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Dragonfly #1
Dragonfly
Falling in love changes everything...
Three bad things I learned this year:
-People you trust lie, even parents.
-That hot guy, the one who’s totally into you, he might not be the one.
-Things are not always how they appear.
Three good things I learned this year:
-Best friends are always there for you, even when they’re far away.
-That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one.
-Oh, and things are not always how they appear.
Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy.
Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew.
Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father.
A secret that could permanently change all their lives.
Undertow, Book #2 is OUT NOW!!!
Three bad things I learned this year:
-People you trust lie, even parents.
-That hot guy, the one who’s totally into you, he might not be the one.
-Things are not always how they appear.
Three good things I learned this year:
-Best friends are always there for you, even when they’re far away.
-That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one.
-Oh, and things are not always how they appear.
Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy.
Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew.
Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father.
A secret that could permanently change all their lives.
Undertow, Book #2 is OUT NOW!!!
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2013
692 people are currently reading
3133 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Talbert Moore
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THANK YOU so much for reading! <3
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
October 11, 2014
A sweet and endearing story with tons of mystery!
After her best friend moves away, seventeen year old Anna Sanders is left to wallow in her loneliness. Having few friends and not entirely acclimated with the social scene, Anna's days are looking fairly bleak...until her intriguing run-in with Jack and Lucy—the enigmatic and filthy rich Kyser twins.
When Anna meets Jack, she is drawn to him with a magnetic-like pull. Jack is sexy and mysterious, and intensely attracted to Anna--but he harbors a huge secret which keeps his affections at bay. In fact, he's made it quite clear that he cannot be with Anna as he repeatedly denies her requests....too bad his actions contradict him at every turn.
He was a bad drug that left me craving more even when it hurt me.
To pile on to the excitement, Anna's gorgeous and attentive artist friend Julian starts showing sudden interest as he begins pursuing her as well. Julian is a total sweetheart with one hell of a sexy side. What's a girl to do?
With his shaggy, dark locks and rock-star swagger, Julian could pass anywhere—and he seemed at ease everywhere.
I really enjoyed the element of mystery that was generously woven into this book. The writing is wonderful and really pulled me into the story. Anna's character was fun and truly a breath of fresh air...not to mention, possessed some kick-ass Nancy Drew skills! Although this is a YA-Mature, it had some seriously sexy little make out scenes and some of the sweetest kisses ever! There is a shimmer of a love triangle, but it is in no way deceitful, or one that becomes over-the-top.
Dragonfly is book one of a series, so this story does leave off on quite the cliffhanger. My jaw figuratively hit the ground after the last page was swiped! There are still many unanswered questions and a bucket load of mystery that I cannot wait to get to the bottom of in Undertow! (Which is now available for purchase)
*Arc generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Romance/YA-Mature
▪ Steam Caliber: Mild/sexy
▪ Romance: Turbulent. Passionate. A slight love triangle.
▪ Characters: Unique, broken, and well-developed.
▪ Plot: An intense story with tons of mystery and intrigue.
▪ Writing: Engaing, gripping, and fresh.
▪ POV: 1st Person: Heroine
▪ Cliffhanger: Intense cliffy
▪ Next Installment: Follow up (published)
After her best friend moves away, seventeen year old Anna Sanders is left to wallow in her loneliness. Having few friends and not entirely acclimated with the social scene, Anna's days are looking fairly bleak...until her intriguing run-in with Jack and Lucy—the enigmatic and filthy rich Kyser twins.
When Anna meets Jack, she is drawn to him with a magnetic-like pull. Jack is sexy and mysterious, and intensely attracted to Anna--but he harbors a huge secret which keeps his affections at bay. In fact, he's made it quite clear that he cannot be with Anna as he repeatedly denies her requests....too bad his actions contradict him at every turn.
He was a bad drug that left me craving more even when it hurt me.
To pile on to the excitement, Anna's gorgeous and attentive artist friend Julian starts showing sudden interest as he begins pursuing her as well. Julian is a total sweetheart with one hell of a sexy side. What's a girl to do?
With his shaggy, dark locks and rock-star swagger, Julian could pass anywhere—and he seemed at ease everywhere.
I really enjoyed the element of mystery that was generously woven into this book. The writing is wonderful and really pulled me into the story. Anna's character was fun and truly a breath of fresh air...not to mention, possessed some kick-ass Nancy Drew skills! Although this is a YA-Mature, it had some seriously sexy little make out scenes and some of the sweetest kisses ever! There is a shimmer of a love triangle, but it is in no way deceitful, or one that becomes over-the-top.
Dragonfly is book one of a series, so this story does leave off on quite the cliffhanger. My jaw figuratively hit the ground after the last page was swiped! There are still many unanswered questions and a bucket load of mystery that I cannot wait to get to the bottom of in Undertow! (Which is now available for purchase)
*Arc generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Romance/YA-Mature
▪ Steam Caliber: Mild/sexy
▪ Romance: Turbulent. Passionate. A slight love triangle.
▪ Characters: Unique, broken, and well-developed.
▪ Plot: An intense story with tons of mystery and intrigue.
▪ Writing: Engaing, gripping, and fresh.
▪ POV: 1st Person: Heroine
▪ Cliffhanger: Intense cliffy
▪ Next Installment: Follow up (published)
September 25, 2014
SO excited to share this new series with you guys! It's romantic and steamy and soapy and sexy, and it's all set at the beach...
Check out the NEW Pinterest Series Board that features real location shots, shots of "Julian's" art, teasers and more!
Here: http://bit.ly/1kP9RCe
All series books are out now! I hope you have as much fun reading them as I had writing them. <3
Check out the NEW Pinterest Series Board that features real location shots, shots of "Julian's" art, teasers and more!
Here: http://bit.ly/1kP9RCe
All series books are out now! I hope you have as much fun reading them as I had writing them. <3
June 14, 2013
I don't usually rate books that I don't finish. I either write a review without rating or I don't review or rate. But in this cast, simply because of the last scene that I made it through, I'm giving this 1 star.
I didn't love this when I started reading it. You're immediately thrust into the action of the book and I found that somewhat disorientating. I figured everything out rather quickly though and I thought the story was ok, it wasn't great, I was never going to give this five stars, but I was interested in the mystery.
But the more I read the less and less interested I became. This is a book that kind of moves along on the surface, there's no real depth to it and the characters are more caricatures than fully developed people. I had absolutely zero connection with the main character, Anna, I thought she was lovesick and strange. And Julian, one of the love interests just felt so contrived that whenever he was in a scene I just wanted to laugh.
For me this was more a YA book that was written for teens, maybe even younger teens, although there's quite a bit of drinking, sex, and other "mature" situations. In fact, this book has one of the oddest hookup scenes I've ever read. I read it over several times and I still couldn't tell if the guy had his hand up her skirt or if she had an orgasm from kissing or if she had an orgasm at all or if he put her hand up her skirt after she had the maybe orgasm. But this lacks the kind of nuance I've come to expect from YA books that crossover to the adult market.
The pacing also left something to be desired. The book covers this huge swath of time, but it kind of skips quickly from scene to scene just to show the important times. There's no transitions or background information which makes the story feel like a series of short stories that happen to be about the same people.
All that said I had committed to finishing the book. I decided to skim some scenes, but I was still going to make it to the end. Then I got to the scene 56% of the way through where two of the guys in the story are drag racing (one of the many random goings on that seemingly have nothing to do with the overall story). Anna and her friends are drinking prior to the drag race (brilliant) and when the drag race starts one of the cars swerves to avoid something in the road and ends up flipping over. One of the guys tells Anna that she and another girl need to leave before the police and paramedics get there since they've been drinking. Anna describes herself as "woozy" and says she "must smell like a distillery." THEN HE GIVES HER THE KEYS TO HIS CAR AND TELLS HER TO DRIVE THE OTHER GIRL HOME. Because obviously if you've had so much to drink that you can't act normal around cops/paramedics then I'm sure you're capable of driving you and someone else home.
I have no issue with drinking/drugs/sex in YA novels. But I do have an issue with such blatant idiocy. If she's going to drive have her crash or have her get caught by the cops. Have some consequences. Or at least acknowledge that she's about to drive drunk. There was zero mention of this.
After that I just couldn't go on. And I can't in good faith recommend that anyone pick up this book. Maybe something extraordinary happens, maybe the drinking and driving is somehow justified, I just didn't care enough to find out.
I received an electronic copy of this book from the publsiher via Netgalley for review. All opinions are (obviously) my own.
I didn't love this when I started reading it. You're immediately thrust into the action of the book and I found that somewhat disorientating. I figured everything out rather quickly though and I thought the story was ok, it wasn't great, I was never going to give this five stars, but I was interested in the mystery.
But the more I read the less and less interested I became. This is a book that kind of moves along on the surface, there's no real depth to it and the characters are more caricatures than fully developed people. I had absolutely zero connection with the main character, Anna, I thought she was lovesick and strange. And Julian, one of the love interests just felt so contrived that whenever he was in a scene I just wanted to laugh.
For me this was more a YA book that was written for teens, maybe even younger teens, although there's quite a bit of drinking, sex, and other "mature" situations. In fact, this book has one of the oddest hookup scenes I've ever read. I read it over several times and I still couldn't tell if the guy had his hand up her skirt or if she had an orgasm from kissing or if she had an orgasm at all or if he put her hand up her skirt after she had the maybe orgasm. But this lacks the kind of nuance I've come to expect from YA books that crossover to the adult market.
The pacing also left something to be desired. The book covers this huge swath of time, but it kind of skips quickly from scene to scene just to show the important times. There's no transitions or background information which makes the story feel like a series of short stories that happen to be about the same people.
All that said I had committed to finishing the book. I decided to skim some scenes, but I was still going to make it to the end. Then I got to the scene 56% of the way through where two of the guys in the story are drag racing (one of the many random goings on that seemingly have nothing to do with the overall story). Anna and her friends are drinking prior to the drag race (brilliant) and when the drag race starts one of the cars swerves to avoid something in the road and ends up flipping over. One of the guys tells Anna that she and another girl need to leave before the police and paramedics get there since they've been drinking. Anna describes herself as "woozy" and says she "must smell like a distillery." THEN HE GIVES HER THE KEYS TO HIS CAR AND TELLS HER TO DRIVE THE OTHER GIRL HOME. Because obviously if you've had so much to drink that you can't act normal around cops/paramedics then I'm sure you're capable of driving you and someone else home.
I have no issue with drinking/drugs/sex in YA novels. But I do have an issue with such blatant idiocy. If she's going to drive have her crash or have her get caught by the cops. Have some consequences. Or at least acknowledge that she's about to drive drunk. There was zero mention of this.
After that I just couldn't go on. And I can't in good faith recommend that anyone pick up this book. Maybe something extraordinary happens, maybe the drinking and driving is somehow justified, I just didn't care enough to find out.
I received an electronic copy of this book from the publsiher via Netgalley for review. All opinions are (obviously) my own.
avoid-like-the-plague
August 12, 2015Future note to myself: Involves drunk-driving, stalking (main character), annoying/weak/self-centered/immature/indecisive MC, love triangle, fucked up hot and cold attitude, boring plot, terrible cover, stuck between YA, NA and other genres. To sum up; AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
March 14, 2014
Received from Netgalley for an honest review
When I first saw this on Netgalley, it was the comparison to VC Andrews that really grabbed my attention. I grew up reading VC Andrews. They were the first books that really got me interested in reading. I don’t know much about Gossip Girl, but I sure didn’t find anything in this book that reminded me of VC Andrews.
I didn’t like it guys. I really didn’t like it. It makes me so sad when I read a Galley that I dislike but it happens and I’m going to tell you why this book didn’t work for me.
Anna Sanders is the main Character. I loathe her. She’s annoying and brainless. I know that’s harsh, but I’m being serious. But I’ll get to that.. let’s start from the beginning.
For about the first 60 percent I felt like nothing signifigant happened. Anna meets Jack, she falls for him. He doesn’t return her calls, She pines for him. He throws her a bone then leaves her flat on her face, she still pines for him.. Rinse, wash, repeat.
Examples,
“I didn’t want to think about anything except Jack and why he wasn’t calling and what I could do about it.”
“He leaned down to kiss me, and I kissed him back hard, putting everything I had into it. I wasn’t thinking about logic or preparedness; I only wanted to keep him. I was willing to take a chance, move faster, if it would change his mind.”
He's a jerk and Anna is desperate. After that last thought of hers, I couldn’t bring myself to respect her. I hate girls like that and that’s one of the main reasons this book didn’t work for me.
Aside from all that, she has a guy who is awesome and vying for her attention, and she plays him and leads him on. It pissed me off so much and made me dislike her even more.
All of this though, isn’t the big thing that turned me off in Dragonfly. There is an incident that involves drinking that rubbed me the wrong way. Now I get it… drinking happens. That’s not what bothered me. What bothered me is here they are all at a drag race of sorts. The guys racing are drinking… while preparing to race… which is not cool! And without getting all spoilery, something bad happens and one character passes his keys to the other characters who are also drinking and says, drive yourselves home.
Um. Okay.. really? I was sitting there with my kindle in my hand silently going crazy thinking did I actually just read that? I try not to look at too many reviews of books before I write my own, but I searched through to see if I was the only one who noticed this. I was not, and I found this perfect review that describes exactly how I was feeling regarding this issue. She did not finish reading the book but she did make it to that point before putting it down.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Unlike her, I was able to finish it.. I figured I was over half done, I might as well continue to the end. It didn't get much better for me though. Anna continued to annoy me, and I couldn't really get passed all the dislikes I had already hit. I really wanted to like this one.
When I first saw this on Netgalley, it was the comparison to VC Andrews that really grabbed my attention. I grew up reading VC Andrews. They were the first books that really got me interested in reading. I don’t know much about Gossip Girl, but I sure didn’t find anything in this book that reminded me of VC Andrews.
I didn’t like it guys. I really didn’t like it. It makes me so sad when I read a Galley that I dislike but it happens and I’m going to tell you why this book didn’t work for me.
Anna Sanders is the main Character. I loathe her. She’s annoying and brainless. I know that’s harsh, but I’m being serious. But I’ll get to that.. let’s start from the beginning.
For about the first 60 percent I felt like nothing signifigant happened. Anna meets Jack, she falls for him. He doesn’t return her calls, She pines for him. He throws her a bone then leaves her flat on her face, she still pines for him.. Rinse, wash, repeat.
Examples,
“I didn’t want to think about anything except Jack and why he wasn’t calling and what I could do about it.”
“He leaned down to kiss me, and I kissed him back hard, putting everything I had into it. I wasn’t thinking about logic or preparedness; I only wanted to keep him. I was willing to take a chance, move faster, if it would change his mind.”
He's a jerk and Anna is desperate. After that last thought of hers, I couldn’t bring myself to respect her. I hate girls like that and that’s one of the main reasons this book didn’t work for me.
Aside from all that, she has a guy who is awesome and vying for her attention, and she plays him and leads him on. It pissed me off so much and made me dislike her even more.
All of this though, isn’t the big thing that turned me off in Dragonfly. There is an incident that involves drinking that rubbed me the wrong way. Now I get it… drinking happens. That’s not what bothered me. What bothered me is here they are all at a drag race of sorts. The guys racing are drinking… while preparing to race… which is not cool! And without getting all spoilery, something bad happens and one character passes his keys to the other characters who are also drinking and says, drive yourselves home.
Um. Okay.. really? I was sitting there with my kindle in my hand silently going crazy thinking did I actually just read that? I try not to look at too many reviews of books before I write my own, but I searched through to see if I was the only one who noticed this. I was not, and I found this perfect review that describes exactly how I was feeling regarding this issue. She did not finish reading the book but she did make it to that point before putting it down.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Unlike her, I was able to finish it.. I figured I was over half done, I might as well continue to the end. It didn't get much better for me though. Anna continued to annoy me, and I couldn't really get passed all the dislikes I had already hit. I really wanted to like this one.
Want to read
February 8, 2014FREE today on Amazon US (2/7/2014).
http://www.amazon.com/Dragonfly-Leigh...
http://www.amazon.com/Dragonfly-Leigh...
May 9, 2013
My first read by Leigh Talbert Moore, "Dragonfly" is a little different from your typical Young adult/New adult and contemporary romance novels.
Normally, I can see a trend when I start reading books but this one was a little unpredictable and I was pleasantly surprised by the take on the story line and actions of the characters.
The only thing is that OF COURSE there is a love triangle between the main girl, Anna, and two guys. One of the guys is attractive and popular while the other is artsy and mysterious. Shocker, eh?
While the plot, pacing, and characters were decent, I was intrigued a lot about the suspense of the secrets that a couple of the characters were holding. Some of the characters had their "notice me" moments for me while others didn't.
I'm now really curious as to how Ms. Moore plans to take the next installment in the series and the direction it will take. I can't wait!
Normally, I can see a trend when I start reading books but this one was a little unpredictable and I was pleasantly surprised by the take on the story line and actions of the characters.
The only thing is that OF COURSE there is a love triangle between the main girl, Anna, and two guys. One of the guys is attractive and popular while the other is artsy and mysterious. Shocker, eh?
While the plot, pacing, and characters were decent, I was intrigued a lot about the suspense of the secrets that a couple of the characters were holding. Some of the characters had their "notice me" moments for me while others didn't.
I'm now really curious as to how Ms. Moore plans to take the next installment in the series and the direction it will take. I can't wait!
September 9, 2025
Dragonfly is pure YA angst. Messy, emotional, and addictive. Anna gets swept into the Kyser twins’ glamorous but secret filled world while navigating her pull toward Julian. It’s full of love triangles, drama, and the chaos of first love. The ending isn’t a cliffhanger but leaves things open for the rest of the series. A re-edited edition of the original, it perfectly captures the magic and heartbreak of teenage romance.
Single POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
Single POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
June 7, 2013
HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL! This is the first thing that comes to mind after I read Dragonfly. Leigh has such a way of writing that it draws you in and you can't help but be swept into a current and keep holding your breath until the last page has finished and you end up thinking Holy Hell what did I just read! I have to say right from the first page I was captivated by Dragonfly because it is a read like no other. There are so many twists and turns and secrets that with every page turn I was jumping for joy because I needed to get my mind wrapped around everything that was happening.
Dragonfly is a story about love, lies, and secrets and how things are not always as they seem. Anna is living a quiet life. She does not like where she is living and her only best friend and friend has moved away so she has to do senior by herself or so she thinks. While at the beach before her senior year is supposed to happen she meets the twins Jack and Lucy. They are beautiful and so full of life.
On her first day of school she is excited because she is part of the school newspaper and she just found out that Jack and Lucy are going to school with her. Anna is quiet so she does not talk to many people but she is excited to know that Jack and Lucy are going to school with her. She is totally crushing on Jack because he makes her feel things she has never felt before but all is not well in paradise because Jack is so hot and cold with her and he puts her through some serious crap but she puts up with it until she realizes that she can do better. Enters my love Julian he is the school bad boy artist who is hotter than Hades and maybe just maybe holding a flame for Anna.
While Anna is working on something for the school paper she uncovers something that may break this town apart. At first she is not sure what to do about but with the help of Julian Anna will make some tough decisions and when the secrets and lies all come to the forefront Anna is left reeling with what the consequences will be. She has unearthed secrets and lies that have been hidden and people want that to stay that way and they will do anything to keep it that way. What did Anna uncover? What will happen between her and Jack? Will Julian be there for her? All these things you will find out when you read Dragonfly and I promise you you will not be disappointed!
Dragonfly is a story about love, lies, and secrets and how things are not always as they seem. Anna is living a quiet life. She does not like where she is living and her only best friend and friend has moved away so she has to do senior by herself or so she thinks. While at the beach before her senior year is supposed to happen she meets the twins Jack and Lucy. They are beautiful and so full of life.
On her first day of school she is excited because she is part of the school newspaper and she just found out that Jack and Lucy are going to school with her. Anna is quiet so she does not talk to many people but she is excited to know that Jack and Lucy are going to school with her. She is totally crushing on Jack because he makes her feel things she has never felt before but all is not well in paradise because Jack is so hot and cold with her and he puts her through some serious crap but she puts up with it until she realizes that she can do better. Enters my love Julian he is the school bad boy artist who is hotter than Hades and maybe just maybe holding a flame for Anna.
While Anna is working on something for the school paper she uncovers something that may break this town apart. At first she is not sure what to do about but with the help of Julian Anna will make some tough decisions and when the secrets and lies all come to the forefront Anna is left reeling with what the consequences will be. She has unearthed secrets and lies that have been hidden and people want that to stay that way and they will do anything to keep it that way. What did Anna uncover? What will happen between her and Jack? Will Julian be there for her? All these things you will find out when you read Dragonfly and I promise you you will not be disappointed!
June 6, 2013
Anna Sanders expects to have an uneventful senior year. Her best friend Gabi moved away and even though she's lived on the Gulf Coast for three years other than Gabi and Julian she's never really made friends. That is until she meets twins Lucy and Jack. Lucy is quick to make friends with Anna even wanting to set her up with her brother Jack. Jack is everything you could want in a guy, he's rich, good-looking, sweet, and popular but as he and Anna grow closer to one another he constantly pulls away telling her it's best of they are not together. Throw into the mix Jack's dad who isn't the nicest man and Jack's older brother who wants to take Jack away and you have a recipe for disaster.
Then there's Julian. Julian is a rising star in the art world. He's the son of a former artist and has a real gift with art. He's always been on Anna's radar and with her friend Gabi out of the picture she thinks she might finally have a shot with him. Problem is she can't tell half the time if Julian is serious or flirting, she doesn't want to mess up their friendship, and her heart in some ways is with another... Jack. But when push comes to shove who will come out on top Julian or Jack? Add to the mix that Anna wants to be a journalist and unknowing uncovers a deep dark secret that could rip everyone around worlds apart.
When I first started reading this story I expected to find a shy girl who would fall for the rich guy who has everything. The friend would get in the way and ultimately she would choose the new guy who she has deep feelings for. What I didn't expect to find was the emotional heartfelt roller coaster ride I was taken on. Every time Anna and Jack took two steps forward they took three steps back and I wanted to cry sometimes because I could really feel what Anna was going through. These characters are so well developed that you'll find yourself lost in the story living right along side Anna as she goes through the twists and turns of her senior year in high school. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and the wait is going to kill me because it left me wanting to know so much more about what will happen with this story.
I give it 5 stars! ***ARC provided in exchange for honest review***
Then there's Julian. Julian is a rising star in the art world. He's the son of a former artist and has a real gift with art. He's always been on Anna's radar and with her friend Gabi out of the picture she thinks she might finally have a shot with him. Problem is she can't tell half the time if Julian is serious or flirting, she doesn't want to mess up their friendship, and her heart in some ways is with another... Jack. But when push comes to shove who will come out on top Julian or Jack? Add to the mix that Anna wants to be a journalist and unknowing uncovers a deep dark secret that could rip everyone around worlds apart.
When I first started reading this story I expected to find a shy girl who would fall for the rich guy who has everything. The friend would get in the way and ultimately she would choose the new guy who she has deep feelings for. What I didn't expect to find was the emotional heartfelt roller coaster ride I was taken on. Every time Anna and Jack took two steps forward they took three steps back and I wanted to cry sometimes because I could really feel what Anna was going through. These characters are so well developed that you'll find yourself lost in the story living right along side Anna as she goes through the twists and turns of her senior year in high school. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and the wait is going to kill me because it left me wanting to know so much more about what will happen with this story.
I give it 5 stars! ***ARC provided in exchange for honest review***
May 31, 2013
3.5
When the illusive Kyser twins, Jack and Lucy, start attending public school they are the talk of the town. Why are they suddenly here and not at the private schools they’ve been attending since birth? Anna is immediately drawn to Jack. He’s tall, gorgeous, quiet, and extremely mysterious. With a little help from her new friend, Lucy, she begins a whirlwind romance that has more ups and down than a rollercoaster. But while Anna is trying to figure out what exactly is up with Jack, her longtime friend Julian starts turning his casual flirting into something more.
I liked Anna’s character, even though she couldn’t keep a secret very well. She easily fell for Jack (but come on, who wouldn’t?) and even when she kept going back to him, she knew it was wrong. Her internal struggle over her head or her heart was very realistic and something easily relatable. Jack, however, was another story. I really didn’t get him. In the beginning, I understood why he kept Anna at a distance -he didn’t want to drag her into his family drama. But later in the book when he would pull away and then instantly come back, it just confused me. He was one giant game player and I could not figure out his end game. Then there was Julian who I adored from the beginning.
This was a good little beach read. It was cute, easy to get through, and had just enough drama that you didn’t feel overwhelmed. I really didn’t want to stop reading it. Just a few little issues I had: First, I do not believe for a second that if a local newspaper found out a huge secret about one of their most powerful residents that they wouldn’t dig deeper or try to expose it. Second, it was extremely predictable. From Julian to the Kyser’s secret, I had it figured out towards the beginning of the book. But I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one to find out just what is in those journals Anna now has…
This review can also be seen here at my blog.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When the illusive Kyser twins, Jack and Lucy, start attending public school they are the talk of the town. Why are they suddenly here and not at the private schools they’ve been attending since birth? Anna is immediately drawn to Jack. He’s tall, gorgeous, quiet, and extremely mysterious. With a little help from her new friend, Lucy, she begins a whirlwind romance that has more ups and down than a rollercoaster. But while Anna is trying to figure out what exactly is up with Jack, her longtime friend Julian starts turning his casual flirting into something more.
I liked Anna’s character, even though she couldn’t keep a secret very well. She easily fell for Jack (but come on, who wouldn’t?) and even when she kept going back to him, she knew it was wrong. Her internal struggle over her head or her heart was very realistic and something easily relatable. Jack, however, was another story. I really didn’t get him. In the beginning, I understood why he kept Anna at a distance -he didn’t want to drag her into his family drama. But later in the book when he would pull away and then instantly come back, it just confused me. He was one giant game player and I could not figure out his end game. Then there was Julian who I adored from the beginning.
This was a good little beach read. It was cute, easy to get through, and had just enough drama that you didn’t feel overwhelmed. I really didn’t want to stop reading it. Just a few little issues I had: First, I do not believe for a second that if a local newspaper found out a huge secret about one of their most powerful residents that they wouldn’t dig deeper or try to expose it. Second, it was extremely predictable. From Julian to the Kyser’s secret, I had it figured out towards the beginning of the book. But I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one to find out just what is in those journals Anna now has…
This review can also be seen here at my blog.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2013
I'm not a big fan of love triangle between two guys and a girl, but Dragonfly swept me off my feet! I just couldn't help but fall in love with the story and characters. Once I started reading this book it kinda sucked me into the story that I had a hard time putting it down.
I thought I will have a favorite male protagonist but darn it! I love Jack, the popular, sexy and a one hella great kisser but then I couldn't help but to like Julian, the artsy brooding guy! My heart is torn and I didn't realize this was going to become a series, so now my only problem is I have to wait for the next book. T_T
I've been reading some dark intense genre lately and this book is perfect, it's something easy but with a suspense twist!
This is a great start for a new series!
I thought I will have a favorite male protagonist but darn it! I love Jack, the popular, sexy and a one hella great kisser but then I couldn't help but to like Julian, the artsy brooding guy! My heart is torn and I didn't realize this was going to become a series, so now my only problem is I have to wait for the next book. T_T
I've been reading some dark intense genre lately and this book is perfect, it's something easy but with a suspense twist!
This is a great start for a new series!
May 29, 2017
First I want to thank Leigh for letting me read Dragonfly before its release. I loved this book I'm so proud that she chose to share her hard work with me. I feel honored :) This book is AMAZING. Honestly I started it and did not stop till the end. This one is now in my favorites on my Kindle <3 It is a must read 5 out of 5 easy. I adored this read <3 Thanks again Leigh Talbert Moore. I'm happy to say I have read all your book, loved each and everyone!! Much <3 for you and your writing
July 15, 2019
First book in the Dragonfly small beach town saga with the infusion of a little mystery. Our characters include high schoolers through adulthood. There's a wide variety of personalities, social and class divisions that keeps this one out of the same old/same old and boring categories. There's also a bit of a triangle forming -- it's not one that made me feel icky or concerned -- they were high schoolers after all. No real triggers to avoid like the plague.
From a new-to-me-author, I was a little unsure of this book and starting a four installment series at first - it felt a bit "soapy" — but the further into the story I got there was much more depth & expectations from my original feelings and the possibilities of what would come with future installments. I found myself drawn to the writing, storyline and the characters. I wanted to know what took place in the past, what would happen in the future. And I am looking forward to discovering answers to long-held secrets that have caused so much destruction and broken so many hearts.
From a new-to-me-author, I was a little unsure of this book and starting a four installment series at first - it felt a bit "soapy" — but the further into the story I got there was much more depth & expectations from my original feelings and the possibilities of what would come with future installments. I found myself drawn to the writing, storyline and the characters. I wanted to know what took place in the past, what would happen in the future. And I am looking forward to discovering answers to long-held secrets that have caused so much destruction and broken so many hearts.
August 14, 2013
I put off writing this review as long as I could. I guess I was hoping that if I left it alone for a while, I would come away with some more positive things to say about this book. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. I didn’t enjoy this book at all, a fact which pains me to admit since I received this book for free from the author. I feel horrible leaving a bad review after that, but I figure authors take that chance when they give away their books for review.
The main character
I wanted to like Anna, but I never really did. She felt flat to me. She kept going back and forth between Jack and Julian. Her newspaper interest seemed to come out of nowhere (or maybe I was bored and not paying enough attention; it could really go either way). She kept saying she was going to become a stronger person, but she never did. I’m all for weak characters who eventually realize what they’re doing is wrong, but she never really seemed to come to her senses. There was no real depth to her character. She was just sort of whiny and annoying – and this is coming from someone who usually likes emo characters.
The love interests
Maybe I would have liked Anna more if I could have understood what she saw in the love interests. I can understand her attraction to Julian. He’s a hot artist who’s never really been serious with anyone but who seems to be interested in her. It’s a cliché, but I could understand it. Although, really, Julian’s an idiot, too, for reasons I can’t explain without giving away something we learn later on. But just let me say he does something stupid that doesn’t affect the plot but which really irritates me.
Jack was a complete mystery to me. He’s an attractive rich boy with a boat. I’m sorry, but I don’t get the obsession. Think he’s cute? Sure. Daydream about him? Yeah, why not. But to start getting physical with him the first time you go somewhere together and then constantly obsess about a guy who’s clearly just using you? I get that plenty of teenagers grope each other on a first date – I guess I just wish I felt more connected with the characters so her taking off her top didn’t seem so out of the blue.
Really, I don’t know why she was interested in Jack at all, and I have no idea why either guy was interested in her.
Lucy
I expected Lucy to play a much bigger role in this novel, but really she didn’t do much of anything. I don’t really know what her purpose was besides to attempt to make Jack seem like a nice guy. She was barely in the book at all, and when she was she just sort of felt flat, as well. I was hoping for more from her.
The secret
I knew what the “secret” was long before Anna did, and I’m not sure if I was supposed to or not. Either way, I think it was sort of poorly executed. I don’t know any teenager who would be this obsessed with her friends’ parents, even if one of those friends was her friends-with-benefit. The conversation that she has with everyone involved just seemed so unrealistic to me, especially as we got nearer to the end. It just didn’t work for me. I didn’t care about the secret at all.
The drag race
This is a scene that only exists to make her realize her feelings for Julian. It doesn’t fit with the rest of the novel at all. It also annoys me that she was drinking and driving, and that fact wasn’t really acknowledged at all. I don’t know. The whole scene just felt forced and annoying, and I don’t like when books show drinking and driving in a positive light.
The ending
I have to admit that I didn’t realize this was a series until I reached the end. I don’t know how I missed that, but I did. This is a series that doesn’t really wrap up anything with book 1 – it just expects you to jump right into book 2. Some sort of closure at the end of the first book would have been nice – especially since I have no intention on reading the rest of the series.
Overall: I’ve never felt like I was too old to read a young adult book. I’m only 24 – it’s not like it’s been forever since I was a teenager. However, I think I might be too old for this book. Perhaps if I was an immature teenager, maybe I would have enjoyed this book. As it stands now, though, I thought the characters were stupid and shallow, and I wasn’t interested in learning more about them. I do, though, have another Leigh T. Moore book on my Nook right now – I’m hopeful that that one will be better than this one.
The main character
I wanted to like Anna, but I never really did. She felt flat to me. She kept going back and forth between Jack and Julian. Her newspaper interest seemed to come out of nowhere (or maybe I was bored and not paying enough attention; it could really go either way). She kept saying she was going to become a stronger person, but she never did. I’m all for weak characters who eventually realize what they’re doing is wrong, but she never really seemed to come to her senses. There was no real depth to her character. She was just sort of whiny and annoying – and this is coming from someone who usually likes emo characters.
The love interests
Maybe I would have liked Anna more if I could have understood what she saw in the love interests. I can understand her attraction to Julian. He’s a hot artist who’s never really been serious with anyone but who seems to be interested in her. It’s a cliché, but I could understand it. Although, really, Julian’s an idiot, too, for reasons I can’t explain without giving away something we learn later on. But just let me say he does something stupid that doesn’t affect the plot but which really irritates me.
Jack was a complete mystery to me. He’s an attractive rich boy with a boat. I’m sorry, but I don’t get the obsession. Think he’s cute? Sure. Daydream about him? Yeah, why not. But to start getting physical with him the first time you go somewhere together and then constantly obsess about a guy who’s clearly just using you? I get that plenty of teenagers grope each other on a first date – I guess I just wish I felt more connected with the characters so her taking off her top didn’t seem so out of the blue.
Really, I don’t know why she was interested in Jack at all, and I have no idea why either guy was interested in her.
Lucy
I expected Lucy to play a much bigger role in this novel, but really she didn’t do much of anything. I don’t really know what her purpose was besides to attempt to make Jack seem like a nice guy. She was barely in the book at all, and when she was she just sort of felt flat, as well. I was hoping for more from her.
The secret
I knew what the “secret” was long before Anna did, and I’m not sure if I was supposed to or not. Either way, I think it was sort of poorly executed. I don’t know any teenager who would be this obsessed with her friends’ parents, even if one of those friends was her friends-with-benefit. The conversation that she has with everyone involved just seemed so unrealistic to me, especially as we got nearer to the end. It just didn’t work for me. I didn’t care about the secret at all.
The drag race
This is a scene that only exists to make her realize her feelings for Julian. It doesn’t fit with the rest of the novel at all. It also annoys me that she was drinking and driving, and that fact wasn’t really acknowledged at all. I don’t know. The whole scene just felt forced and annoying, and I don’t like when books show drinking and driving in a positive light.
The ending
I have to admit that I didn’t realize this was a series until I reached the end. I don’t know how I missed that, but I did. This is a series that doesn’t really wrap up anything with book 1 – it just expects you to jump right into book 2. Some sort of closure at the end of the first book would have been nice – especially since I have no intention on reading the rest of the series.
Overall: I’ve never felt like I was too old to read a young adult book. I’m only 24 – it’s not like it’s been forever since I was a teenager. However, I think I might be too old for this book. Perhaps if I was an immature teenager, maybe I would have enjoyed this book. As it stands now, though, I thought the characters were stupid and shallow, and I wasn’t interested in learning more about them. I do, though, have another Leigh T. Moore book on my Nook right now – I’m hopeful that that one will be better than this one.
August 7, 2013
Anna is about to start her senior year minus her best friend Gabi. As an Army brat Gabi is used to moving and starting over all the time, but Anna isn't, and after three years she is just starting to feel comfortable. She's got friends, but none like Gabi, who always managed to make every situation turn out OK.
While sitting on the beach the day before school begins Anna meets two beautiful people, Lucy & Jack. She later learns that they are twins, and their father is Bill Kyser, one of the richest land developers on the Gulf Coast.
Anna is befriended by the outgoing Lucy, which ends up bringing Jack and Anna together. Only Anna can't tell what their relationship is because Jack keeps swinging from hot to cold with no warnings. She wants to be strong and ignore him, but each time he comes back she just can't seem to say no to him.
Meanwhile there is her friendship with the school hottie, Julian. He is a phenomenally talented artist she got to know while tutoring him in Algebra last year. As the year progresses Julian periodically does, or says, little things that leave Anna wondering about his true feelings for her. He has even kissed her, but though she likes him she can't shake her feelings for Jack.
Her job on the school paper is going to help get her into a solid journalism school, so when she is offered an internship at the local paper she is over the moon. Until she is assigned to go do a basic interview of Bill Kyser, who was terribly mean to her the first time they met. She was seeing Jack at his mansion when his dad came outside, drink in hand, and proceeded to say some wildly inappropriate things to Anna. But Anna mentally squares her shoulders and goes in for the interview, which actually enough goes very smoothly.
When Anna learns that Julian's mother was in business with Kyser and his partner a mystery is uncovered. One Anna is determined to solve - which is just who Julian's father is. She thinks she knows, but has to prove it and then get one of his parents to tell him.
Anna's senior year teaches her a lot, and she grows up some, beginning to learn her own mind. Julian is clearly a part of that picture, though she is afraid to risk their friendship, not too mention the issue of her lingering feelings for Jack. So far Julian has patiently waited for Anna to figure out what, and who, she really wants. But will how long will he wait for her to make up her mind? And will he still feel the same way about her if he ever finds out the she secret she is now a part of? A secret she has sworn not to share with anyone?
The story is sweet and easy to relate to, with the golden boy who keeps spinning her head, the best friend who is patiently waiting on the sidelines, and the other best friend who helps her sort it all out. Though things with Jack go on a bit too long, the last quarter of the book more than makes up for that. And though things end fairly neatly, there is still the mystery of what happened almost twenty years ago. The answer to that story and many more are sure to be found in "Undertow," book two of the 'Dragonfly Series.'
While sitting on the beach the day before school begins Anna meets two beautiful people, Lucy & Jack. She later learns that they are twins, and their father is Bill Kyser, one of the richest land developers on the Gulf Coast.
Anna is befriended by the outgoing Lucy, which ends up bringing Jack and Anna together. Only Anna can't tell what their relationship is because Jack keeps swinging from hot to cold with no warnings. She wants to be strong and ignore him, but each time he comes back she just can't seem to say no to him.
Meanwhile there is her friendship with the school hottie, Julian. He is a phenomenally talented artist she got to know while tutoring him in Algebra last year. As the year progresses Julian periodically does, or says, little things that leave Anna wondering about his true feelings for her. He has even kissed her, but though she likes him she can't shake her feelings for Jack.
Her job on the school paper is going to help get her into a solid journalism school, so when she is offered an internship at the local paper she is over the moon. Until she is assigned to go do a basic interview of Bill Kyser, who was terribly mean to her the first time they met. She was seeing Jack at his mansion when his dad came outside, drink in hand, and proceeded to say some wildly inappropriate things to Anna. But Anna mentally squares her shoulders and goes in for the interview, which actually enough goes very smoothly.
When Anna learns that Julian's mother was in business with Kyser and his partner a mystery is uncovered. One Anna is determined to solve - which is just who Julian's father is. She thinks she knows, but has to prove it and then get one of his parents to tell him.
Anna's senior year teaches her a lot, and she grows up some, beginning to learn her own mind. Julian is clearly a part of that picture, though she is afraid to risk their friendship, not too mention the issue of her lingering feelings for Jack. So far Julian has patiently waited for Anna to figure out what, and who, she really wants. But will how long will he wait for her to make up her mind? And will he still feel the same way about her if he ever finds out the she secret she is now a part of? A secret she has sworn not to share with anyone?
The story is sweet and easy to relate to, with the golden boy who keeps spinning her head, the best friend who is patiently waiting on the sidelines, and the other best friend who helps her sort it all out. Though things with Jack go on a bit too long, the last quarter of the book more than makes up for that. And though things end fairly neatly, there is still the mystery of what happened almost twenty years ago. The answer to that story and many more are sure to be found in "Undertow," book two of the 'Dragonfly Series.'
June 9, 2013
So far everything that I have read from Leigh Talbot Moore has been awesome so I was excited for the opportunity to read this book. It had an interesting synopsis and I didn't know what to expect from it.
It is set in a small town with big world of secrets.
For the first time Anna is alone and friendless until... she meets the twins Jack and Lucy. She is instantly drawn to them, especially Jack.
Finally she gets Jack's attention but...things aren't always what we assume. Every time she thinks she is getting closer he pushes her farther away.
At the same time she has gotten the attention of Julian whom she just thought was just her friend until he let her know his attentions.
She is drawn to both but doesn't know who to chose. Every time she thinks she is closer to a decision she is drawn back to the other.
While her own little love triangle is going on Anna is also discovering the world of secrets that have the potential to hurt many people in this small town.
In the end we are left with no concrete choices between the two while she is drawn deeper into the dark secrets. Thank goodness book two Undertow is coming out July 18/13.
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Live Read and Breathe
It is set in a small town with big world of secrets.
For the first time Anna is alone and friendless until... she meets the twins Jack and Lucy. She is instantly drawn to them, especially Jack.
Finally she gets Jack's attention but...things aren't always what we assume. Every time she thinks she is getting closer he pushes her farther away.
At the same time she has gotten the attention of Julian whom she just thought was just her friend until he let her know his attentions.
She is drawn to both but doesn't know who to chose. Every time she thinks she is closer to a decision she is drawn back to the other.
While her own little love triangle is going on Anna is also discovering the world of secrets that have the potential to hurt many people in this small town.
In the end we are left with no concrete choices between the two while she is drawn deeper into the dark secrets. Thank goodness book two Undertow is coming out July 18/13.
You can also find me on:
Live Read and Breathe Facebook
Live Read and Breathe Twitter
For more of my reviews:
Live Read and Breathe
August 23, 2013
3.5 stars
This was such a cute story! I'm usually not into "cute" books, but I received the second book in this series, Undertow to review, so I thought that I'd get the first one also, especially since it was only 99¢ on Amazon.
First of all, this book is definitely not New Adult, so I don't know why so many people have it labeled as that. The main characters are all in high school and there is no sex whatsoever. There is a lot of kissing, and somebody does have an orgasm in one scene, but it's all very tame and not explicitly described.
Dragonfly was more than just a cute little YA novel, though. There was suspense, relationship drama, family problems, a love triangle, and even a mystery that needed to be solved! This book had it all.
I mostly liked the main character, although I didn't always like how she treated Julian. I also thought that she reacted really dramatically to some things, but I actually kind of liked that, because I think that it's a very realistic response that an inexperienced-at-life teenager would have. I do wish that the author had told us a little bit more about Anna's past. It eventually becomes clear that , but her romantic past was very unnecessarily ambiguous up until that point. I also thought that she did some inappropriate things when it came to solving the "mystery." I know that she was really intrigued by the whole thing, but some of the things she said to Julian's mom crossed the line, and I didn't understand why she acted like that, because it didn't seem at all like something her character would've done.
Although I had a few problems with Anna, I loved Julian from the very beginning, and I really liked all of the other supporting characters as well. Even Jack, who wasn't necessarily always the nicest person. I liked that all of the characters' personalities weren't either totally black or white. They all had both flaws and redeeming qualities, which is always nice to see in YA literature. This definitely shouldn't be something that I should feel like I need to point out, but unfortunately, not all YA novels (or any novels) have well-rounded characters.
I honestly can't wait to read the next book in the series, as well as some of Moore's other novels!
This was such a cute story! I'm usually not into "cute" books, but I received the second book in this series, Undertow to review, so I thought that I'd get the first one also, especially since it was only 99¢ on Amazon.
First of all, this book is definitely not New Adult, so I don't know why so many people have it labeled as that. The main characters are all in high school and there is no sex whatsoever. There is a lot of kissing, and somebody does have an orgasm in one scene, but it's all very tame and not explicitly described.
Dragonfly was more than just a cute little YA novel, though. There was suspense, relationship drama, family problems, a love triangle, and even a mystery that needed to be solved! This book had it all.
I mostly liked the main character, although I didn't always like how she treated Julian. I also thought that she reacted really dramatically to some things, but I actually kind of liked that, because I think that it's a very realistic response that an inexperienced-at-life teenager would have. I do wish that the author had told us a little bit more about Anna's past. It eventually becomes clear that , but her romantic past was very unnecessarily ambiguous up until that point. I also thought that she did some inappropriate things when it came to solving the "mystery." I know that she was really intrigued by the whole thing, but some of the things she said to Julian's mom crossed the line, and I didn't understand why she acted like that, because it didn't seem at all like something her character would've done.
Although I had a few problems with Anna, I loved Julian from the very beginning, and I really liked all of the other supporting characters as well. Even Jack, who wasn't necessarily always the nicest person. I liked that all of the characters' personalities weren't either totally black or white. They all had both flaws and redeeming qualities, which is always nice to see in YA literature. This definitely shouldn't be something that I should feel like I need to point out, but unfortunately, not all YA novels (or any novels) have well-rounded characters.
I honestly can't wait to read the next book in the series, as well as some of Moore's other novels!
June 7, 2013
So when I read books, I like to think about what I am going to say on my review for about a day or so. I purchased Dragonfly because it was $.99, not gonna like, I love $.99 book!! I usually read while I am winding down at night, just some me time to relax. I started reading this book at 11:19pm on 6/5/2013, I finished the book at 3:58am on 6/6/2013. The only time I put it down was to use the restroom. The book grabbed me from the start. Anna, the smart girl with the frizzy hair (I can relate to the frizzy hair, I myself have naturally curly hair with natural frizz). She is in her senior year of school, and without her best friend. She goes through out her senior torn between the guy that she has known for two years- Julian, the romantic artist who Anna was tutoring her Junior year. Julian keeps asking her out, but Anna is hesitant to go out with him. Then there is Jack--he is the rich, handsome boy that everyone wants to be with, he loves sailing and his sister Lucy. Lucy is scatter brained but finds a love that keeps her happy. Anna uncovers a huge mystery about some very powerful people, but she only wants to do the right thing, should she spill what she knows? Or should she keep it bottled up?
Leigh wrote a book that is great!! Like I said, I couldn't put it down. I am so glad that I purchased this book. I can't wait until July 18th when Undertow comes out!! Leigh puts her heart and her soul in this book, or I guess I should say, Leigh is putting her heart and her soul into this series. I am glad that she is continuing on with the characters in the book! She will have a great series when they are all out! Keep up the fantastic writing Leigh, YOU have made me a loyal reader!!
Leigh wrote a book that is great!! Like I said, I couldn't put it down. I am so glad that I purchased this book. I can't wait until July 18th when Undertow comes out!! Leigh puts her heart and her soul in this book, or I guess I should say, Leigh is putting her heart and her soul into this series. I am glad that she is continuing on with the characters in the book! She will have a great series when they are all out! Keep up the fantastic writing Leigh, YOU have made me a loyal reader!!
June 3, 2013
Gosh, Anna's annoying! I had to keep reading this book because I needed to make it to the end to see if she could actually make a good decision for once in her life. She kept annoying me right up til the end though. I think maybe I'm too old for this book. I get that when you're young you can get confused between love and lust, and everything seems like a massive drama, and you have a totally irrational sense of self-entitlement, but there's really no need to shove all the most infuriating parts of a teenager into a book.
Anna strings along two boys, butts her nose in where it doesn't belong, is modest to the point of irritation (oh but why do you like me? I'm not pretty!), and is generally a poor excuse for a character. I feel sorry for both the boys trying to get her. They should really cut their losses and look elsewhere.
It's a real shame, because it's not that bad a book, it's just the main character who is really annoying. Have I used that word enough yet? I can't help it, it's just the most perfect word to use to describe her. But really, the elements are all there. If we lost the pointless investigative journalist has to uncover the big secret part, and made the female lead someone we could actually like, then Dragonfly could be a great book.
Full review at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk...
Anna strings along two boys, butts her nose in where it doesn't belong, is modest to the point of irritation (oh but why do you like me? I'm not pretty!), and is generally a poor excuse for a character. I feel sorry for both the boys trying to get her. They should really cut their losses and look elsewhere.
It's a real shame, because it's not that bad a book, it's just the main character who is really annoying. Have I used that word enough yet? I can't help it, it's just the most perfect word to use to describe her. But really, the elements are all there. If we lost the pointless investigative journalist has to uncover the big secret part, and made the female lead someone we could actually like, then Dragonfly could be a great book.
Full review at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk...
June 3, 2013
I was provided an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! I expected this to be a sweet teen love story. While it is about teens, it's not sweet. Anna is a relatively inexperienced, naive high school senior. She has been friends with Julian for 2 years, but her friend Gabi was always crushing on him. Gabi moves away before senior year and Julian lets Anna know he's interested. This new interest happens at the same time hottie, Jack, shows up at school and also sows interest in Anna. Anna becomes torn in her feelings and with no previous experience can't figure out what to do. While all is happens she gets a job working for the local newspaper and stumbles across some news that will change the lives of so many. She is in such a difficult position both with her friendships and her heart.
Truly loved this story. Found myself trying (and failing) to hold back tears multiple tomes in this story! Can't wait for book 2!!
Wow! I expected this to be a sweet teen love story. While it is about teens, it's not sweet. Anna is a relatively inexperienced, naive high school senior. She has been friends with Julian for 2 years, but her friend Gabi was always crushing on him. Gabi moves away before senior year and Julian lets Anna know he's interested. This new interest happens at the same time hottie, Jack, shows up at school and also sows interest in Anna. Anna becomes torn in her feelings and with no previous experience can't figure out what to do. While all is happens she gets a job working for the local newspaper and stumbles across some news that will change the lives of so many. She is in such a difficult position both with her friendships and her heart.
Truly loved this story. Found myself trying (and failing) to hold back tears multiple tomes in this story! Can't wait for book 2!!
July 18, 2013
2.5-3 stars
I really struggled with this one, just could not connect with Anna the lead character she just drove me crazy. To me she came off weak and indecisive. And I usually love, love triangle stories. I didn't like Jack though Arrogant with a capital A. Now Julian I really liked, he is cute, artsy and romantic. See the problem though liking just one out of four characters leads to a problem. Lucy, Jack's twin was just kind of fake with Anna, at least that was how I felt. Amongst the love triangle Anna finds out a secret that could effect a whole community. What should she do and who will she choose?
For me it came down to the characters the story was pretty good, I just couldn't connect or didn't like to many of the characters.
I really struggled with this one, just could not connect with Anna the lead character she just drove me crazy. To me she came off weak and indecisive. And I usually love, love triangle stories. I didn't like Jack though Arrogant with a capital A. Now Julian I really liked, he is cute, artsy and romantic. See the problem though liking just one out of four characters leads to a problem. Lucy, Jack's twin was just kind of fake with Anna, at least that was how I felt. Amongst the love triangle Anna finds out a secret that could effect a whole community. What should she do and who will she choose?
For me it came down to the characters the story was pretty good, I just couldn't connect or didn't like to many of the characters.
Want to read
February 7, 2014Amazon Freebie 2/7/14
May 17, 2013
Okay, so I read Dragonfly by Leigh T. Moore and I loved it so much. I was hooked on the summary and I just wasn't disappointed at all.
This excerpt is taken from my review on Into the Hall of Books. Read more here: http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/201...
Anna Sanders lives in the deep South - the Gulf region - and is a high school student with dreams of writing. She's just been a bit devastated when her best friend has moved away and is feeling that loss. On a solo trip to the beach one day, she sees these two beautiful people that she later finds out are the Kyser twins, the very wealthy and well-known Jack and Lucy. Jack and Lucy do not typically frequent this area but for some reason, they've decided to enroll in Anna's public school (versus the private school they've always attended before) and finish out their senior year among the 'regular' people. And, for some reason, Jack has noticed Anna. Anna can barely believe it. I mean, the guy is hot in an unearthly kind of way.
Anna also has this wonderful friend, Julian LaSalle. Julian is a budding artist - one with real talent. He's the guy that stands out in the crowd, wearing the dark clothes, maybe the skinny jeans or something like that. He looks like a rocker - because he's the artist-type. Julian is so kind and caring, and he and Anna have a great relationship. He calls Anna his angel and it is clear that he feels strongly for her. They're really great friends and since BFF Gabi has moved away, Julian is now fair game (Gabi always had her eyes on Julian before, which made him off-limits to Anna). Julian is also hot in an unearthly kind of way.
When Anna realizes that Jack Kyser is interested in her, she can barely contain herself. That boy is f-i-n-e fine. They see each other a little bit - he takes her out on his boat, they spend some time together on the beach, things like that. Nothing ever becomes serious, and Jack never seems like he reallycan wants to commit to anything. Anna is a little bit confused by this because she certainly seems to be falling for this guy. But his signals sometimes become a little confusing because he sometimes seems to be falling for her too. The problem is this: Jack is in line to fall into his father's business, and Anna doesn't fit into that picture. Mr. Kyser has Jack's life mapped out for him - where he'll attend school, when he'll begin working in the business, etc. Mr. Kyser is a very prominent and powerful man, and he's quite intimidating to everyone around him. When he says jump, pretty much everyone says HOW HIGH, SIR? While Jack and Anna both seem to want to take the relationship and make it real and serious, stuff just keeps happening and it becomes really hard for them to move forward. So are these difficulties something that Anna and Jack can overcome and work though?
And then there's Julian. Sweet, sweet Julian. It is plain to see that Julian loves this girl, and I think that he has for a long time. With Julian, there is not the same type of thrill and excitement that would accompany a future with Alex because Julian isn't wealthy or well-known. However, everything that Julian does and says to Anna makes her feel special, like she's the only person in the room. Julian just has that special charm. Plus, Julian is confidant enough in their friendship/relationship to continue to wait for Anna's heart, to wait for her to come around. He believes in his heart of hearts that they will be together and he's willing to take the risk and wait for her. *sigh sigh sigh* As Anna is a writer and writes for the school paper, she does a feature on Julian and his art, which helps her land an internship with the city newspaper - and the two become a little closer over this circumstance. Julian keeps reminding Anna - in a non-pushy way - that he is waiting for her when she is ready, and she keeps this playing in the back of her mind as she tries to figure out what she should do, what her decision should be regarding these two guys. So will Anna choose this guy that has been a great friend to her over the past few years, one that she knows well and trusts and feels comfortable with? What will she do?
You guys, I know that there are a ton of you that do not like books that have love triangles in them. I know it. I am not one of those people. I love them so hard, so very very hard. I believe that a well-written love triangle makes for such a fantastic story because I find that in love, emotions happen and sometimes hearts are split. They are wildly entertaining to read and my heart becomes oh-so-invested in the characters. Oftentimes in love triangles, it is clear that there is an obvious choice and a not-great choice. A good guy and a bad guy, perhaps. In this story, both of these guys are actually really great guys. So to me, this is a super duper fantastic love triangle and I loved it so hard that I wanted to hug my Kindle and shout to the world YES THIS IS HOW LOVE TRIANGLES SHOULD BE WRITTEN!!!
When I was reading this book, I noticed that I kept going back and forth in my mind as to what I thought Anna should decide. I loved that! You know why? Because that's the exact same thing Anna did! She had the most difficult time deciding what she wanted as far as this romance was concerned. Her heart was so very at-war between these two fantastic guys, and rightly so. They're both great catches. They're well-written with great characteristics and they each stand up well as characters. I actually liked them both a lot. (Truthfully, were it me, the choice would have been easy, but I'm not a character in the book, so that doesn't count. Ahem, I digress.) AND AND AND in the end, the way the book resolves this triangle - WOW SO PERFECT. I was so thrilled with the way Leigh T. Moore wrote this! I actually threw up my hands and said YES! (Yes, I'm a dork.) I have no idea how or if this will come back up later in this series or not but for now, just YES.
Besides the romance and love interests, there are other things in the story, even though you barely know it from my gushing over the well-written love triangle. This story has a FANTASTIC setting that I absolutely adore. Anyone that loves the Gulf coast in the deep South - you guys are going to love this one. The mannerisms and characteristics of the South run true and are carried well through this book and I actually tweeted the author about this and highlighted examples of this in my Kindle - these things are important to me because I am indeed a Southern gal. Besides the stellar setting, I loved the relationships in the book, the dynamics between the characters. While not all of them began as perfectly (read: happily) as we would want them to be, the relationships had development across the story, much like we look for character development, which I found refreshing and neat and interesting, and I kind of loved it a lot. Don't we love it when relationships and families are mended for the better throughout the course of a story? It makes us happy, right? YES.
ALSO. There is a little bit of a mystery aspect to the story. It's not huge, but it is there. And it is kind of fun. Now...I have an inkling that more of this will be present in the rest of the series, or at least the next book (I may be wrong here) but I think I like where this is headed. Dragonfly is absolutely, definitely a contemporary but it certainly has the makings of some mystery being added to the mix, and I'm excited to see where this will be headed when Undertow becomes available in mid-July 2013.
Ultimately, friends, this book was an absolute joy for me. I had a great, great time reading it. I recommend it to fans of YA Contemporary with Romance, fans of a great setting, and people that don't mind very well-written love triangles. I'm extremely grabby-handed for the next book in the series in a few weeks and I also want to read this author's backlist as soon as I can.
This excerpt is taken from my review on Into the Hall of Books. Read more here: http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/201...
Anna Sanders lives in the deep South - the Gulf region - and is a high school student with dreams of writing. She's just been a bit devastated when her best friend has moved away and is feeling that loss. On a solo trip to the beach one day, she sees these two beautiful people that she later finds out are the Kyser twins, the very wealthy and well-known Jack and Lucy. Jack and Lucy do not typically frequent this area but for some reason, they've decided to enroll in Anna's public school (versus the private school they've always attended before) and finish out their senior year among the 'regular' people. And, for some reason, Jack has noticed Anna. Anna can barely believe it. I mean, the guy is hot in an unearthly kind of way.
Anna also has this wonderful friend, Julian LaSalle. Julian is a budding artist - one with real talent. He's the guy that stands out in the crowd, wearing the dark clothes, maybe the skinny jeans or something like that. He looks like a rocker - because he's the artist-type. Julian is so kind and caring, and he and Anna have a great relationship. He calls Anna his angel and it is clear that he feels strongly for her. They're really great friends and since BFF Gabi has moved away, Julian is now fair game (Gabi always had her eyes on Julian before, which made him off-limits to Anna). Julian is also hot in an unearthly kind of way.
*********************************************
When Anna realizes that Jack Kyser is interested in her, she can barely contain herself. That boy is f-i-n-e fine. They see each other a little bit - he takes her out on his boat, they spend some time together on the beach, things like that. Nothing ever becomes serious, and Jack never seems like he really
And then there's Julian. Sweet, sweet Julian. It is plain to see that Julian loves this girl, and I think that he has for a long time. With Julian, there is not the same type of thrill and excitement that would accompany a future with Alex because Julian isn't wealthy or well-known. However, everything that Julian does and says to Anna makes her feel special, like she's the only person in the room. Julian just has that special charm. Plus, Julian is confidant enough in their friendship/relationship to continue to wait for Anna's heart, to wait for her to come around. He believes in his heart of hearts that they will be together and he's willing to take the risk and wait for her. *sigh sigh sigh* As Anna is a writer and writes for the school paper, she does a feature on Julian and his art, which helps her land an internship with the city newspaper - and the two become a little closer over this circumstance. Julian keeps reminding Anna - in a non-pushy way - that he is waiting for her when she is ready, and she keeps this playing in the back of her mind as she tries to figure out what she should do, what her decision should be regarding these two guys. So will Anna choose this guy that has been a great friend to her over the past few years, one that she knows well and trusts and feels comfortable with? What will she do?
*********************************************
You guys, I know that there are a ton of you that do not like books that have love triangles in them. I know it. I am not one of those people. I love them so hard, so very very hard. I believe that a well-written love triangle makes for such a fantastic story because I find that in love, emotions happen and sometimes hearts are split. They are wildly entertaining to read and my heart becomes oh-so-invested in the characters. Oftentimes in love triangles, it is clear that there is an obvious choice and a not-great choice. A good guy and a bad guy, perhaps. In this story, both of these guys are actually really great guys. So to me, this is a super duper fantastic love triangle and I loved it so hard that I wanted to hug my Kindle and shout to the world YES THIS IS HOW LOVE TRIANGLES SHOULD BE WRITTEN!!!
When I was reading this book, I noticed that I kept going back and forth in my mind as to what I thought Anna should decide. I loved that! You know why? Because that's the exact same thing Anna did! She had the most difficult time deciding what she wanted as far as this romance was concerned. Her heart was so very at-war between these two fantastic guys, and rightly so. They're both great catches. They're well-written with great characteristics and they each stand up well as characters. I actually liked them both a lot. (Truthfully, were it me, the choice would have been easy, but I'm not a character in the book, so that doesn't count. Ahem, I digress.) AND AND AND in the end, the way the book resolves this triangle - WOW SO PERFECT. I was so thrilled with the way Leigh T. Moore wrote this! I actually threw up my hands and said YES! (Yes, I'm a dork.) I have no idea how or if this will come back up later in this series or not but for now, just YES.
Besides the romance and love interests, there are other things in the story, even though you barely know it from my gushing over the well-written love triangle. This story has a FANTASTIC setting that I absolutely adore. Anyone that loves the Gulf coast in the deep South - you guys are going to love this one. The mannerisms and characteristics of the South run true and are carried well through this book and I actually tweeted the author about this and highlighted examples of this in my Kindle - these things are important to me because I am indeed a Southern gal. Besides the stellar setting, I loved the relationships in the book, the dynamics between the characters. While not all of them began as perfectly (read: happily) as we would want them to be, the relationships had development across the story, much like we look for character development, which I found refreshing and neat and interesting, and I kind of loved it a lot. Don't we love it when relationships and families are mended for the better throughout the course of a story? It makes us happy, right? YES.
ALSO. There is a little bit of a mystery aspect to the story. It's not huge, but it is there. And it is kind of fun. Now...I have an inkling that more of this will be present in the rest of the series, or at least the next book (I may be wrong here) but I think I like where this is headed. Dragonfly is absolutely, definitely a contemporary but it certainly has the makings of some mystery being added to the mix, and I'm excited to see where this will be headed when Undertow becomes available in mid-July 2013.
Ultimately, friends, this book was an absolute joy for me. I had a great, great time reading it. I recommend it to fans of YA Contemporary with Romance, fans of a great setting, and people that don't mind very well-written love triangles. I'm extremely grabby-handed for the next book in the series in a few weeks and I also want to read this author's backlist as soon as I can.
June 6, 2013
My Thoughts:
Dragonfly was a story that grabbed me right away. The story is told from the main character, Anna's perspective. She is 17 years old, entering her senior year, and feeling down because her best friend Gabby has to move away. While at the beach, before the new school year has started, Anna meets beautiful twins Lucy, and Jack. Anna and Lucy exchange a few words, and Anna can't help but admire Lucy's gorgeous brother. Once the new school year begins, Anna is pleasantly surprised when Jack ends up in her senior English class, and Lucy ends up in another one of Anna's classes. Lucy is very friendly, outgoing, and nice, and Anna and her become fast friends. Anna becomes captivated by Jack, and they end up spending a lot of time together. Jack and Lucy's family come from a lot of wealth, and power. Unfortunately, their father is cold, and their brother is arrogant, pompous, controlling, and downright rude to Anna. The more Anna begins to have feelings for Jack, the more that he pushes her away. Then, when she tries to move on, he's trying to win her back. Mixed up in all of this is Julian, an artist, who is Anna's best male friend. He's good-looking, and in one point in time Anna was interested in him, but after Gabby called "dibs," Anna kept everything between them as strictly friendship. However, as time goes on it's obvious that Julian feels more than friendship for Anna. She feels things for him too whenever they're around each other, but the majority of her thoughts and time is spent over Jack. In their small town in New Mexico, everyone knows everyone else. All of Anna's good friend's parents went to school together, and have an interesting history. Anna's dream is to be a journalist, and when she lands an internship, she starts to uncover secrets, and she has to decide whether to keep them or reveal them.
Dragonfly took me back to when I was in high school. I relieved the experience of crushes, confusion, choosing between boys, (worried that I would make the wrong choice), the whole "butterfly's in the stomach," nervous excitement, and first love. It also touched on the heartbreak you experience when things don't work out as you had hoped/planned. Dragonfly was a fast-paced, light, relaxing, easy read. The setting was absolutely beautiful, as Ms. Moore described the white sandy beaches, and clear blue water. I loved the characters in this story. They really came to life, and I visualized their looks, personalities, how they dressed, carried themselves, and what was most important in their lives. There was the perfect amount of description, so that I could visualize everything without getting bored.
This book was exciting! I could see the appeal of Jack. He was older, had model good looks, came from wealth, and made Anna experience adventure in her life. However, I was rooting for Julian from the very beginning. He truly knew Anna's worth and wasn't so indecisive about what he wanted or didn't want from her. He remembered her birthday, knew what was important to her, and was such an amazing friend. I wanted to slap Anna upside the head, and yell at her, "Look at what is right in front of you're face." I felt like she needed to get a backbone, and demand respect. Eventually, she did, but it took way too long! Jack wasn't a bad person. He was just very lost. However, I did not like the way he treated Anna, and she kept letting him hurt her, instead of focusing on the gift that was staring her in the face.
Dragonfly was such a great story. I loved the main characters, and even the secondary characters. I loved that the story was carefree, fast paced, and an enjoyable read! I think that it would have been neat to read the book from multiple perspectives. Specifically, Anna, Jack, and Julian. Many times, I wondered what was going on with Jack, his thought process, what his family was telling him, and why he was doing the things that he did. I loved the fact that Anna put her investigative skills to use, and uncovered a secret. I figured out the secret half way through the book, but was interested to see how everything played out. Anna was a bit nosey, and pushy, and if I was her, I would regret pushing so hard, because now she is in a horrible predicament. Dragonfly is the perfect summer read. The setting puts you in the mood for summer, the beach, and love. Lay back on your towel, by the water, have an ice cold drink, and read this book. You will feel like you are on vacation!
My Rating:
I give Dragonfly, 4 innocent, first love, sexy swooning, fun filled, and self discovering Stars! If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced love story about first love, friendship, new experiences, self discovery, and growing up, Dragonfly encompassed all of this and more. I loved every minute of reading this story, and felt like I was living through Anna's experiences. Dragonfly really leapt off the page, and came to life for me! I highly recommend it to readers that enjoy New Adult Contemporary Romance, and want a refreshing read that is not filled with angst, drama, and deep issues. The best part of all is that Dragonfly is a series, and I love when the books I enjoy get the chance to continue, expand, and deepen a storyline, and characters that I have come to love, and enjoy! Read this book! Trust me! You will enjoy it!
My Favorite Quotes:
"I'd stayed because I couldn't leave him. Nothing could have pulled me from his bedside until his eyes opened and I heard his voice, saw that smile again." (eARC Loc, 1758)
"I wanted to sit on the shore and let go of all of my feelings. I wanted to turn over the leaves of the past six months and try to understand what happened to me, how I changed, and how I'd gotten off course. I wanted to let the noise of the surf pound out the bad and help me find my way back to the beginning, back to how I was before all this happened to me. (eARC Loc, 2709)
"I studied his face and considered for a few seconds how much of a mistake it would be to take his hand and venture out into the swirling water. Letting him teach me to ride the waves that were growing in height, following him into the currents most people feared. (eARC Loc, 2723)
For more book reviews, visit A Bookish Escape at Http://www.abookishescape.com
Dragonfly was a story that grabbed me right away. The story is told from the main character, Anna's perspective. She is 17 years old, entering her senior year, and feeling down because her best friend Gabby has to move away. While at the beach, before the new school year has started, Anna meets beautiful twins Lucy, and Jack. Anna and Lucy exchange a few words, and Anna can't help but admire Lucy's gorgeous brother. Once the new school year begins, Anna is pleasantly surprised when Jack ends up in her senior English class, and Lucy ends up in another one of Anna's classes. Lucy is very friendly, outgoing, and nice, and Anna and her become fast friends. Anna becomes captivated by Jack, and they end up spending a lot of time together. Jack and Lucy's family come from a lot of wealth, and power. Unfortunately, their father is cold, and their brother is arrogant, pompous, controlling, and downright rude to Anna. The more Anna begins to have feelings for Jack, the more that he pushes her away. Then, when she tries to move on, he's trying to win her back. Mixed up in all of this is Julian, an artist, who is Anna's best male friend. He's good-looking, and in one point in time Anna was interested in him, but after Gabby called "dibs," Anna kept everything between them as strictly friendship. However, as time goes on it's obvious that Julian feels more than friendship for Anna. She feels things for him too whenever they're around each other, but the majority of her thoughts and time is spent over Jack. In their small town in New Mexico, everyone knows everyone else. All of Anna's good friend's parents went to school together, and have an interesting history. Anna's dream is to be a journalist, and when she lands an internship, she starts to uncover secrets, and she has to decide whether to keep them or reveal them.
Dragonfly took me back to when I was in high school. I relieved the experience of crushes, confusion, choosing between boys, (worried that I would make the wrong choice), the whole "butterfly's in the stomach," nervous excitement, and first love. It also touched on the heartbreak you experience when things don't work out as you had hoped/planned. Dragonfly was a fast-paced, light, relaxing, easy read. The setting was absolutely beautiful, as Ms. Moore described the white sandy beaches, and clear blue water. I loved the characters in this story. They really came to life, and I visualized their looks, personalities, how they dressed, carried themselves, and what was most important in their lives. There was the perfect amount of description, so that I could visualize everything without getting bored.
This book was exciting! I could see the appeal of Jack. He was older, had model good looks, came from wealth, and made Anna experience adventure in her life. However, I was rooting for Julian from the very beginning. He truly knew Anna's worth and wasn't so indecisive about what he wanted or didn't want from her. He remembered her birthday, knew what was important to her, and was such an amazing friend. I wanted to slap Anna upside the head, and yell at her, "Look at what is right in front of you're face." I felt like she needed to get a backbone, and demand respect. Eventually, she did, but it took way too long! Jack wasn't a bad person. He was just very lost. However, I did not like the way he treated Anna, and she kept letting him hurt her, instead of focusing on the gift that was staring her in the face.
Dragonfly was such a great story. I loved the main characters, and even the secondary characters. I loved that the story was carefree, fast paced, and an enjoyable read! I think that it would have been neat to read the book from multiple perspectives. Specifically, Anna, Jack, and Julian. Many times, I wondered what was going on with Jack, his thought process, what his family was telling him, and why he was doing the things that he did. I loved the fact that Anna put her investigative skills to use, and uncovered a secret. I figured out the secret half way through the book, but was interested to see how everything played out. Anna was a bit nosey, and pushy, and if I was her, I would regret pushing so hard, because now she is in a horrible predicament. Dragonfly is the perfect summer read. The setting puts you in the mood for summer, the beach, and love. Lay back on your towel, by the water, have an ice cold drink, and read this book. You will feel like you are on vacation!
My Rating:
I give Dragonfly, 4 innocent, first love, sexy swooning, fun filled, and self discovering Stars! If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced love story about first love, friendship, new experiences, self discovery, and growing up, Dragonfly encompassed all of this and more. I loved every minute of reading this story, and felt like I was living through Anna's experiences. Dragonfly really leapt off the page, and came to life for me! I highly recommend it to readers that enjoy New Adult Contemporary Romance, and want a refreshing read that is not filled with angst, drama, and deep issues. The best part of all is that Dragonfly is a series, and I love when the books I enjoy get the chance to continue, expand, and deepen a storyline, and characters that I have come to love, and enjoy! Read this book! Trust me! You will enjoy it!
My Favorite Quotes:
"I'd stayed because I couldn't leave him. Nothing could have pulled me from his bedside until his eyes opened and I heard his voice, saw that smile again." (eARC Loc, 1758)
"I wanted to sit on the shore and let go of all of my feelings. I wanted to turn over the leaves of the past six months and try to understand what happened to me, how I changed, and how I'd gotten off course. I wanted to let the noise of the surf pound out the bad and help me find my way back to the beginning, back to how I was before all this happened to me. (eARC Loc, 2709)
"I studied his face and considered for a few seconds how much of a mistake it would be to take his hand and venture out into the swirling water. Letting him teach me to ride the waves that were growing in height, following him into the currents most people feared. (eARC Loc, 2723)
For more book reviews, visit A Bookish Escape at Http://www.abookishescape.com
July 3, 2017
This book was so boring. Literally nothing happened throughout the first 75% of the plot except for Anna bouncing back and forth between two guys. The "Mystery" didn't even come into play until just before the end!
The love triangle was trash and Jack is a confusing asshole. Ugh.
No thanks.
The love triangle was trash and Jack is a confusing asshole. Ugh.
No thanks.
September 15, 2020
Jumped around way too much! Was not interested in the love triangle. And Julian and Lucy dated (kind of) which is cringe worthy.
July 9, 2013
Favorite Quote(s):
“I studied his face and considered for a few seconds how much of a mistake it would be to take his hand and venture out into the swirling water. Letting him teach me to ride the waves that were growing in height, following him into the currents most people feared. I was a pretty good swimmer, and I trusted Julian.”
Favorite Character: Julian. He’s sweet.
First Line:
“The first time I saw the Gulf of Mexico I didn’t believe it was real.
My Musings: This is actually the second time that I have read this novel. Just like the first time, I loved it. Leigh T Moore is a very talented writer, and also an overall sweet lady. She’s enthusiastic in what she does, and that really shines through in her writing.
Dragonfly is actually the first book that Leigh ever wrote. It follows Anna as she struggles through her senior year in high school. It’s her first year since moving to Fairview that she has had no one. Her best friend, Gabi, moved to Key West. Anna soon finds herself torn between two boys—the ever elusive and rich Jack Kyser, and the sweet, artistic Julian LaSalle. After Anna gets a newspaper internship, she begins to delve into what exactly happened twenty-ish years ago when Bill Kyser built up Hammond Island. Anna quickly finds herself with knowledge of a secret that could destroy her friendship with Julian.
“‘That’d be great!’ My voice sounded squeaky to me, so I cleared my throat. He was just so confident and rich and gorgeous.”
If I’m going to be completely honest, Anna was not my favorite character. She was beautifully written, of course, but I just couldn’t relate to her. Her thoughts and narration were shallow in my eyes, and her actions were the source of my annoyance quite a few times. Regardless, she did have a lot of layers, and her interactions with people were deeper than her outward personality. I’m hoping that in Undertow, we see less of the shallow Anna that was present around Jack and more of the deeper Anna that we saw when she was with Julian.
I did not like Jack Kyser. He was elusive and I felt as if, for the most part, he was just using Anna. I just really couldn’t sense any real feelings for her on his part. The hold that he had over her was not fun to read. She acted like he hung the moon, and completely overlooked how much of a jerk that he was. He’d do something wrong and come running back, and she would just accept it. However, it was interesting to see her finally build up a wall against him.
“Alone again, I was so anxious. I didn’t want to think about anything except Jack and why he wasn’t calling and what I could do about it. What if he’d decided I was too inexperienced? What if he just didn’t need any more trouble?”
As stated above, I absolutely hated Jack and Anna’s relationship. It was unhealthy. Anna needed him and his approval like she needed oxygen to breathe. I know it was her first real love or whatever, but it was disturbing to read. The amount of time it took for her to build resistance to him was heartbreaking in itself. It made Anna’s character come off as extremely desperate for almost the entire novel.
“‘This might be the time to make that extra piece of jewelry. You want a ring or something?’ ‘I thought you needed everything for your portfolio?’ He reached for me. ‘You can loan it to me when I go for my interview, and I’ll bring it back to you. I promise.’”
On the other hand, I loved Julian. Julian was real. He had a fantastic personality, and he is someone that I would love to know in real life. He had a passion for what he did, and he was good at it. He was laid back and easy going. He was persistent and flirty. He was just an overall good guy that I could not imagine using Anna. I cannot wait to see more of him in Undertow.
This story also had a mystery element to it. How were Julian’s mom, Bill Kyser, and Bill Kyser’s wife connected? What really happened all those years ago? Why were the Kyser twins kicked out of their private school? This novel had so many questions, and I loved that aspect. It was fun to guess about things, and then see it all pan out. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the mystery unravels in Undertow.
Leigh T Moore is definitely a favorite of mine, and Dragonfly definitely did not disappoint. This novel is a must for anyone looking for a fun, beachy read. Filled with first loves, dramatic pasts, and mystery, Dragonfly is a definite must buy! And with the sequel not too far off, you won’t even have to wait for what I’m sure will be a wonderful new installment!
“I studied his face and considered for a few seconds how much of a mistake it would be to take his hand and venture out into the swirling water. Letting him teach me to ride the waves that were growing in height, following him into the currents most people feared. I was a pretty good swimmer, and I trusted Julian.”
Favorite Character: Julian. He’s sweet.
First Line:
“The first time I saw the Gulf of Mexico I didn’t believe it was real.
My Musings: This is actually the second time that I have read this novel. Just like the first time, I loved it. Leigh T Moore is a very talented writer, and also an overall sweet lady. She’s enthusiastic in what she does, and that really shines through in her writing.
Dragonfly is actually the first book that Leigh ever wrote. It follows Anna as she struggles through her senior year in high school. It’s her first year since moving to Fairview that she has had no one. Her best friend, Gabi, moved to Key West. Anna soon finds herself torn between two boys—the ever elusive and rich Jack Kyser, and the sweet, artistic Julian LaSalle. After Anna gets a newspaper internship, she begins to delve into what exactly happened twenty-ish years ago when Bill Kyser built up Hammond Island. Anna quickly finds herself with knowledge of a secret that could destroy her friendship with Julian.
“‘That’d be great!’ My voice sounded squeaky to me, so I cleared my throat. He was just so confident and rich and gorgeous.”
If I’m going to be completely honest, Anna was not my favorite character. She was beautifully written, of course, but I just couldn’t relate to her. Her thoughts and narration were shallow in my eyes, and her actions were the source of my annoyance quite a few times. Regardless, she did have a lot of layers, and her interactions with people were deeper than her outward personality. I’m hoping that in Undertow, we see less of the shallow Anna that was present around Jack and more of the deeper Anna that we saw when she was with Julian.
I did not like Jack Kyser. He was elusive and I felt as if, for the most part, he was just using Anna. I just really couldn’t sense any real feelings for her on his part. The hold that he had over her was not fun to read. She acted like he hung the moon, and completely overlooked how much of a jerk that he was. He’d do something wrong and come running back, and she would just accept it. However, it was interesting to see her finally build up a wall against him.
“Alone again, I was so anxious. I didn’t want to think about anything except Jack and why he wasn’t calling and what I could do about it. What if he’d decided I was too inexperienced? What if he just didn’t need any more trouble?”
As stated above, I absolutely hated Jack and Anna’s relationship. It was unhealthy. Anna needed him and his approval like she needed oxygen to breathe. I know it was her first real love or whatever, but it was disturbing to read. The amount of time it took for her to build resistance to him was heartbreaking in itself. It made Anna’s character come off as extremely desperate for almost the entire novel.
“‘This might be the time to make that extra piece of jewelry. You want a ring or something?’ ‘I thought you needed everything for your portfolio?’ He reached for me. ‘You can loan it to me when I go for my interview, and I’ll bring it back to you. I promise.’”
On the other hand, I loved Julian. Julian was real. He had a fantastic personality, and he is someone that I would love to know in real life. He had a passion for what he did, and he was good at it. He was laid back and easy going. He was persistent and flirty. He was just an overall good guy that I could not imagine using Anna. I cannot wait to see more of him in Undertow.
This story also had a mystery element to it. How were Julian’s mom, Bill Kyser, and Bill Kyser’s wife connected? What really happened all those years ago? Why were the Kyser twins kicked out of their private school? This novel had so many questions, and I loved that aspect. It was fun to guess about things, and then see it all pan out. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the mystery unravels in Undertow.
Leigh T Moore is definitely a favorite of mine, and Dragonfly definitely did not disappoint. This novel is a must for anyone looking for a fun, beachy read. Filled with first loves, dramatic pasts, and mystery, Dragonfly is a definite must buy! And with the sequel not too far off, you won’t even have to wait for what I’m sure will be a wonderful new installment!
March 4, 2021
3.75 stars!
July 8, 2013
Voto vero 3.5
Recensione sul mio blog:
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
“Heeey, gorgeous” his voice was week “I was wondering what I had to do to get you spend the night with me”
“Dragonfly” è finito per una pura casualità nelle cose da leggere, come mi capita spesso, non mi sono soffermata molto nel leggere la trama. Basta poco per convincermi ad iniziare la lettura. Molto spesso è tutta questione di copertina, altre è il titolo, a volte è il buzz creato da altri blogger. Seguendo tantissimo blog americani, o comunque stranieri (Pensate a Natasha is a book junkie che è australiana) è normale che venga esposta a quello che “va di moda”. Generalmente ho idee tutte mie e mi fido di pochi giudizi che ho attestato sono simili ai miei. In questo caso comunque la copertina e il titolo hanno contribuito a farmelo iniziare e la trama a farmelo finire.
Ok inizialmente ho fatto molta fatica ad entrare nella storia, forse perché mi sembrava già scritta, forse perché inizialmente Anna è una ragazzina scialba che si lamenta della sua solitudine, per la partenza della sua best friend, per non avere abbastanza chance, perché non sa che fare. Ma in realtà Anna è una di quelle persone che si nascondono dietro gli altri, che hanno paura della solitudine, che non hanno idea di come muoversi. Ma che appena si rimboccano le maniche vanno lontano. A loro serve una spinta per mettersi in moto. E la spinta di Anna è l’arrivo nella sua scuola di Jack e Lucy. Anna crede di non poter passare del tempo con loro, perché sono sofisticati, ricchi e immediatamente guadagnano l’attenzione di tutto il corpo studentesco. Anna si sminuisce continuamente, ha l’autostima sotto i piedi e non si rende conto di essere una persona speciale, altruista, seria, responsabile ed entusiasta, che si getta a capofitto nelle nuove esperienze. E la prima è proprio il suo rapporto con Jack. Estranea alle relazioni con l’altro sesso perché non ci ha mai creduto davvero, ma l’attrazione con Jack è fulminea e reciprocata. Salvo poi avere problemi causati dalla mancanza di serietà. Anna deve fare i conti con quello che non può avere e con lo svegliarsi di sensazioni che non aveva mai preso in considerazione. Quando questo coincide con il farsi avanti di Julian, il fico della scuola con un hobby che lo ha reso famosissimo. Julian infatti lavora i metalli e atri materiali per creare delle meravigliose sculture. È il vanto della scuola e di sé stesso, tanto che è stato invitato ad una scuola d’arte prestigiosa. Ma Julian prova anche dei sentimenti per Anna che nasconde dietro la sua spontaneità e i suoi scherzi. Questi sono adolescenti che si ritrovano a fare le esperienze tipiche dei ragazzi della loro età: la prima volta, la prima ubriacatura, fare tardi la sera. Ma oltre a questo, oltre lo sviluppo emotivo di Anna, che racconta la sua storia in prima persona, abbiamo anche un mistero, un mistero che coinvolge tutti i protagonisti e tiene incollati alle pagine, e che poi è il fulcro di tutta la storia. La vera identità di Julian, cosa è successo a sua madre, la nascita della loro cittadina. Tutto sembra collegato e tutto cadrà addosso ad Anna come un uragano che dovrà capire qual è la scelta giusta da fare.
Nonostante l’ingenuità di Anna, che a volte la fa agire in modo ridicolo, la storia è ben scritta e prende il lettore, che vuole sapere che cosa si nasconde tra le pagine.
L’ambientazione vicino all’oceano, che favorisce scene con Jack in barca, super marinaio sexy, rende la storia piacevolmente estiva e si insinua lentamente, rendendola molto più carina.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un anello a forma di libellula e un tatuaggio…
Sorprendentemente leggero, senza grosse scene piccanti, questo libro si presta ad una lettura veloce e piacevole, che accompagna queste sere estive. Girare con Anna per andare a trovare Jack o nel laboratorio di Julian è emozionante e la fine lascia aperte molte strade. Per fortuna “Undertow” , il secondo volume della storia, è in uscita il 15 luglio 2013 e il mio blog parteciperà al Book Launch. Stay tuned guys e buona lettura!
Ringrazio Netgalley e All Night Reads per avermi concesso la straordinaria opportunità di leggere questo libro in cambio della mia onesta opinione.
Recensione sul mio blog:
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...
“Heeey, gorgeous” his voice was week “I was wondering what I had to do to get you spend the night with me”
“Dragonfly” è finito per una pura casualità nelle cose da leggere, come mi capita spesso, non mi sono soffermata molto nel leggere la trama. Basta poco per convincermi ad iniziare la lettura. Molto spesso è tutta questione di copertina, altre è il titolo, a volte è il buzz creato da altri blogger. Seguendo tantissimo blog americani, o comunque stranieri (Pensate a Natasha is a book junkie che è australiana) è normale che venga esposta a quello che “va di moda”. Generalmente ho idee tutte mie e mi fido di pochi giudizi che ho attestato sono simili ai miei. In questo caso comunque la copertina e il titolo hanno contribuito a farmelo iniziare e la trama a farmelo finire.
Ok inizialmente ho fatto molta fatica ad entrare nella storia, forse perché mi sembrava già scritta, forse perché inizialmente Anna è una ragazzina scialba che si lamenta della sua solitudine, per la partenza della sua best friend, per non avere abbastanza chance, perché non sa che fare. Ma in realtà Anna è una di quelle persone che si nascondono dietro gli altri, che hanno paura della solitudine, che non hanno idea di come muoversi. Ma che appena si rimboccano le maniche vanno lontano. A loro serve una spinta per mettersi in moto. E la spinta di Anna è l’arrivo nella sua scuola di Jack e Lucy. Anna crede di non poter passare del tempo con loro, perché sono sofisticati, ricchi e immediatamente guadagnano l’attenzione di tutto il corpo studentesco. Anna si sminuisce continuamente, ha l’autostima sotto i piedi e non si rende conto di essere una persona speciale, altruista, seria, responsabile ed entusiasta, che si getta a capofitto nelle nuove esperienze. E la prima è proprio il suo rapporto con Jack. Estranea alle relazioni con l’altro sesso perché non ci ha mai creduto davvero, ma l’attrazione con Jack è fulminea e reciprocata. Salvo poi avere problemi causati dalla mancanza di serietà. Anna deve fare i conti con quello che non può avere e con lo svegliarsi di sensazioni che non aveva mai preso in considerazione. Quando questo coincide con il farsi avanti di Julian, il fico della scuola con un hobby che lo ha reso famosissimo. Julian infatti lavora i metalli e atri materiali per creare delle meravigliose sculture. È il vanto della scuola e di sé stesso, tanto che è stato invitato ad una scuola d’arte prestigiosa. Ma Julian prova anche dei sentimenti per Anna che nasconde dietro la sua spontaneità e i suoi scherzi. Questi sono adolescenti che si ritrovano a fare le esperienze tipiche dei ragazzi della loro età: la prima volta, la prima ubriacatura, fare tardi la sera. Ma oltre a questo, oltre lo sviluppo emotivo di Anna, che racconta la sua storia in prima persona, abbiamo anche un mistero, un mistero che coinvolge tutti i protagonisti e tiene incollati alle pagine, e che poi è il fulcro di tutta la storia. La vera identità di Julian, cosa è successo a sua madre, la nascita della loro cittadina. Tutto sembra collegato e tutto cadrà addosso ad Anna come un uragano che dovrà capire qual è la scelta giusta da fare.
Nonostante l’ingenuità di Anna, che a volte la fa agire in modo ridicolo, la storia è ben scritta e prende il lettore, che vuole sapere che cosa si nasconde tra le pagine.
L’ambientazione vicino all’oceano, che favorisce scene con Jack in barca, super marinaio sexy, rende la storia piacevolmente estiva e si insinua lentamente, rendendola molto più carina.
Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un anello a forma di libellula e un tatuaggio…
Sorprendentemente leggero, senza grosse scene piccanti, questo libro si presta ad una lettura veloce e piacevole, che accompagna queste sere estive. Girare con Anna per andare a trovare Jack o nel laboratorio di Julian è emozionante e la fine lascia aperte molte strade. Per fortuna “Undertow” , il secondo volume della storia, è in uscita il 15 luglio 2013 e il mio blog parteciperà al Book Launch. Stay tuned guys e buona lettura!
Ringrazio Netgalley e All Night Reads per avermi concesso la straordinaria opportunità di leggere questo libro in cambio della mia onesta opinione.
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