly know its them even if it wasn't written in the book. You know it's them. You know what they are capable of doing and how they think in some cases.
I loved Hadley and Dominic (protagonists) the most. Their love conquered all and went through hell until they were together again. This heart-warming emotions wrecking story gives a whole new definition of the term Soul-Mates. During the whole book I couldn't help but feel these bittersweet emotions towards their situation. I literally fangirled on most parts of the book when something cute or wow happened with them <3
I thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this bewildering romantic paranormal fantasy. I was completely blown-away by the work of this new author. Loved it <3
Rating: 5 stars <3
We're all dead, but we don't know it. Hadley realized she was dead, making her go to the next realm (as some would say heaven). And her fiance Dominic is left on Earth as "alive". And the only way for them to be together once again is for him to realize too,that we are all dead.
I got really engaged with the synopsis of the book with all the afterlife mystery. The author knows how to use words. They suck you in from the very first page until you end it; they flow effortlessly in the pages.
It's a book that makes you really think about what's going on in your life. Are you living as fully as you can? Are you merely existing? What am I good at?
I loved how in this kind of book the religions weren't involved, not that I am necessarily against them. But there are times when you get to think, how about we read a book where there aren't any gods? No Greek, no Nordic, no Mayan, God, etc.
The plot was fabulous. The twist it takes, the way pieces here and there end up together it's amazing. You foresee a few things without it being too obvious nor too frustrating. At the end of the book, a lot of the questions that appeared were answered as well as a few unanswered, left to make you think all night over it... It ends with the suspense, the hope, that there might be a sequel, or maybe not.
A thing I'm always very picky about are the characters. Here the characters have a voice of their own. When you read, you instantly know its them even if it wasn't written in the book. You know it's them. You know what they are capable of doing and how they think in some cases.
I loved Hadley and Dominic (protagonists) the most. Their love conquered all and went through hell until they were together again. This heart-warming emotions wrecking story gives a whole new definition of the term Soul-Mates. During the whole book I couldn't help but feel these bittersweet emotions towards their situation. I literally fangirled on most parts of the book when something cute or wow happened with them <3
I thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this bewildering romantic paranormal fantasy. I was completely blown-away by the work of this new author. Loved it <3
April 22, 2017
My Rating 4.5
“This Morning I Woke Up Dead” explores the existence of an afterlife, a different realm of existence, and how life could be in that place.
I loved the beautiful love story of Hadley and Dominic, from the beginning I was waiting for them to find their happy ending.
This book also addresses some difficult issues, like the loss of a loved one, the grief and what follows for those who remain, but the author manages to do it very well.
Something I enjoy in books is the narrative from different POV, in this book the story alternates between the POV of Hadley (the main female character) and the one from Dominic (Hadley’s boyfriend), this allows us to see what they are experiencing in a parallel manner and in two different worlds.
For me the narrative of Dominic (particularly at the beginning) was really heartbreaking, through the pages you can feel his pain, his agony over the loss of Hadley, but also all his love for her.
Reading the book there were times when I experienced some sadness, but there were also moments that really made me smile (one of them was while reading how Hadley and Dominic met and began dating).
Besides the main characters there are others that I found good and likable, like Logan (Hadley’s “Guide”) and Emerson (Dominic’s sister) and it’s interesting to learn their stories.
This book is an emotional journey for the characters as well as a journey of learning and I think the author did a very good job in showing this in the story.
Something I think is important to mention is that there are moments in the book with transitions between past/present, one realm of existence and the other, in which you should pay attention so you don't lose track of the progression of the story.
As the writing in this book is emotional, and the characters feel very real, be prepared to possibly shed a few tears as you read.
Overall I think this is a really good book and I recommend it, also I look forward to reading more from this author.
“This Morning I Woke Up Dead” explores the existence of an afterlife, a different realm of existence, and how life could be in that place.
I loved the beautiful love story of Hadley and Dominic, from the beginning I was waiting for them to find their happy ending.
This book also addresses some difficult issues, like the loss of a loved one, the grief and what follows for those who remain, but the author manages to do it very well.
Something I enjoy in books is the narrative from different POV, in this book the story alternates between the POV of Hadley (the main female character) and the one from Dominic (Hadley’s boyfriend), this allows us to see what they are experiencing in a parallel manner and in two different worlds.
For me the narrative of Dominic (particularly at the beginning) was really heartbreaking, through the pages you can feel his pain, his agony over the loss of Hadley, but also all his love for her.
Reading the book there were times when I experienced some sadness, but there were also moments that really made me smile (one of them was while reading how Hadley and Dominic met and began dating).
Besides the main characters there are others that I found good and likable, like Logan (Hadley’s “Guide”) and Emerson (Dominic’s sister) and it’s interesting to learn their stories.
This book is an emotional journey for the characters as well as a journey of learning and I think the author did a very good job in showing this in the story.
Something I think is important to mention is that there are moments in the book with transitions between past/present, one realm of existence and the other, in which you should pay attention so you don't lose track of the progression of the story.
As the writing in this book is emotional, and the characters feel very real, be prepared to possibly shed a few tears as you read.
Overall I think this is a really good book and I recommend it, also I look forward to reading more from this author.
August 23, 2013
I received my copy from Goodreads First Reads.
This book could have gone through a few more drafts before being published. It was hard sometimes to keep reading from all of the typos that littered the book. Commas were frequently misused, words were misspelled or wrong words were used (in one instance, "aloud" instead of "allowed," and in another, "you're" instead of "your"), and later in the book, periods were sometimes forgotten.
Aside from the grammar, a lot of the moments between Hadley and Dominic felt overdone and cheesy. While I understand that they are "twin flames" and have a strong pull to each other, each time that they spoke of each other, they sounded cliche to the point that it didn't seem realistic. I think maybe highlighting some not-so-good aspects of their relationship could have helped to make it more believable, such as a fight that they had, or a strong trait that Hadley didn't like in Dominic or vice versa. Plus, some of the sections where they described their love for each other were unneeded and could have been either severely tightened or deleted all together. It's already clear how much they miss each other just by her determination to stay in contact with him and his inability to move on from her death.
What I did like about the book was the idea of the life cycle between three realms with Masters as God. I wanted to know more about the cycle, mainly about Pre-Earth and the details of that realm, and was slightly disappointed that nothing was revealed about it except it's the phase before Earth where people are alive. What confused me, however, was the purpose of Earth. If on Earth, one is to discover her/his traits for the next realm, then what is the purpose of Pre-Earth besides living? Why can't the people on Pre-Earth learn their traits to take into Earth and Earth be the final realm that helps Pre-Earth?
The book overall was a nice story, but it seemed too much like a first draft. With better attention to grammar and a more realistic relationship, the story would have been really excellent.
This book could have gone through a few more drafts before being published. It was hard sometimes to keep reading from all of the typos that littered the book. Commas were frequently misused, words were misspelled or wrong words were used (in one instance, "aloud" instead of "allowed," and in another, "you're" instead of "your"), and later in the book, periods were sometimes forgotten.
Aside from the grammar, a lot of the moments between Hadley and Dominic felt overdone and cheesy. While I understand that they are "twin flames" and have a strong pull to each other, each time that they spoke of each other, they sounded cliche to the point that it didn't seem realistic. I think maybe highlighting some not-so-good aspects of their relationship could have helped to make it more believable, such as a fight that they had, or a strong trait that Hadley didn't like in Dominic or vice versa. Plus, some of the sections where they described their love for each other were unneeded and could have been either severely tightened or deleted all together. It's already clear how much they miss each other just by her determination to stay in contact with him and his inability to move on from her death.
What I did like about the book was the idea of the life cycle between three realms with Masters as God. I wanted to know more about the cycle, mainly about Pre-Earth and the details of that realm, and was slightly disappointed that nothing was revealed about it except it's the phase before Earth where people are alive. What confused me, however, was the purpose of Earth. If on Earth, one is to discover her/his traits for the next realm, then what is the purpose of Pre-Earth besides living? Why can't the people on Pre-Earth learn their traits to take into Earth and Earth be the final realm that helps Pre-Earth?
The book overall was a nice story, but it seemed too much like a first draft. With better attention to grammar and a more realistic relationship, the story would have been really excellent.
May 27, 2013
Hadley Christensen isn't about to die. She is already dead. No one else knows but they are all dead too. And with those powerful three statements, Mindy Larson got me hooked on her book.
I didn’t even need to have a love story or the love story of Dominic and Hadley to make it even more intriguing. Or the more intriguing fact Mindy didn’t use regular, biblical names for her characters: Hadley, Dominic, Emerson, Logan, Ruby… yes I notice that.
However it wasn’t just about Hadley not being an Unknown (my new term of the week) anymore and exploring The Truth. There were a lot to learn about rules, Pre-Earth, Earth, abilities, realms… these alone could have filled a whole novel and I would have been more than content. Hadley was given the rare privilege to make contact from the other side, desperately hoping to convince Dominic of his true state and ensure they would be together once more. But Dominic was crippled by grief and wasn’t very receptive, so for me, I thought that her actions were a bit selfish.
By the end of the book, so much has happened that I’m left wondering if being an Unknown isn’t better that knowing The Truth. But Mindy isn’t satisfied with making me want to keep my head buried in the sand for the next ten lifetimes. You would have to read the book to understand that statement!
You know what that they say the truth will set you free…
A thrilling and romantic story that puts you in the driver seat instead of passenger one (no pun intended), This Morning I Woke Up Dead is well on its way to become a cult classic of its genre.
I didn’t even need to have a love story or the love story of Dominic and Hadley to make it even more intriguing. Or the more intriguing fact Mindy didn’t use regular, biblical names for her characters: Hadley, Dominic, Emerson, Logan, Ruby… yes I notice that.
However it wasn’t just about Hadley not being an Unknown (my new term of the week) anymore and exploring The Truth. There were a lot to learn about rules, Pre-Earth, Earth, abilities, realms… these alone could have filled a whole novel and I would have been more than content. Hadley was given the rare privilege to make contact from the other side, desperately hoping to convince Dominic of his true state and ensure they would be together once more. But Dominic was crippled by grief and wasn’t very receptive, so for me, I thought that her actions were a bit selfish.
By the end of the book, so much has happened that I’m left wondering if being an Unknown isn’t better that knowing The Truth. But Mindy isn’t satisfied with making me want to keep my head buried in the sand for the next ten lifetimes. You would have to read the book to understand that statement!
You know what that they say the truth will set you free…
A thrilling and romantic story that puts you in the driver seat instead of passenger one (no pun intended), This Morning I Woke Up Dead is well on its way to become a cult classic of its genre.
April 20, 2013
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Can you imagine finally having the life you’ve always dreamed of and you’re engaged to the guy of your dreams? Then suddenly all of it is taken away, you’re killed in a car accident and your life is forever changed, you’re dead. This is exactly what happens to Hadley. She visits Dominic and wishes he could see or hear her, she misses him so much. Her friend Logan explains that she needs to distance herself otherwise she won’t be able to get over him, but she can’t seem to do that.
This is a great book about what possibly could happen if we die. I know quite a few people that feel there has to be more than one higher power in charge and this book explores that. It also gave an excellent meaning of soul mates. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique view of the afterlife. I was drawn in from the very first page and was enraptured with the story, I was interested to see how it would end. A great read through and through!
This is a great book about what possibly could happen if we die. I know quite a few people that feel there has to be more than one higher power in charge and this book explores that. It also gave an excellent meaning of soul mates. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique view of the afterlife. I was drawn in from the very first page and was enraptured with the story, I was interested to see how it would end. A great read through and through!
August 12, 2014
This book is very different from other paranormal books that I have read. I find it very interesting and it has captivated me. I love the characters Hadley and Dominic, I like that we get both POV's. They are so in love that being dead or "alive" doesn't change their need to be with each other and neither of them can move on. I also like the secondary characters, Emerson and Logan. This books gets you wondering "what if". It is one of those books that stays with you and has you thinking about it even when you are not reading. I can't wait to read the next one in the series to see what Ms. Larson does next with this story.
December 4, 2013
The beginning captures your attention right away and holds it steady. This Author has the ability to keep you wondering what will happen next. The characters are emotional and entertaining. Their relationships and feelings to one another are intense, and their desire to have each other is palpable. This is a great read for anyone intrigued by the idea of life after death and the people and things we might see there. But more importantly, this book is about our yearnings for the people we can't bring with us. Or can we? Very enjoyable read.
April 23, 2013
I read this book from start to finish in one sitting. The story was so gripping that I just had to keep reading. I needed to find out what happened to Dominic and Hadley in the end. I never even saw the ending of the book coming.
I feel that this book deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
I received a copy of this eBook from the author.
I feel that this book deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
I received a copy of this eBook from the author.
July 7, 2013
This book grabbed my attention and I couldn't put it down. But at the end I was left wondering was that it? It was the predictable ending that pushed me to give this book two stars instead of 3.
January 22, 2014
I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.
Hadley is on her way to work one morning when she is in an accident. When she wakes up she can remember the accident and watching the SUV coming towards her and then thinking I am dead. I am no longer alive. When she realizes that she is dead she is then given permission by the masters to try and convince her fiancé that he is dead as well. If she can make him believe that he is dead too then they can be together forever.
After the death of his fiancée Hadley whom Dominic missed so much that sometimes he thinks he see, hears and feels her with him. Sometimes he can feel her running her fingers through his hair the way she did when she was alive. He has dreams of her where she is trying to tell him he is dead too. But upon wakening he is not real sure or can't exactly remember what it was he had dreamed that she was trying to tell him. Dominic has had a hard time with accepting and believing that Hadley is really gone and that he will never see her again.
I felt so bad for Dominic and Hadley after her death with them not being able to be together. While I could understand Hadley loving Dominic so much that she needs and wants to be with him all the time and hates being apart from him for any amount of time. Sometimes I kind of thought she was kind of being a little selfish trying to get Dominic to realize he was dead too. I can understand loving someone so much that you can't stand to be away from them. I understand and know or I believe that I know how it feels to have found your soulmate. Hadley and Dominic never cared what they were doing or not doing as long as they were doing it together.
When I first read the title "This Morning I Woke Up Dead" being in the frame of mind that I am at the moment with zombies and the undead being my favorite genre I thought oh fantastic "zombies". And after reading the summary I was like soulmate? Oh cool zombies that have lives and fall in love. How cool is that? Boy was I wrong. But hey no worries it was a great read still. I really loved it. There were parts of it that I or my husband has said or discussed before. I even asked him if he had wrote a book and never told me about it. But of course he laughed and said no.
I enjoyed reading This Morning I woke up Dead so well that I recommend it to anyone who loves reading about life, love, being happy and death or just an all around great book. Oh there may be times when you will need a couple of tissues, one for crying and one for laughing.
Hadley is on her way to work one morning when she is in an accident. When she wakes up she can remember the accident and watching the SUV coming towards her and then thinking I am dead. I am no longer alive. When she realizes that she is dead she is then given permission by the masters to try and convince her fiancé that he is dead as well. If she can make him believe that he is dead too then they can be together forever.
After the death of his fiancée Hadley whom Dominic missed so much that sometimes he thinks he see, hears and feels her with him. Sometimes he can feel her running her fingers through his hair the way she did when she was alive. He has dreams of her where she is trying to tell him he is dead too. But upon wakening he is not real sure or can't exactly remember what it was he had dreamed that she was trying to tell him. Dominic has had a hard time with accepting and believing that Hadley is really gone and that he will never see her again.
I felt so bad for Dominic and Hadley after her death with them not being able to be together. While I could understand Hadley loving Dominic so much that she needs and wants to be with him all the time and hates being apart from him for any amount of time. Sometimes I kind of thought she was kind of being a little selfish trying to get Dominic to realize he was dead too. I can understand loving someone so much that you can't stand to be away from them. I understand and know or I believe that I know how it feels to have found your soulmate. Hadley and Dominic never cared what they were doing or not doing as long as they were doing it together.
When I first read the title "This Morning I Woke Up Dead" being in the frame of mind that I am at the moment with zombies and the undead being my favorite genre I thought oh fantastic "zombies". And after reading the summary I was like soulmate? Oh cool zombies that have lives and fall in love. How cool is that? Boy was I wrong. But hey no worries it was a great read still. I really loved it. There were parts of it that I or my husband has said or discussed before. I even asked him if he had wrote a book and never told me about it. But of course he laughed and said no.
I enjoyed reading This Morning I woke up Dead so well that I recommend it to anyone who loves reading about life, love, being happy and death or just an all around great book. Oh there may be times when you will need a couple of tissues, one for crying and one for laughing.
December 18, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.
What if everyone on Earth was already dead? When I skimmed over the synopsis for This Morning I Woke Up Dead, I stopped at the second paragraph and knew I HAD to read this. The plot was so original and fresh sounding - I couldn't imagine how this was going to work, but I was intrigued. Needless to say, I was not disappointed!
We're introduced to Hadley and Dominic and get to know them and, through flashbacks, what their relationship had been like before Hadley's car accident. Mindy Larson has created an organic and believable relationship that made you ache for both of them to be together again. I really felt like I knew them and was right there with them.
Once Hadley is given permission to contact Dominic, I had high hopes that he would realize he's already dead, too, so he could be with Hadley again. I worried that his intelligence would work against him, however, because he rationalized the inexplicable over and over again. Yet he also seemed open to possibilities he had never thought of before - he believed Hadley was visiting him every time he felt her icy touch. Only a quarter of the way in, I wanted him to come to the correct conclusion so he could be reunited with Hadley.
This Morning I Woke Up Dead goes beyond Hadley and Dominic's love story. It made me think about life and death - what does it mean to be alive? Is there life after death and what is there before birth? I laughed and cried right along with the characters in trying to figure all of this out. The ending was so surprising - I never saw it coming in a million years. It was heartrending and uplifting at the same time - I don't know how Mindy Larson managed to make it both, but she did.
I haven't been this touched by a book in such a serious way in a long time. I've been looking for a book that would make me feel the way this book has done. This is a book that once read, no matter how long it's been or how many books you've read in the meantime, you'll remember everything about it just by glancing at the title. This Morning I Woke Up Dead has that kind of staying power. I'm looking forward to the next book!
What if everyone on Earth was already dead? When I skimmed over the synopsis for This Morning I Woke Up Dead, I stopped at the second paragraph and knew I HAD to read this. The plot was so original and fresh sounding - I couldn't imagine how this was going to work, but I was intrigued. Needless to say, I was not disappointed!
We're introduced to Hadley and Dominic and get to know them and, through flashbacks, what their relationship had been like before Hadley's car accident. Mindy Larson has created an organic and believable relationship that made you ache for both of them to be together again. I really felt like I knew them and was right there with them.
Once Hadley is given permission to contact Dominic, I had high hopes that he would realize he's already dead, too, so he could be with Hadley again. I worried that his intelligence would work against him, however, because he rationalized the inexplicable over and over again. Yet he also seemed open to possibilities he had never thought of before - he believed Hadley was visiting him every time he felt her icy touch. Only a quarter of the way in, I wanted him to come to the correct conclusion so he could be reunited with Hadley.
This Morning I Woke Up Dead goes beyond Hadley and Dominic's love story. It made me think about life and death - what does it mean to be alive? Is there life after death and what is there before birth? I laughed and cried right along with the characters in trying to figure all of this out. The ending was so surprising - I never saw it coming in a million years. It was heartrending and uplifting at the same time - I don't know how Mindy Larson managed to make it both, but she did.
I haven't been this touched by a book in such a serious way in a long time. I've been looking for a book that would make me feel the way this book has done. This is a book that once read, no matter how long it's been or how many books you've read in the meantime, you'll remember everything about it just by glancing at the title. This Morning I Woke Up Dead has that kind of staying power. I'm looking forward to the next book!
April 18, 2013
I have to say this book is truly amazing. once I picked it up I didn't want to stop reading. The way the Author write about the afterlife is amazing. I am really into that kind of thing and this book just makes me wonder , is it really like that or not...I've always believed their is a afterlife and she pretty much describes it how I think of it, so this book was very intriguing to me. That and reincarnation. How ppl are connected from one life cycle to the next until you get it right or decide to stay and learn.
I especially liked the way she described soul mates. I do believe in thatand that they are reunited in the afterlife and I love how when Dominic finally figured it out that he could be with Hadley forever if he just believed. then at the end of the book how they got what they wanted in life but in death..won't spoil it.
There were some very sad moments through out the book when Dominic lost everyone he loved in such as short time and I did
believe Ruby was going to be fine until Logan had her. That was unexpected. Also the death of Dominic's mother, she wasn't really sick but she believed so it was. That was kind of as mistery to me because it wasn't explained very well. after Hadley went to her to tell the truth I thought their would be a turn around. And I loved that ppl who did wrong in life were sent back as what they were..no spoiler their either..but it was a good twist. now I see a bug and wonder but I know that's not true..still it makes you think.
all in all this is a great book, especially if your into the afterlife. Mindy did a great job writing this book. she's a great author.
It would've gotten a 5 star had it not had so many missing words in sentences or misspelled words. just mistakes that were not fixed.
better proff reading or beta reader are badly needed.
I definitely recommend this book though. its truly worth the read and it is a very fast read . at least for me cause I just couldn't put it down.
I'm looking forward to her next book.
also I was given a copy if this book for a honest review. Thank you Mindy it was well worth my time!
I especially liked the way she described soul mates. I do believe in thatand that they are reunited in the afterlife and I love how when Dominic finally figured it out that he could be with Hadley forever if he just believed. then at the end of the book how they got what they wanted in life but in death..won't spoil it.
There were some very sad moments through out the book when Dominic lost everyone he loved in such as short time and I did
believe Ruby was going to be fine until Logan had her. That was unexpected. Also the death of Dominic's mother, she wasn't really sick but she believed so it was. That was kind of as mistery to me because it wasn't explained very well. after Hadley went to her to tell the truth I thought their would be a turn around. And I loved that ppl who did wrong in life were sent back as what they were..no spoiler their either..but it was a good twist. now I see a bug and wonder but I know that's not true..still it makes you think.
all in all this is a great book, especially if your into the afterlife. Mindy did a great job writing this book. she's a great author.
It would've gotten a 5 star had it not had so many missing words in sentences or misspelled words. just mistakes that were not fixed.
better proff reading or beta reader are badly needed.
I definitely recommend this book though. its truly worth the read and it is a very fast read . at least for me cause I just couldn't put it down.
I'm looking forward to her next book.
also I was given a copy if this book for a honest review. Thank you Mindy it was well worth my time!
January 3, 2014
This Morning I Woke Up Dead was a new concept for me. Sure, I read loads of paranormal and fantasy, but the plot itself was unique and fresh. Written in first person, we follow the afterlife, as you will, of Hadley. However, it’s not the sole POV in the book. We also see Dominic the fiancé she left behind.
The story veers and shows us the two sides of death in a concept that was too intriguing to ignore. What if death wasn’t death, but the beginning of something extraordinary? But what of those who are left alive on Earth? On the other side, we see Dominic as he transgresses through his grief. Hadley was his soul mate, and the level of love is clear. As strange as it is, his pain came alive for me more than Hadley’s, and I related to him more. I think that’s because I have lost a few family members close to me recently, so my own pain remains fresh. Either way, both are relatable in their own ways, and I found them both likable.
As I said, an intriguing read, but I won’t give away any major points. The story itself is more than worth the investment, and as my disclosure, I bought a copy of the book even though one was already provided for me.
While I’m an avid reader and new fan, I'll say this as gently as I can, but the overuse of adverbs in fiction, and specifically the *ly ones, drives me bonkers. Some readers have no qualms about them, but I do. A few here and there sprinkled for effect are reasonable, and the same goes for use in actual dialogue. This is a common mistake with newer writers, but it isn’t the end of the world. A writer can help their story far more by replacing them with strong action verbs and adding in vivid description.
Overall, I saw a lot of promise and expect intriguing, well-developed plots from this writer in the future. I'll keep my eye out for Pre-Earth #2.
The story veers and shows us the two sides of death in a concept that was too intriguing to ignore. What if death wasn’t death, but the beginning of something extraordinary? But what of those who are left alive on Earth? On the other side, we see Dominic as he transgresses through his grief. Hadley was his soul mate, and the level of love is clear. As strange as it is, his pain came alive for me more than Hadley’s, and I related to him more. I think that’s because I have lost a few family members close to me recently, so my own pain remains fresh. Either way, both are relatable in their own ways, and I found them both likable.
As I said, an intriguing read, but I won’t give away any major points. The story itself is more than worth the investment, and as my disclosure, I bought a copy of the book even though one was already provided for me.
While I’m an avid reader and new fan, I'll say this as gently as I can, but the overuse of adverbs in fiction, and specifically the *ly ones, drives me bonkers. Some readers have no qualms about them, but I do. A few here and there sprinkled for effect are reasonable, and the same goes for use in actual dialogue. This is a common mistake with newer writers, but it isn’t the end of the world. A writer can help their story far more by replacing them with strong action verbs and adding in vivid description.
Overall, I saw a lot of promise and expect intriguing, well-developed plots from this writer in the future. I'll keep my eye out for Pre-Earth #2.
August 24, 2013
This Morning I Woke Up Dead by Mindy Larson kept me reading just trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It digs into some really deep philosophical stuff but doesn’t hit you over the head with it.
Hadley wakes up one morning able to move around the Earth in spirit form. (She can even change her clothes by just thinking about it.) Turns out, the Earth is sort of a Limbo, a holding ground, between people who are “pre-Earth” and those who have moved on. All it takes is the ability to realize that we’re already dead. (Note: I’m not giving anything away--you find this out in the first couple of pages.) Different people are more stubborn about realizing this, one of whom is her fiance Dominic. The links between the two are hard to break.
The idea that we are all dead is not a new one. Philosophers have realized this, and even our language acknowledges that someone who is “alive” has more spark than the rest of us. And Larson did a great job at creating a new “world” that lives alongside our current one.
I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say that you have to be open-minded to enjoy this book, but even those of a more religious bent than I will find something to relate to. If I had any criticism at all, it’s that it needs to be proofread more carefully as the typos (the your/you’re sort of thing) often got in the way of a flawless reading. I’m not sure I would re-read it (which is my criteria for a five-star rating), but I certainly didn’t waste my time reading it this time.
Hadley wakes up one morning able to move around the Earth in spirit form. (She can even change her clothes by just thinking about it.) Turns out, the Earth is sort of a Limbo, a holding ground, between people who are “pre-Earth” and those who have moved on. All it takes is the ability to realize that we’re already dead. (Note: I’m not giving anything away--you find this out in the first couple of pages.) Different people are more stubborn about realizing this, one of whom is her fiance Dominic. The links between the two are hard to break.
The idea that we are all dead is not a new one. Philosophers have realized this, and even our language acknowledges that someone who is “alive” has more spark than the rest of us. And Larson did a great job at creating a new “world” that lives alongside our current one.
I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say that you have to be open-minded to enjoy this book, but even those of a more religious bent than I will find something to relate to. If I had any criticism at all, it’s that it needs to be proofread more carefully as the typos (the your/you’re sort of thing) often got in the way of a flawless reading. I’m not sure I would re-read it (which is my criteria for a five-star rating), but I certainly didn’t waste my time reading it this time.
March 31, 2014
Following on from my review of The Beginning of The End I plunged straight in to This Morning I Woke Up Dead (or TMIWUD from now on!!), prepare to have your emotions squeezed through a wringer!
In the last book we met two couples Emmerson and Logan, and Dominic and Hadley. I had also better say that Emmerson and Dominic are siblings.
During the story Logan is involved in a fatal accident leaving Emmerson to bring up her child alone and Hadley is killed in a traffic collision in which she is killed leaving Dominic struggling to cope.
The story has two points of view, the view of Logan and Hadley and the view of Emmerson and Dominic, and as they are dead you will gather that Logan and Hadley are not exactly on this earth!!
Now before I typed this I wasn't sure how much of this story to share with you as I don't want to spoil it for you but I will tell you this - its a story of love, its heartbreaking in bits, its funny (wait till they get to Disneyland!) its a story of hope and never giving up.
It is really thought provoking too, they main thought being life after death and the idea of having somebody watch over you.
Now I am excited to say that there is a sequel and I am even more excited to say that I am going to review it for you nearer the release date which will be in May/June this year so not long to wait!
To sum up though its a beautiful story and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!
In the last book we met two couples Emmerson and Logan, and Dominic and Hadley. I had also better say that Emmerson and Dominic are siblings.
During the story Logan is involved in a fatal accident leaving Emmerson to bring up her child alone and Hadley is killed in a traffic collision in which she is killed leaving Dominic struggling to cope.
The story has two points of view, the view of Logan and Hadley and the view of Emmerson and Dominic, and as they are dead you will gather that Logan and Hadley are not exactly on this earth!!
Now before I typed this I wasn't sure how much of this story to share with you as I don't want to spoil it for you but I will tell you this - its a story of love, its heartbreaking in bits, its funny (wait till they get to Disneyland!) its a story of hope and never giving up.
It is really thought provoking too, they main thought being life after death and the idea of having somebody watch over you.
Now I am excited to say that there is a sequel and I am even more excited to say that I am going to review it for you nearer the release date which will be in May/June this year so not long to wait!
To sum up though its a beautiful story and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!
August 22, 2014
This book is unlike any other book I have read. It is an interesting world the author has created. I liked the fantasy of the whole thing. One thing I love about books is how they can take you to different places and how they make you think about the world around you. Why do you feel like you already know some people even though you have just met? What more might be out there? This book opens up so many interesting possibilities.
Hadley is very much in love with Dominic. They are going to get married. One morning on her way to work, she is in an accident. And that is when her eyes are opened and she realizes that she was already dead. Living on pre-earth is just one step in the journey. Now she realizes, with help from her guide, Logan, that everyone is dead and if she can just get Dominic to realize this, they can be together. The Masters are like the boss. They keep everyone on the path. But when Logan "cheats" the system, Hadley realizes everything isn't black and white. There may be a way for them to vanish and stay together without rules. But with everything, there is always a price. And getting her love, Dominic, to realize he is dead, is taking a heavy toll on her.
The twists and turns of this book will keep you glued to your seat. You don't want to miss anything. If you love fantasy type books, add this to your list. It is very intriguing, and keeps you guessing. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Hadley is very much in love with Dominic. They are going to get married. One morning on her way to work, she is in an accident. And that is when her eyes are opened and she realizes that she was already dead. Living on pre-earth is just one step in the journey. Now she realizes, with help from her guide, Logan, that everyone is dead and if she can just get Dominic to realize this, they can be together. The Masters are like the boss. They keep everyone on the path. But when Logan "cheats" the system, Hadley realizes everything isn't black and white. There may be a way for them to vanish and stay together without rules. But with everything, there is always a price. And getting her love, Dominic, to realize he is dead, is taking a heavy toll on her.
The twists and turns of this book will keep you glued to your seat. You don't want to miss anything. If you love fantasy type books, add this to your list. It is very intriguing, and keeps you guessing. I can't wait to see what happens next.
June 3, 2013
Heads up to all readers, this book had me tearing up multiple times! Alright let’s begin this review by stating that I was totally confused on this whole everyone is dead on Earth but that most people do not know this, until they “die.” Hadley and Dominic were engaged before Hadley’s unexpected death, which has caused them both pain. Hadley because she cannot communicate with her favorite Unknown- Dominic and Dominic because he will never be able to see Hadley again. This amazing story shows of all the struggles that everyone surrounding Hadley and Dominic must face in order to be with one another once again, as well as the struggles one must face to be with their soul mate once again. The life of Dominic is really heartbreaking after Hadley’s death and you immediately wish that things will become better for him, sadly they don’t for a while. This story is amazing and it’s completely different from any other book that I have read. The epilogue has me DYING for Thirteen Choices. I am realllllllllyyyyy glad that this story will be continued through another important character! All in all this book was an amazing read, very few errors for the eye to catch, and it’s pretty lengthy so you actually have time to enjoy the story! I would recommend this book to any reader that I know. My rating 5 stars!
June 11, 2015
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
What if you're life on Earth wasn't the most important part of your existence? What if when you die, that's when you start to do the most important thing of your existence? In This Morning I Woke Up Dead, your life on Earth doesn't mean anything until you die, you're just here to find out what you do best so that you can carry it over and do what's important.
Throughout this story, your taken through the heartache and the pain that both Dominic and Hadley go through after she dies. You're taken on a journey with Hadley while she figures out exactly what she is meant to do, but along the way we are shown through Dominic how heartbreaking it is to lose the love of your life. How do you continue on, when you feel that the one person you lived for was gone?
I loved reading this book and it was hard to put it down. Mindy Lawson does such a great job connecting you to the characters, even the secondary characters. You feel the emotions that they are going through and are constantly wondering when will they get their happily ever after. You'll just have to read the story to see what ends up happening with Dominic and Hadley.
What if you're life on Earth wasn't the most important part of your existence? What if when you die, that's when you start to do the most important thing of your existence? In This Morning I Woke Up Dead, your life on Earth doesn't mean anything until you die, you're just here to find out what you do best so that you can carry it over and do what's important.
Throughout this story, your taken through the heartache and the pain that both Dominic and Hadley go through after she dies. You're taken on a journey with Hadley while she figures out exactly what she is meant to do, but along the way we are shown through Dominic how heartbreaking it is to lose the love of your life. How do you continue on, when you feel that the one person you lived for was gone?
I loved reading this book and it was hard to put it down. Mindy Lawson does such a great job connecting you to the characters, even the secondary characters. You feel the emotions that they are going through and are constantly wondering when will they get their happily ever after. You'll just have to read the story to see what ends up happening with Dominic and Hadley.
December 26, 2013
I got this book from the author and publisher, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.
Firstly I would like to thank the author and the tour organizer for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.
I really, really, really loved this book from my heart !!!
A great read which will definitely touch your heart and make you feel the essence of true love once again and for those who doesn't believe in true love, well I think those of you will surely fall for love after reading this fantastic story.
The concept is totally unique and the blurb just got me so I had to read it but the whole story just knocked me over, made me brawl and do snot-crying during the most emotional scenes. The presentation is so good that I felt myself being in Hadley's shoes.
The characterization is great and I loved Dominic, he is so sweet!!! His emotions won me over and the chemistry between him and Hadley made me cry as well. The total execution of the concept should be given a huge A+ !!! The suspense made me go on reading till the end and the ending was totally unexpected for me. I loved the author's writing style and it connected me to the plot very well.
A really great read that will surely mesmerize you !!! Go for it, guys!!!
Firstly I would like to thank the author and the tour organizer for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book.
I really, really, really loved this book from my heart !!!
A great read which will definitely touch your heart and make you feel the essence of true love once again and for those who doesn't believe in true love, well I think those of you will surely fall for love after reading this fantastic story.
The concept is totally unique and the blurb just got me so I had to read it but the whole story just knocked me over, made me brawl and do snot-crying during the most emotional scenes. The presentation is so good that I felt myself being in Hadley's shoes.
The characterization is great and I loved Dominic, he is so sweet!!! His emotions won me over and the chemistry between him and Hadley made me cry as well. The total execution of the concept should be given a huge A+ !!! The suspense made me go on reading till the end and the ending was totally unexpected for me. I loved the author's writing style and it connected me to the plot very well.
A really great read that will surely mesmerize you !!! Go for it, guys!!!
June 12, 2013
What if everything in this life was really just a test, a training ground if you will for another life on another realm of existence? That is the underlying premise behind the love story in This Morning I Woke Up Dead. It is an emotional journey with Hadley who has passed on and the love of her life Dominic who was left behind.
Ms. Larson has created not only this world but one before and one after as part of her story, it is heartbreaking as well as heartwarming. It is a wonderful love story that transcends death. With secondary characters also tied into the story in surprising ways it draws you in. Be sure to have some tissues handy when you read this.
I at first had difficulty wrapping my head around what the author was trying to convey by saying we were all already dead and there are a few places that I felt the story slowed down quite a bit. However overall this is a good read and an emotional offering by a new indie-author.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Ms. Larson has created not only this world but one before and one after as part of her story, it is heartbreaking as well as heartwarming. It is a wonderful love story that transcends death. With secondary characters also tied into the story in surprising ways it draws you in. Be sure to have some tissues handy when you read this.
I at first had difficulty wrapping my head around what the author was trying to convey by saying we were all already dead and there are a few places that I felt the story slowed down quite a bit. However overall this is a good read and an emotional offering by a new indie-author.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 17, 2013
I read this book on a recommendation from a friend. I couldn't put it down. It's very compelling. The love story is passionate and "real feeling" without being overly mushy. I am concrete in my beliefs about the after life, so it didn't make me question what I believe but it most certainly had me thinking about my beliefs and feelings constantly.
Mindy creates a believable world of what could happen when we take our last breath or "wake up" in this sense. The scenario she depicts of the torment of those who pass on from our realm yet are still able to see and be around us without being able to interact is intense and paints a perspective rarely portrayed before. The detail in which the character's emotions and feelings are described is very well done and the level at which I rooted for Dominic and Hadley to be reunited greatly increased with each passing chapter. All in all I feel it a very good read and one definitely worth checking out.
Mindy creates a believable world of what could happen when we take our last breath or "wake up" in this sense. The scenario she depicts of the torment of those who pass on from our realm yet are still able to see and be around us without being able to interact is intense and paints a perspective rarely portrayed before. The detail in which the character's emotions and feelings are described is very well done and the level at which I rooted for Dominic and Hadley to be reunited greatly increased with each passing chapter. All in all I feel it a very good read and one definitely worth checking out.
January 17, 2015
This Morning I Woke Up Dead was a roller coaster of emotions, not just for myself but for the characters. Having to die, realize you've been dead all along, then being able to see your loved ones but them not able to communicate with you sounds so heartbreaking.
Hadley and Dominic are the kind of love everyone seems to be looking for. No matter what dimension they're on, you can see the love for one another. Even when Hadley gets her memories of Dominic taken away, she can still not stop thinking of him and her love for him.
I can appreciate the flashbacks because they enhance the book to where I get to understand more of the characters and their pasts. It read well and I completely enjoyed the way Dominic seems to care for his sister Emerson and his niece Ruby. Author Mindy Larson put so much emotion in this book, and I've told you a bit about it, but you need to read this for yourself. The book has marvelous characters, written well, and makes you think about life and death.
Hadley and Dominic are the kind of love everyone seems to be looking for. No matter what dimension they're on, you can see the love for one another. Even when Hadley gets her memories of Dominic taken away, she can still not stop thinking of him and her love for him.
I can appreciate the flashbacks because they enhance the book to where I get to understand more of the characters and their pasts. It read well and I completely enjoyed the way Dominic seems to care for his sister Emerson and his niece Ruby. Author Mindy Larson put so much emotion in this book, and I've told you a bit about it, but you need to read this for yourself. The book has marvelous characters, written well, and makes you think about life and death.
November 5, 2014
What an incredibly unique book! This is completely different thank anything I have ever read...what a great imagination Mindy Larson has! The idea of a sort of reincarnation world almost, were we go from world to world bettering ourselves each time, and that our time on Earth is just a practice run, is really cool! The characters were believable and lovable. I will definitely be reading the reset of the series!
November 1, 2013
I won and received this book through Goodreads.
Great book. Would have said 5 stars, but was rather annoyed with Dominic--- wanted to thump him in the head and say to quit being stubborn and just believe lol. It really was dragging forever with him for entirely too long. But, still a wonderful book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Great book. Would have said 5 stars, but was rather annoyed with Dominic--- wanted to thump him in the head and say to quit being stubborn and just believe lol. It really was dragging forever with him for entirely too long. But, still a wonderful book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
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