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Tattoos
Tattoos label us, mark us for life, tell stories of our past and sometimes of our future, they show the world who we are or maybe who they believe we are, yet we all have a unique story that goes deeper than the ink on our skin, the clothes that we wear or the place that we live. Beneath the glamor is our fragile humanness, the need to belong, be understood, and in our darkest moments we are united in our desire to find comfort and love.
Tattoos: A Novel is not a story about cancer, it is a story about finding hope and meaning in the devastation that can become your life in the blink of an eye. We have seen it happen to the people we love and many have lived it themselves, life shifting rapidly like ice breaking beneath our feet plunging you into the depths. This is a story and a testament to all those who have survived the unsurvivable, lived the unliveable, pushed through just one more day; this is everyones story, this is about living life...
Seventeen-year-old Marilee Mackie has everything going for her, beauty, money and a bright future. But when she’s diagnosed with cancer her world falls apart. Instead of finishing her senior year she begins the fight of her life.
Nineteen-year-old Jax, an enigmatic hospital orderly, lives on the Strip, the proverbial other side of the tracks. With his sleeves of tattoos and rocker look, he’s the kind of bad boy that Marilee has always steered clear of.
But when Marilee’s illness strips her bare, she searches for meaning in her life. Seeing that Marilee has lost hope, Jax steps in and helps her find purpose, a reason to live another day.
From devastation the Peace Project is born.
With Marilee’s money and Jax’s knowledge of the Strip, the teenagers embark on an unforgettable journey. Where Marilee learns that happiness is a choice, small acts of kindness can change lives forever, that a little good goes a long way, and that love can grow even in the darkest places of you life. But especially that rainbows can follow storms.
Tattoos: A Novel is not a story about cancer, it is a story about finding hope and meaning in the devastation that can become your life in the blink of an eye. We have seen it happen to the people we love and many have lived it themselves, life shifting rapidly like ice breaking beneath our feet plunging you into the depths. This is a story and a testament to all those who have survived the unsurvivable, lived the unliveable, pushed through just one more day; this is everyones story, this is about living life...
Seventeen-year-old Marilee Mackie has everything going for her, beauty, money and a bright future. But when she’s diagnosed with cancer her world falls apart. Instead of finishing her senior year she begins the fight of her life.
Nineteen-year-old Jax, an enigmatic hospital orderly, lives on the Strip, the proverbial other side of the tracks. With his sleeves of tattoos and rocker look, he’s the kind of bad boy that Marilee has always steered clear of.
But when Marilee’s illness strips her bare, she searches for meaning in her life. Seeing that Marilee has lost hope, Jax steps in and helps her find purpose, a reason to live another day.
From devastation the Peace Project is born.
With Marilee’s money and Jax’s knowledge of the Strip, the teenagers embark on an unforgettable journey. Where Marilee learns that happiness is a choice, small acts of kindness can change lives forever, that a little good goes a long way, and that love can grow even in the darkest places of you life. But especially that rainbows can follow storms.
356 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2013
18 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
Denise Mathew
15 books36 followersI love good chocolate, lots of coffee, my kids, when they behave, and of course writing stories. I believe that housework should be banned and wish that potato chips were the most healthy and nutritious food on the planet.
My garden is a mix of many colors and plants, I steer clear of uniform and the same holds true for my books. I don't believe in writing only one type of genre since I don't like to limit my creativity and so I write contemporary, dystopian and paranormal. I plan on writing until the stories run out, which I hope never happens.
Today is life - the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Dale Carnegie
My garden is a mix of many colors and plants, I steer clear of uniform and the same holds true for my books. I don't believe in writing only one type of genre since I don't like to limit my creativity and so I write contemporary, dystopian and paranormal. I plan on writing until the stories run out, which I hope never happens.
Today is life - the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Dale Carnegie
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 10, 2017
*I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
"I see you in every flower in the park, every color in a rainbow and in every scent that reminds me of the things I love. Without knowing how, or even why it happened, I can’t imagine a world where you don’t exist."
***4 stars***
My "favorites" shelf currently consists of 12 books. Out of over 220. Needless to say, I am very difficult to impress. Rating anything above 3.5 is pretty rare for me, which is why I'm so amazed that I absolutely loved Tattoos: A Novel. It's pretty hard for a book to get alot of emotion out of me, this was really really stay-up-past-midnight-on-a-school-night engrossing.
Marilee, our 17-year-old cancer patient main character's parents are total idiots. My thoughts on her mother:
And really, isn't your only daughter being admitted to the hospital for stage 3 cancer treatment just a little bit more important than your hair appointment? I mean it's like, excuse da eff out of her for being diagnosed with cancer! Her mom has to be the most idiotic shallow person I have ever come across. Her dad basically just goes along with whatever her mom says. They are the epitome of wealthy socialite assholes.
Marilee herself is a good character, and I'm really glad that she's nothing like her parents. She's quick to realize that she's shallow, and quicker to change her ways.
But let me get down to the real meat of the matter...
Jax. Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax...
Jax to Marilee: “You’re always there with me and no matter what happens in the future you’ll be there, safe in my mind with, spaghetti and meatballs, my beat up bike, my Gran and my Celtic’s t-shirt, and all the rest of the things I love.”
Me:
Jax to Marilee again: “O we grew together, like to a double cherry, seeming parted; But yet a union in partition, two lovely berries moulded on one stem.”" (from a Midsummer Night's Dream)
Me:
And the one that really broke my heart, Jax to Marilee: "I see you in every flower in the park, every color in a rainbow and in every scent that reminds me of the things I love. Without knowing how, or even why it happened, I can’t imagine a world where you don’t exist."
Me:
It's just that throughout the whole book, even when Marilee is at her worst, hairless, sunken-eyed and skeletal thin from chemo treatment, Jax is still like
He is one of those rare characters that manages to be absolutely perfect, but at the same time so very, very human and flawed. He's afuckingmazing, to put it lightly. Three of these four stars are do to the fact that not only is Jax a superhot, fangirl-worthy guy, but because he's also actually a good guy. He's not some dark bad-boy cliche, though he looks like it, but he's actually a really down-to-earth person. Like Marilee, I assumed some things about him in the beginning that were actually totally wrong, and I felt really stupid for thinking those thing about him, after he had proven time and again to be a genuinely nice person, even if he is from the bad side of town.
The writing was good, and I feel like the writer was experienced and knew what she was doing, though I'm not sure if this is her first book or not. Tattoos: A Novel literally almost tore my heart to shreds, and that's coming from someone who's read some pretty hardcore stuff.
Me around page 240:
To the author:
The story itself, the struggle with Marilee's cancer, her slowly falling for Jax, and their mutual love and the strength they find in eachother is just beautiful. I love the both Jax's and Marilee's rotating first-person chapters. Nothing beats having insight to both the main character's thoughts. All of the supporting characters are well drawn and described, only adding further depth to this story.
I cannot talk enough about all the things I like about this book, but still, I know that if you're reading this chances are you're wondering why I gave it four stars instead instead of five. Well, here are my reasons.
I have never read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, but this it sounds kind of similar... I'm not sure how much, exactly, but from what I can tell some of the storyline is kind of the same.
Reason number 2: There's some grammatical errors.
Now, I'm no Grammar Nazi
...but in my opinion, anything that impedes the reading of a book (like bad spelling, grammar or punctuation) is a negative factor. Minus 1/2 star.
Last reason: The end was good, but kind of... abrupt. I was like, so what about the rest? I mean, we get an epilogue, but I felt like there should've been a little more to the story itself. I can't say anymore without spoilers, but yeah, would've liked a bit more.
But besides that, everything else was great. The medical aspect of it was detailed, and well-researched, which is always great. Nothing sucks like reading a book about cow farms where the the main character milks a bull. RESEARCH ROX;D
And yes, this was a long review.
-Jenn
P.S. This book only exists as an e-book. I NEED A HARD COPY SO BAD.
"I see you in every flower in the park, every color in a rainbow and in every scent that reminds me of the things I love. Without knowing how, or even why it happened, I can’t imagine a world where you don’t exist."
***4 stars***
My "favorites" shelf currently consists of 12 books. Out of over 220. Needless to say, I am very difficult to impress. Rating anything above 3.5 is pretty rare for me, which is why I'm so amazed that I absolutely loved Tattoos: A Novel. It's pretty hard for a book to get alot of emotion out of me, this was really really stay-up-past-midnight-on-a-school-night engrossing.
Marilee, our 17-year-old cancer patient main character's parents are total idiots. My thoughts on her mother:
And really, isn't your only daughter being admitted to the hospital for stage 3 cancer treatment just a little bit more important than your hair appointment? I mean it's like, excuse da eff out of her for being diagnosed with cancer! Her mom has to be the most idiotic shallow person I have ever come across. Her dad basically just goes along with whatever her mom says. They are the epitome of wealthy socialite assholes.Marilee herself is a good character, and I'm really glad that she's nothing like her parents. She's quick to realize that she's shallow, and quicker to change her ways.
But let me get down to the real meat of the matter...
Jax. Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax Jax...
Jax to Marilee: “You’re always there with me and no matter what happens in the future you’ll be there, safe in my mind with, spaghetti and meatballs, my beat up bike, my Gran and my Celtic’s t-shirt, and all the rest of the things I love.”
Me:
Jax to Marilee again: “O we grew together, like to a double cherry, seeming parted; But yet a union in partition, two lovely berries moulded on one stem.”" (from a Midsummer Night's Dream)
Me:
And the one that really broke my heart, Jax to Marilee: "I see you in every flower in the park, every color in a rainbow and in every scent that reminds me of the things I love. Without knowing how, or even why it happened, I can’t imagine a world where you don’t exist."
Me:
It's just that throughout the whole book, even when Marilee is at her worst, hairless, sunken-eyed and skeletal thin from chemo treatment, Jax is still like
He is one of those rare characters that manages to be absolutely perfect, but at the same time so very, very human and flawed. He's afuckingmazing, to put it lightly. Three of these four stars are do to the fact that not only is Jax a superhot, fangirl-worthy guy, but because he's also actually a good guy. He's not some dark bad-boy cliche, though he looks like it, but he's actually a really down-to-earth person. Like Marilee, I assumed some things about him in the beginning that were actually totally wrong, and I felt really stupid for thinking those thing about him, after he had proven time and again to be a genuinely nice person, even if he is from the bad side of town.
The writing was good, and I feel like the writer was experienced and knew what she was doing, though I'm not sure if this is her first book or not. Tattoos: A Novel literally almost tore my heart to shreds, and that's coming from someone who's read some pretty hardcore stuff.
Me around page 240:
To the author:
The story itself, the struggle with Marilee's cancer, her slowly falling for Jax, and their mutual love and the strength they find in eachother is just beautiful. I love the both Jax's and Marilee's rotating first-person chapters. Nothing beats having insight to both the main character's thoughts. All of the supporting characters are well drawn and described, only adding further depth to this story.
I cannot talk enough about all the things I like about this book, but still, I know that if you're reading this chances are you're wondering why I gave it four stars instead instead of five. Well, here are my reasons.
I have never read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, but this it sounds kind of similar... I'm not sure how much, exactly, but from what I can tell some of the storyline is kind of the same.
Reason number 2: There's some grammatical errors.
Now, I'm no Grammar Nazi
...but in my opinion, anything that impedes the reading of a book (like bad spelling, grammar or punctuation) is a negative factor. Minus 1/2 star.Last reason: The end was good, but kind of... abrupt. I was like, so what about the rest? I mean, we get an epilogue, but I felt like there should've been a little more to the story itself. I can't say anymore without spoilers, but yeah, would've liked a bit more.
But besides that, everything else was great. The medical aspect of it was detailed, and well-researched, which is always great. Nothing sucks like reading a book about cow farms where the the main character milks a bull. RESEARCH ROX;D
And yes, this was a long review.
-Jenn
P.S. This book only exists as an e-book. I NEED A HARD COPY SO BAD.
July 27, 2013
Marilee had a perfect life. Everything was going her way until the day she was diagnosed with cancer. After losing not only her health but the emotional support from her family and friends, she turns to Jax, a hospital volunteer. Jax was everything Marilee would have stayed away from Before Cancer – he had the bad boy looks and the bad boy attitude. Together they work to try to make a difference in their small corner of the world.
So this book was pretty much awesome. I liked Marilee, though I suspect if I would have met her Before Cancer I might not have. She had the kind of perfect life everyone dreams of. She never gave a thought to anyone else. Not to say she was a bad person – I really can't say since we really didn't get to see her before – but she seemed like your typical teenage girl, worrying about clothes, parties, boys, etc. Along with her diagnosis Marilee's life was changed in the way that only cancer can. Her future became murky, her priorities shifted, and she began to wonder what she would be leaving behind should she not make it through the treatments.
Jax was a nobody in Marilee's world – a hospital orderly sent in to clean up the mess left behind. However, when she took a good look at him he became so much more. I loved that they met when Marilee was at her worst. It is in this that we realize how wonderful he truly is. I do wish we would have gotten more of them together in the hospital. All of Marilee's treatment/sickness and their reactions to such were glossed over. It felt to me as part of their relationship was missing that I would have loved to see.
While I loved the romance in this story, there is so much to it than that. We see both Marilee and Jax grow as individuals as they try to use the resources at their disposal to help others. The emotions the author was able to put into these pages was amazing – I laughed, I cried (consider this a warning if you are reading in public or just applied mascara), and at one memorable moment I wanted to stop reading altogether because I knew what was coming and I wanted to stop it. I couldn't stop it and I didn't stop reading, and the ending made it all worth it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So this book was pretty much awesome. I liked Marilee, though I suspect if I would have met her Before Cancer I might not have. She had the kind of perfect life everyone dreams of. She never gave a thought to anyone else. Not to say she was a bad person – I really can't say since we really didn't get to see her before – but she seemed like your typical teenage girl, worrying about clothes, parties, boys, etc. Along with her diagnosis Marilee's life was changed in the way that only cancer can. Her future became murky, her priorities shifted, and she began to wonder what she would be leaving behind should she not make it through the treatments.
Jax was a nobody in Marilee's world – a hospital orderly sent in to clean up the mess left behind. However, when she took a good look at him he became so much more. I loved that they met when Marilee was at her worst. It is in this that we realize how wonderful he truly is. I do wish we would have gotten more of them together in the hospital. All of Marilee's treatment/sickness and their reactions to such were glossed over. It felt to me as part of their relationship was missing that I would have loved to see.
While I loved the romance in this story, there is so much to it than that. We see both Marilee and Jax grow as individuals as they try to use the resources at their disposal to help others. The emotions the author was able to put into these pages was amazing – I laughed, I cried (consider this a warning if you are reading in public or just applied mascara), and at one memorable moment I wanted to stop reading altogether because I knew what was coming and I wanted to stop it. I couldn't stop it and I didn't stop reading, and the ending made it all worth it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2014
I gave the book 5 stars because it made me laugh, cry and feel good. The story had a great flow to it and wasn't jerky. I appreciated the way that Denise pulled me into the story and made me feel like I was right there with Marilee and Jax.
I ran across a link to this book on one of the many groups I participate in and decided to give it a try, mostly from a small blurb that I read - "Tattoos label us, mark us for life, tell stories of our past and sometimes of our future, they show the world who we are or maybe who they believe we are, yet we all have a unique story that goes deeper than the ink on our skin, the clothes that we wear or the place that we live. Beneath the glamor is our fragile humanness, the need to belong, be understood, and in our darkest moments we are united in our desire to find comfort and love."
I have to say that the cover is what drew me in at first and I liked the small blurb that I read about it. I had no idea when I one-clicked on it (from a mobile phone you don't get as much detail) what it dealt with.
I started the book and from the dedication page, I figured that cancer would play a role in the book somehow. This was unlike any other book that I have read before. I am a very voracious reader and love everything from Romance, Regency, Historical, all the way to 50 Shades and beyond. I have to say that once I started this book, I could hardly put it down. Denise Mathew makes you feel like you are right there with Marilee and Jax and even those from the Strip. I could actually picture the tunnels from her descriptions.
"With Marilee’s money and Jax’s knowledge of the Strip, the teenagers embark on an unforgettable journey. Where Marilee learns that happiness is a choice, small acts of kindness can change lives forever, that a little good goes a long way, and that love can grow even in the darkest places of you life. But especially that rainbows can follow storms."
I was greatly intrigued by the Peace Project and how these two young people were able to do something that adults twice their age couldn't seem to do. Then, I was heart broken when we learned what was really going on with Jax's arms and the tracks that Marilee was so worried about. I wanted to shout and smack Jax upside his head after the Prom, but I also cried like a baby and kept hoping that things would work out. We all know that live is not promised, but that we should treasure it every day. I would recommend this to anyone that has ever had a hard knock in life, lost someone to cancer, known someone that beat cancer or just wants a feel good read.
At the end of the book, Denise Mathew states that " Tattoos a Novel isn't a story about dying, it's a story about living. The Peace Project is just a work of fiction but it doesn't have to be. Little things we do make more differences in our world than we know. sow seeds of peace and if you're lucky someone will copy you, and a chain of peace might take hold. At the very least you will feel good for a few moments, at the most you'll have touched a life forever. Miracles do exist and Angels are all around us."
I ran across a link to this book on one of the many groups I participate in and decided to give it a try, mostly from a small blurb that I read - "Tattoos label us, mark us for life, tell stories of our past and sometimes of our future, they show the world who we are or maybe who they believe we are, yet we all have a unique story that goes deeper than the ink on our skin, the clothes that we wear or the place that we live. Beneath the glamor is our fragile humanness, the need to belong, be understood, and in our darkest moments we are united in our desire to find comfort and love."
I have to say that the cover is what drew me in at first and I liked the small blurb that I read about it. I had no idea when I one-clicked on it (from a mobile phone you don't get as much detail) what it dealt with.
I started the book and from the dedication page, I figured that cancer would play a role in the book somehow. This was unlike any other book that I have read before. I am a very voracious reader and love everything from Romance, Regency, Historical, all the way to 50 Shades and beyond. I have to say that once I started this book, I could hardly put it down. Denise Mathew makes you feel like you are right there with Marilee and Jax and even those from the Strip. I could actually picture the tunnels from her descriptions.
"With Marilee’s money and Jax’s knowledge of the Strip, the teenagers embark on an unforgettable journey. Where Marilee learns that happiness is a choice, small acts of kindness can change lives forever, that a little good goes a long way, and that love can grow even in the darkest places of you life. But especially that rainbows can follow storms."
I was greatly intrigued by the Peace Project and how these two young people were able to do something that adults twice their age couldn't seem to do. Then, I was heart broken when we learned what was really going on with Jax's arms and the tracks that Marilee was so worried about. I wanted to shout and smack Jax upside his head after the Prom, but I also cried like a baby and kept hoping that things would work out. We all know that live is not promised, but that we should treasure it every day. I would recommend this to anyone that has ever had a hard knock in life, lost someone to cancer, known someone that beat cancer or just wants a feel good read.
At the end of the book, Denise Mathew states that " Tattoos a Novel isn't a story about dying, it's a story about living. The Peace Project is just a work of fiction but it doesn't have to be. Little things we do make more differences in our world than we know. sow seeds of peace and if you're lucky someone will copy you, and a chain of peace might take hold. At the very least you will feel good for a few moments, at the most you'll have touched a life forever. Miracles do exist and Angels are all around us."
April 4, 2014
WORDS CANNOT BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE BEAUTY OF THIS BOOK!!
Denise Mathew, I am hooked on your every word!
I thought Tattoos was going to be one of those erotic novels that are ever so popular these days, but once I started reading it was obvious that I was GREATLY mistaken!
It is breathtaking! An epic tale of love and tragedy. Denise Mathew's Tattoos is right up there, with top authors like Jodi Picoult's My Sisters Keeper (emotionally) and trust me, I don't say this easily, as I am a BIG Jodi fan.
Jax is a true hero, despite the world around him he sees beauty and hope. He inspire people around him and fights for those who can't do it themselves. Although he is the ultimate man, he is not at all depicted as flawless. He looks like a god in the pool, but then he doggie paddles; he is really hardworking, but lives in extreme poverty; he looks intimidating and doesn't hesitate to stand up to classy rich people, but he allows us to see that he does feel out of place. All of these imperfections only makes him more perfect in my eyes.
He falls in love with Marilee, as cancer patient, when she is at her lowest. Her fragile look, weight loss and hair loss doesn't matter to him, he sees the gorgeous person inside even when she can't see it herself.
Jax sees Marilee for the first time when her gazillionaire parents bring her to the hospital. "She was..a cheerleader, prom queen (type)...soft blond hair...pale blue eyes...Definitely not someone I would ever have talked to in high school. But in hospital, where everyone was sick the playing field was even...cancer didn't discriminate and it couldn't be fixed by money...I hoped...that she would make it home again, because there had been something in her eyes that made me root for her.
I knew that look. I had practiced it too many times not to recognize it, she had been wearing a mask, a fake face that told the world she had it all worked out. Only she didn't at all. Inside she was terrified, angry...ready to explode...(her) parents didn't seem to give a shit about her."
Later:"As far as I could see, her mother was a perpetual not show, and her father came and went so quickly that he may as we'll have not come at all. Yet as little as it was...Marilee seemed grateful for her father's scraps of time...It ticked me off that they didn't see what I did, that Marilee was starved for their love, especially now, when she was in the midst of a battle for her very life."
Jax becomes Marilee's rock. Their bond grows and become a powerful, unbreakable love.
The book takes unexpected turns and had me cry a heck of a lot. I don't want to reveal any more of the plot. Just take my word for it and GO BUY THE BOOK ASAP!
5-Bombs
Reviewed by Soreta
Denise Mathew, I am hooked on your every word!
I thought Tattoos was going to be one of those erotic novels that are ever so popular these days, but once I started reading it was obvious that I was GREATLY mistaken!
It is breathtaking! An epic tale of love and tragedy. Denise Mathew's Tattoos is right up there, with top authors like Jodi Picoult's My Sisters Keeper (emotionally) and trust me, I don't say this easily, as I am a BIG Jodi fan.
Jax is a true hero, despite the world around him he sees beauty and hope. He inspire people around him and fights for those who can't do it themselves. Although he is the ultimate man, he is not at all depicted as flawless. He looks like a god in the pool, but then he doggie paddles; he is really hardworking, but lives in extreme poverty; he looks intimidating and doesn't hesitate to stand up to classy rich people, but he allows us to see that he does feel out of place. All of these imperfections only makes him more perfect in my eyes.
He falls in love with Marilee, as cancer patient, when she is at her lowest. Her fragile look, weight loss and hair loss doesn't matter to him, he sees the gorgeous person inside even when she can't see it herself.
Jax sees Marilee for the first time when her gazillionaire parents bring her to the hospital. "She was..a cheerleader, prom queen (type)...soft blond hair...pale blue eyes...Definitely not someone I would ever have talked to in high school. But in hospital, where everyone was sick the playing field was even...cancer didn't discriminate and it couldn't be fixed by money...I hoped...that she would make it home again, because there had been something in her eyes that made me root for her.
I knew that look. I had practiced it too many times not to recognize it, she had been wearing a mask, a fake face that told the world she had it all worked out. Only she didn't at all. Inside she was terrified, angry...ready to explode...(her) parents didn't seem to give a shit about her."
Later:"As far as I could see, her mother was a perpetual not show, and her father came and went so quickly that he may as we'll have not come at all. Yet as little as it was...Marilee seemed grateful for her father's scraps of time...It ticked me off that they didn't see what I did, that Marilee was starved for their love, especially now, when she was in the midst of a battle for her very life."
Jax becomes Marilee's rock. Their bond grows and become a powerful, unbreakable love.
The book takes unexpected turns and had me cry a heck of a lot. I don't want to reveal any more of the plot. Just take my word for it and GO BUY THE BOOK ASAP!
5-Bombs
Reviewed by Soreta
January 2, 2014
Peace project review
Arc review
5 stars
This book is one of my hardest reads. I was furious, i was mad, i was frustrated, and i even laughed a little. The way the book started i wasnt sure i would be able to finish it because it was so heartbreaking. The author touched certain aspects that well if she hadnt worked in a hosspital before, would never had known. Details were so intensed at times that well you would have thought it was based on a true story. I cried literally most of this book because well it touches you and all you want to do is feel. The characters were perfect, from your trying to act perfect parents to your down to earth will do anything for you people, to i dont have anything to live for characters. You need every single one of those people in this book to make it whole. I honestly TVcant really say much about any flaws because truly i cant flaw any of it.
I usually go into a small description of the book but all i can say is read this one. Its about life changing events. So the people in the book have to learn to live or give up. This book makes you look at life and say hey what can i do.
This is not a usually read for me, but i have to say it was so worth it.
Quickly i will tell you that the main characters are marilee and jax. Marilee is diagnosed with cancer and how she has to start treatments. Jax is the janitor in the hospital and well that is how they meet. You will meet her parents and jax's gran. In addition there are tons of of other people you will meet. The stories are theirs to tell, so read the book.
Must read. Loved this book.
Arc review
5 stars
This book is one of my hardest reads. I was furious, i was mad, i was frustrated, and i even laughed a little. The way the book started i wasnt sure i would be able to finish it because it was so heartbreaking. The author touched certain aspects that well if she hadnt worked in a hosspital before, would never had known. Details were so intensed at times that well you would have thought it was based on a true story. I cried literally most of this book because well it touches you and all you want to do is feel. The characters were perfect, from your trying to act perfect parents to your down to earth will do anything for you people, to i dont have anything to live for characters. You need every single one of those people in this book to make it whole. I honestly TVcant really say much about any flaws because truly i cant flaw any of it.
I usually go into a small description of the book but all i can say is read this one. Its about life changing events. So the people in the book have to learn to live or give up. This book makes you look at life and say hey what can i do.
This is not a usually read for me, but i have to say it was so worth it.
Quickly i will tell you that the main characters are marilee and jax. Marilee is diagnosed with cancer and how she has to start treatments. Jax is the janitor in the hospital and well that is how they meet. You will meet her parents and jax's gran. In addition there are tons of of other people you will meet. The stories are theirs to tell, so read the book.
Must read. Loved this book.
August 1, 2013
Tattoos by Denise Matthews
Rating 5*****
This book wax provided from the author in exchange for honest literary review.
As a pediatric nurse, this book really hit my heart. I have to say say that the authors portrayal is so accurate it is scary.
While most teens are preparing for college, Marilee is fighting for her life. Cancer has not only shattered her dreams, but her whole reality as well. That is until a sexy stranger handed her a puke basin. Jax swapped in on Marilee and changes the entire game. Her heart may never be the same.
I loved this book! The stages of acceptance at the diagnosis are so real, and very well written. All of the medical terms are current And relevant as well. The plot just pulls you in and you can't help the taken away with Jax and Marilees story. I think that this is one of the best written book for teens and young adults relating to Cancer I did not put this book down from the moment I started it. The plot was excellent and well thought out and amazing.
I will say be forewarned I was moved to tears more than once. It is so well done. I hope that older teens and young adults who have cancer can read this one. Just to know that it is ok not to be ok. It's ok to be angry. It's ok to yell, most of all never give up, continue to LIVE!!!!!!
Michelle McQueen
Rating 5*****
This book wax provided from the author in exchange for honest literary review.
As a pediatric nurse, this book really hit my heart. I have to say say that the authors portrayal is so accurate it is scary.
While most teens are preparing for college, Marilee is fighting for her life. Cancer has not only shattered her dreams, but her whole reality as well. That is until a sexy stranger handed her a puke basin. Jax swapped in on Marilee and changes the entire game. Her heart may never be the same.
I loved this book! The stages of acceptance at the diagnosis are so real, and very well written. All of the medical terms are current And relevant as well. The plot just pulls you in and you can't help the taken away with Jax and Marilees story. I think that this is one of the best written book for teens and young adults relating to Cancer I did not put this book down from the moment I started it. The plot was excellent and well thought out and amazing.
I will say be forewarned I was moved to tears more than once. It is so well done. I hope that older teens and young adults who have cancer can read this one. Just to know that it is ok not to be ok. It's ok to be angry. It's ok to yell, most of all never give up, continue to LIVE!!!!!!
Michelle McQueen
October 28, 2015
I absolutely loved this story. It's about cancer but it wasn't a tearjerker. Although there was parts of it where you will cry.
Marilee has always tried to be the perfect daughter for her barbie doll mom. When she's diagnosed with cancer her parents put her in a hospital and basically forget about her. Alone and scared to death she starts leaning on Jax, a hospital orderly from the poor side of town. Accepting her life is not going to go as she planned she decides to use her college money to help others but she can't do it without him.
I loved Jax and Marilee. They are just two teens trying to deal with the life handed to them and maybe make it better for everyone else.
The story was so beautifully written. I loved everything about it. The characters, the scenes, the plot twist.
I don't know what to say about it without giving out important details but I've been telling people if they liked The Fault in Our Stars they will love this 1000 times more. I can't believe this book isn't more known.
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics
Marilee has always tried to be the perfect daughter for her barbie doll mom. When she's diagnosed with cancer her parents put her in a hospital and basically forget about her. Alone and scared to death she starts leaning on Jax, a hospital orderly from the poor side of town. Accepting her life is not going to go as she planned she decides to use her college money to help others but she can't do it without him.
I loved Jax and Marilee. They are just two teens trying to deal with the life handed to them and maybe make it better for everyone else.
The story was so beautifully written. I loved everything about it. The characters, the scenes, the plot twist.
I don't know what to say about it without giving out important details but I've been telling people if they liked The Fault in Our Stars they will love this 1000 times more. I can't believe this book isn't more known.
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics
May 21, 2014
I very much liked the alternating POV, it have so much dept to the characters. There were a few times, where I did had to grab a tissue but overall the book was not sad. It definitely makes you think about how precious life is and in no circumstances are you to judge a book by it's cover. Sometimes, the riches of men are the most poorest and the ones without riches are richest among all men.
January 18, 2025
Cancer; hope the actual cure be found sooner than expected. that enemy kills and threatens so many lives.
i had mixed feelings about the book at the very beggining the parents of marilee were sort of cheesy; but we Love a good kind hearted guy with edgy look.don't we? the plot wasn't expected my heart beated at THE END if you want a happy ending you can stop reading here.
here are some quotes:
“death was always waiting for us especially when we least expected it. ”
“I imagined our lives were worlds apart but the truth was it was all an illusion. We were different, but also the same in so many ways. Separated by the proverbial tracks of wealth and poverty we spoke one language, being human, trying to get through whatever life threw at us. ”
“You started to care about someone and they checked out, or worse, died.”
“The project was a chance to give back to the world before I was gone, a way to leave my mark.”
“Money could do a lot of things but it couldn’t resurrect the dead. ”
“beneath the dirt and grime and the unpleasantness of the human condition in need, was the rawest version of love, hope and camaraderie. It was a connection that people who had everything didn’t understand and never would. ”
“For good or bad, life could change on a dime and more times than not, it sucked when it did. ”
“people died from the disease not the cure, it was wrong. ”
“It was strange how in a time of crisis relationships could change so dramatically.”
“I’d always believed there was something more than what we saw on Earth, and that when people died they didn’t just go in the ground. I couldn’t believe that the energy that animated us, made us living beings, just ceased to exist when we died. I believed in the theory that energy was infinite, it definitely changed forms but it always existed. So it made sense that when a person died their energy had to go somewhere. Where exactly, was beyond me.”
“Hope is a priceless commodity that will see us through our darkest times.”
“The treatment got rid of one cancer, but gave you another?”
“change is inevitable, all good times and bad times shift, you can only hope that the good lasts longer than the bad.”
i had mixed feelings about the book at the very beggining the parents of marilee were sort of cheesy; but we Love a good kind hearted guy with edgy look.don't we? the plot wasn't expected my heart beated at THE END if you want a happy ending you can stop reading here.
here are some quotes:
“death was always waiting for us especially when we least expected it. ”
“I imagined our lives were worlds apart but the truth was it was all an illusion. We were different, but also the same in so many ways. Separated by the proverbial tracks of wealth and poverty we spoke one language, being human, trying to get through whatever life threw at us. ”
“You started to care about someone and they checked out, or worse, died.”
“The project was a chance to give back to the world before I was gone, a way to leave my mark.”
“Money could do a lot of things but it couldn’t resurrect the dead. ”
“beneath the dirt and grime and the unpleasantness of the human condition in need, was the rawest version of love, hope and camaraderie. It was a connection that people who had everything didn’t understand and never would. ”
“For good or bad, life could change on a dime and more times than not, it sucked when it did. ”
“people died from the disease not the cure, it was wrong. ”
“It was strange how in a time of crisis relationships could change so dramatically.”
“I’d always believed there was something more than what we saw on Earth, and that when people died they didn’t just go in the ground. I couldn’t believe that the energy that animated us, made us living beings, just ceased to exist when we died. I believed in the theory that energy was infinite, it definitely changed forms but it always existed. So it made sense that when a person died their energy had to go somewhere. Where exactly, was beyond me.”
“Hope is a priceless commodity that will see us through our darkest times.”
“The treatment got rid of one cancer, but gave you another?”
“change is inevitable, all good times and bad times shift, you can only hope that the good lasts longer than the bad.”
September 2, 2018
WOW such an amazing book . i didnt want to put it down.
Marliee had everthing in life, friends, money, she was popular. all was excellent until she was told she had cancer.
it is a journey to see how everything can change, to see her battle and how the people she thought she had at her side, leaves her, but also to find what true friendship and love is.
Jax is a guy with a bad boy style that works in the hospital, he meets Marliee and they become friends in the most uncommon time.
the story is sooo beautiful that while im typing this review i just want to go back to it and read it again. please just give yourself sometime to read it, it change your view of life, love and friendship
Marliee had everthing in life, friends, money, she was popular. all was excellent until she was told she had cancer.
it is a journey to see how everything can change, to see her battle and how the people she thought she had at her side, leaves her, but also to find what true friendship and love is.
Jax is a guy with a bad boy style that works in the hospital, he meets Marliee and they become friends in the most uncommon time.
the story is sooo beautiful that while im typing this review i just want to go back to it and read it again. please just give yourself sometime to read it, it change your view of life, love and friendship
November 11, 2013
Review Originally Posted at: Book Freak
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I was so sure it would be like The Fault In Our Stars all over again (with a different twist of course). I was ready for heartaches, tears and death.
BUT I WAS SO WRONG.
I was in for a big surprise as the story took a different turn.
I was sick enough to die, long before I had a chance to live.
Marilee Mackie is just starting to live her life. She’s seventeen, beautiful, rich and will be going to college sooner than expected. Until she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Instead of enjoying her life in school as a senior, her world comes to a halt as she spends her time in the four corners of the hospital room trying to survive her rounds of chemo and constantly fighting not just for her life but for the attention of her parents who is more busy with their lives rather than taking care of their ailing daughter.
Cancer wasn't a wart that your ignored, it was the fight of your life.
Here comes the HOT, mysterious, from the other side of the tracks, Nineteen-year-old Jax. He’s usually not Marilee’s type – all those tattoos that runs his sleeves or the rocker look that he’s sporting. But how can she not learn to like him when she can see how much he cared not just to her, but to other patients as well.
Nothing that comes from the heart can be destroyed.
How can he spend time with her when she can barely look at herself at the mirror? Cancer was eating not only her body – but her person as a whole. Her life was slipping from her fingers – while girls her age enjoy their lives, she’s fighting for it. So, she decides to do something out of the ordinary and make a difference in the world before she dies. She asked Jax for help her with her pet project which she calls PEACE PROJECT. She is about to use her college money fund to help people who needed it the most on the Strip.
One day we'll look back at this tattoo and remember how we met, and that even though it was the worst time in your life something good came out of it too. - Jax
Despite the fact the fact that she’s laying in the hospital bed, and he’s doing all the footwork – both of them were already making a difference and changing people’s lives. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love – it was unexpected, but not necessarily unwanted. But with death just lurking around the corner, ready to grab her anytime – will she be able to take the risk and gamble her heart?
Marilee and Jax are two characters who you will learn to love. Especially Marilee, whom despite all the comfort money has to offer is a lonely girl. Imagine being sick and being all alone to suffer your illness. Gah! I wanted to slap her mother for being selfish and I wanted to knock some senses into her – your child is sick and she needs you, you need to cut all your crap and drama and be there for her before its too late! It may have taken a lot of pages, but in the end, she did a 180 and became the mother I never thought she was capable of. It was a sight to behold- SERIOUSLY!!!! Jax grew up with his Gran who can read the future. His Gran, although adorable, was a little bit creepy especially when she starts predicting. She made me SO SURE of my prediction. I thought it was going to happen, then it did, then it didn't. Yay. I have read this book faster than I thought because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN - will they or will they not make it???!
It started with a bad surprise, and ended with a surprise as well. I may start reading this book expecting this was like Hazel and Augustus’ story – but Marilee and Jax are two different people whom I sure will grow on you like the former couple. Tattoos is a love story about two VERY different people, meeting in the most unusual circumstances, fell in love, and beat all the odds. But more than that, Denise Mathew gave us an amazing tale of hope – that even in our darkest days, there will still be a silver lining. Even in our bleakest days, something good is going to happen.
★ARC Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.★
June 28, 2013
*I received an eARC in exchange for honest review*
This is a needle in a hay stack kind of a book, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read and review it because it is the first book EVER to bring a tear to my eye, and I know that that may seem weird as why would someone want to cry? But that is not how I mean it, I mean that it was able to provoke such emotions in me that no other book has been able to, and that is brilliant writing and story telling.
When the book first starts we meet Merilee in the Dr's office as he tells her that she has cancer, and we see the first "performance" that her Mother puts on, she is an actress alright. Throughout the majority of the book, I almost kept thinking that the way that Merilee's Mother went on was some kind of joke, like what Mother could rush to get their kid booked in the hospital for chemo treatments so that she would not be late for her hair appointment? I wanted to scream at her so bad! And her husband was no better, he just gave her whatever she wanted, and would get mad at Merilee if she called her Mother out on anything, I wanted to smack him too!
The scene when Merilee and Jax meet is really cute, and it was one of those moments where you meet someone and think, hmm, ya I could be friends with them, even if you haven't really talked to the other person at all. I really took to Jax's character, he seems rough on the outside, but there really is a good heart in there, and he has so much consideration for other people that it is refreshing to see of someone his age. We know that he has gone through a lot, and he now lives in an apartment with his Gran, he works at a record store to help with bills, works at the hospital, and is also in a band with his two best friends. He has a lot of tattoos, and I have to admit that there are a lot of stereotypes that go through your head when you think of them, and what they are covering up that may not necessarily be true.
The relationship between Merilee and Jax is very relaxed and comfortable. It starts off as friends, and Jax is there for her when it seems that no one else is, even if he is somewhat a stranger. They decide that they are going to do a project together, and it is something that they each have to rely on the other for, and it is something that is very inspiring to see. I really liked how this story did not promise a happy ending, in fact, there is even a warning that gives you the option to stop if that is what you are looking for, because there is no guarantee that you are going to get it. There is so much that happens in this book that I am afraid to keep writing in case I give something away, but I will say that if you are looking for a story that will stay with you for a long time after reading it, this is it. It has brilliant writing, and plot twists that I did not see coming at all, just when you think you have figured the book out, and what everyone's history is, you haven't and you will be left with a big lesson about not judging a book by it's cover. Absolute 5/5, go and get this book now and read it, I guarantee that you will love it as much as I do, and you will want to push it on everyone just like I am going to do!
This is a needle in a hay stack kind of a book, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read and review it because it is the first book EVER to bring a tear to my eye, and I know that that may seem weird as why would someone want to cry? But that is not how I mean it, I mean that it was able to provoke such emotions in me that no other book has been able to, and that is brilliant writing and story telling.
When the book first starts we meet Merilee in the Dr's office as he tells her that she has cancer, and we see the first "performance" that her Mother puts on, she is an actress alright. Throughout the majority of the book, I almost kept thinking that the way that Merilee's Mother went on was some kind of joke, like what Mother could rush to get their kid booked in the hospital for chemo treatments so that she would not be late for her hair appointment? I wanted to scream at her so bad! And her husband was no better, he just gave her whatever she wanted, and would get mad at Merilee if she called her Mother out on anything, I wanted to smack him too!
The scene when Merilee and Jax meet is really cute, and it was one of those moments where you meet someone and think, hmm, ya I could be friends with them, even if you haven't really talked to the other person at all. I really took to Jax's character, he seems rough on the outside, but there really is a good heart in there, and he has so much consideration for other people that it is refreshing to see of someone his age. We know that he has gone through a lot, and he now lives in an apartment with his Gran, he works at a record store to help with bills, works at the hospital, and is also in a band with his two best friends. He has a lot of tattoos, and I have to admit that there are a lot of stereotypes that go through your head when you think of them, and what they are covering up that may not necessarily be true.
The relationship between Merilee and Jax is very relaxed and comfortable. It starts off as friends, and Jax is there for her when it seems that no one else is, even if he is somewhat a stranger. They decide that they are going to do a project together, and it is something that they each have to rely on the other for, and it is something that is very inspiring to see. I really liked how this story did not promise a happy ending, in fact, there is even a warning that gives you the option to stop if that is what you are looking for, because there is no guarantee that you are going to get it. There is so much that happens in this book that I am afraid to keep writing in case I give something away, but I will say that if you are looking for a story that will stay with you for a long time after reading it, this is it. It has brilliant writing, and plot twists that I did not see coming at all, just when you think you have figured the book out, and what everyone's history is, you haven't and you will be left with a big lesson about not judging a book by it's cover. Absolute 5/5, go and get this book now and read it, I guarantee that you will love it as much as I do, and you will want to push it on everyone just like I am going to do!
February 21, 2014
To get the formalities out of the way, I received a free copy of this book from the GoodReads Making Connections group in return for an honest review.
What a fantastic, uplifting book. Be prepared with a box of tissue because there are many tearjerking moments, but overall it will be a read you will not soon forget and will help restore your faith in the human race.
Told from the points of view of Marilee, a 17 year old cancer patient, and Jax, a 19 year old hospital volunteer/record store employee/singer in a rock band with a heart of gold.
At first glance, to the outside world at least, Marilee seems to be a spoiled rich materialistic teen, at least until her cancer diagnosis. That appearance, even from the beginning has absolutely nothing on her narcissistic mother and her father who adores her mother and feeds into her narcissism. You can not help but feel contempt for the way they leave Marilee to fight this terrifying battle on her own. Jax certainly feels this way quickly, and against all his better ideas of not getting involved, becomes her rock, and she his.
The copy of this I read was entitled "The Peace Project" which refers to a plan Marilee and Jax come up with to help her get through her long hospital stay and help the less fortunate with the money Marilee has more than enough of. The stories of those the Peace Project touches are amazing - some heartbreaking, but all astounding shows of human kindness.
The realism of Marilee's struggles through her cancer are both heartwrenching and inspiring. Without getting too personal, I spent 13 months watching one of my best friends struggle with AML and I hope I was more helpful to her than the people in Marilee's life (not that I doubt that I was, but in retrospect I wish I had been able to do more.) I would say this is a must read for anyone who has a friend or family member fighting the big C; I guarantee it will give you a new way of looking at their side of things and inspire you to find new ways to be there for them.
The lesser characters in the book are also such fantastic characters - and no one is more of a "character" than Gran. Everyone should have such a big hearted, eccentric, support system in their lives. And again, so many of the people helped by the Peace Project are rich, full characters even if their circumstances may be dire. The reflection of how everyone has their own story and struggles and how we as a society need to let go of our preconceptions and take the time to see their stories - what a big difference a small bit of our time and interest can make.
I really cannot say enough good things about this book, and what an imprint it leaves on my heart.
What a fantastic, uplifting book. Be prepared with a box of tissue because there are many tearjerking moments, but overall it will be a read you will not soon forget and will help restore your faith in the human race.
Told from the points of view of Marilee, a 17 year old cancer patient, and Jax, a 19 year old hospital volunteer/record store employee/singer in a rock band with a heart of gold.
At first glance, to the outside world at least, Marilee seems to be a spoiled rich materialistic teen, at least until her cancer diagnosis. That appearance, even from the beginning has absolutely nothing on her narcissistic mother and her father who adores her mother and feeds into her narcissism. You can not help but feel contempt for the way they leave Marilee to fight this terrifying battle on her own. Jax certainly feels this way quickly, and against all his better ideas of not getting involved, becomes her rock, and she his.
The copy of this I read was entitled "The Peace Project" which refers to a plan Marilee and Jax come up with to help her get through her long hospital stay and help the less fortunate with the money Marilee has more than enough of. The stories of those the Peace Project touches are amazing - some heartbreaking, but all astounding shows of human kindness.
The realism of Marilee's struggles through her cancer are both heartwrenching and inspiring. Without getting too personal, I spent 13 months watching one of my best friends struggle with AML and I hope I was more helpful to her than the people in Marilee's life (not that I doubt that I was, but in retrospect I wish I had been able to do more.) I would say this is a must read for anyone who has a friend or family member fighting the big C; I guarantee it will give you a new way of looking at their side of things and inspire you to find new ways to be there for them.
The lesser characters in the book are also such fantastic characters - and no one is more of a "character" than Gran. Everyone should have such a big hearted, eccentric, support system in their lives. And again, so many of the people helped by the Peace Project are rich, full characters even if their circumstances may be dire. The reflection of how everyone has their own story and struggles and how we as a society need to let go of our preconceptions and take the time to see their stories - what a big difference a small bit of our time and interest can make.
I really cannot say enough good things about this book, and what an imprint it leaves on my heart.
December 1, 2014
4.5 stars
A free copy was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I am more acquainted with cutesy-chick lit types of romance, so I wasn't sure how I would like Tattoos. But, as you can see by my rating, I liked it a lot!
Tattoos is the kind of story you get emotionally invested in. I couldn't stop flipping pages; I haven't read many romance novels that actually had me so into the story. The romance was so well written, which can be hard to find in the YA genre. It really felt real. Plus, it's a cancer story, which always makes the book way more emotional for me.
The characters were another positive aspect of the story. I don't praise characters unless I really mean it, and I definitely do in this one. Jax wasn't the cardboard cut-out bad boy; his character was so fleshed out, and I really ended up loving his POV. And he was such a good boyfriend! I loved him. Marilee was another wonderful character, and I loved her POV just as much as Jax; maybe even a bit better. Her character growth throughout the story is stunning. I am really glad this was a two POV story, because it made Jax and Marilee so much more real. I have to admit, I got really attached to Marilee and Jax.
The end of the book had me really scared for a while, but for the most part, it was a nice happy ending.
There was one character I was confused about though, and that was Emma. I am still not sure what exactly the point of her character was. She shows up a couple times, but nothing MAJOR ever happens with her. I suppose I was just expecting more from her.
Now, there are a sprinkling of minor editing errors, and at times they were a bit annoying, but the story was so good that I didn't even care that much.
So, if you like romance, YA, great characters, and great books, (and who doesn't, really?) then this book is for you!
This review can be found on http://myfullbookshelfreviews.blogspo...
A free copy was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I am more acquainted with cutesy-chick lit types of romance, so I wasn't sure how I would like Tattoos. But, as you can see by my rating, I liked it a lot!
Tattoos is the kind of story you get emotionally invested in. I couldn't stop flipping pages; I haven't read many romance novels that actually had me so into the story. The romance was so well written, which can be hard to find in the YA genre. It really felt real. Plus, it's a cancer story, which always makes the book way more emotional for me.
The characters were another positive aspect of the story. I don't praise characters unless I really mean it, and I definitely do in this one. Jax wasn't the cardboard cut-out bad boy; his character was so fleshed out, and I really ended up loving his POV. And he was such a good boyfriend! I loved him. Marilee was another wonderful character, and I loved her POV just as much as Jax; maybe even a bit better. Her character growth throughout the story is stunning. I am really glad this was a two POV story, because it made Jax and Marilee so much more real. I have to admit, I got really attached to Marilee and Jax.
The end of the book had me really scared for a while, but for the most part, it was a nice happy ending.
There was one character I was confused about though, and that was Emma. I am still not sure what exactly the point of her character was. She shows up a couple times, but nothing MAJOR ever happens with her. I suppose I was just expecting more from her.
Now, there are a sprinkling of minor editing errors, and at times they were a bit annoying, but the story was so good that I didn't even care that much.
So, if you like romance, YA, great characters, and great books, (and who doesn't, really?) then this book is for you!
This review can be found on http://myfullbookshelfreviews.blogspo...
November 30, 2013
Synopsis: “Seventeen-year-old Marilee Mackie has everything going for her, beauty, money and a bright future. But when she’s diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma her world falls apart, and instead of finishing her senior year she begins the fight of her life.
Nineteen-year-old Jax, an enigmatic hospital orderly, lives on the Strip, the proverbial other side of the tracks. With his edgy attitude, sleeves of tattoos and rocker look, he’s the kind of bad boy that Marilee has always steered clear of.
But when Marilee’s cancer strips away every bit of her identity, leaving her a shadow of the person she once was, all the things that mattered to her before no longer hold any meaning. Determined to make a difference in the world before she dies, Marilee enlists Jax to help her with something she calls the Peace Project, a way to use her college fund money to help the people who need it the most on the Strip.
With Marilee’s money and Jax’s knowledge of the Strip, the teenagers embark on an unforgettable journey. Where two people from completely different worlds find that miracles do exist, and that the darkest cloud of your life may be lined with the brightest rainbow.
Tattoos is a story about love, hope and the preconceived notions and barriers that we put between us for no reason other than the way someone looks or where they live. It’s about letting go of all the things that we thought were important in the quest for our true purpose. And that sometimes the people you never thought you could love, may be exactly who you needed all along.”
Quotes: "I see you in every flower in the park, every color in a rainbow and in every scent that reminds me of the things I love. Without knowing how, or even why it happened, I can’t imagine a world where you don’t exist."
One day we'll look back at this tattoo and remember how we met, and that even though it was the worst time in your life something good came out of it too. – Jax
Review: I was given a copy of Tattoos by Love Romance books for an honest review. Jax was a good character. The way he helped Marilee and the love that grew between them was wonderful. Although I love sad and sappy books, this one clung to my heart. Not many books can do that. I was crying while reading this book. I loved that miracle that occurred in this book. It was a beautiful story. I found joy and hope in it. There aren’t many people who are willing to help others. I loved that Jax helped Marilee to do something for others. This book helps you to see past barriers and stereotypes and I loved every minute of reading it. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!
Nineteen-year-old Jax, an enigmatic hospital orderly, lives on the Strip, the proverbial other side of the tracks. With his edgy attitude, sleeves of tattoos and rocker look, he’s the kind of bad boy that Marilee has always steered clear of.
But when Marilee’s cancer strips away every bit of her identity, leaving her a shadow of the person she once was, all the things that mattered to her before no longer hold any meaning. Determined to make a difference in the world before she dies, Marilee enlists Jax to help her with something she calls the Peace Project, a way to use her college fund money to help the people who need it the most on the Strip.
With Marilee’s money and Jax’s knowledge of the Strip, the teenagers embark on an unforgettable journey. Where two people from completely different worlds find that miracles do exist, and that the darkest cloud of your life may be lined with the brightest rainbow.
Tattoos is a story about love, hope and the preconceived notions and barriers that we put between us for no reason other than the way someone looks or where they live. It’s about letting go of all the things that we thought were important in the quest for our true purpose. And that sometimes the people you never thought you could love, may be exactly who you needed all along.”
Quotes: "I see you in every flower in the park, every color in a rainbow and in every scent that reminds me of the things I love. Without knowing how, or even why it happened, I can’t imagine a world where you don’t exist."
One day we'll look back at this tattoo and remember how we met, and that even though it was the worst time in your life something good came out of it too. – Jax
Review: I was given a copy of Tattoos by Love Romance books for an honest review. Jax was a good character. The way he helped Marilee and the love that grew between them was wonderful. Although I love sad and sappy books, this one clung to my heart. Not many books can do that. I was crying while reading this book. I loved that miracle that occurred in this book. It was a beautiful story. I found joy and hope in it. There aren’t many people who are willing to help others. I loved that Jax helped Marilee to do something for others. This book helps you to see past barriers and stereotypes and I loved every minute of reading it. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!
November 3, 2013
Given by the author for an honest review
Tattoos is what I expected it to be..A beautiful sweet story of 2 people falling in love with each other, while struggling to survive..
First, I would to state that the Synopsis of the book is very well written and quite accurate. You get the real vibe of the book, which unfortunately doesn’t happen very often.
Secondly, I would like to congratulate Denise Mathew for writing this book. It is full of sad events and people who really suffer, but in the meantime it maintains a certain hopeful aura that lets you enjoy the journey and not just cry your heart out.
>>Marilee is such a strong young lady. No one so young should ever face what she has faced. And no one should ever have parents like hers. Parents are supposed to be there for their children, not leave them and go to a hair appointment. That is ludicrous and completely unacceptable. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on and it doesn’t matter if they have their hair or not. I wonder the same thing as Jax :”How could a girl like Marilee be in such a family”.
However, for Marilee’s sake things get better in any possible way..
>>Jax is very mysterious even if he doesn’t want to be. He has his own demons that he deals with every day. But he still continues to help others and stand up for those who can’t. He is really selfless despite the fact he is very proud. He makes his mistakes but he is man enough to go back and apologize for them, as well as ask for a second chance!
Needless to say that I loved the pair of the book Marilee and Jax. I also loved the fact that all the main characters changed throughout the book. Marilee became less judgmental and more outgoing, Jax understood when to forget his pride and just roll with it. Marilee’s parents actually became honest human beings. I loved all the changes, because it’s real. When cancer and/or love knock on your door, you change. People around you change. It’s inevitable.
What I didn’t like so much was the ending. Not the content of it, but the transition to it. What I mean is that I felt like it was rushed. We could have more pages before the Epilogue or it could have been written as a longer chapter.
In conclusion, I really liked the book and I recommend it to anyone who wants to read something more than a typical romance!!
Tattoos is what I expected it to be..A beautiful sweet story of 2 people falling in love with each other, while struggling to survive..
First, I would to state that the Synopsis of the book is very well written and quite accurate. You get the real vibe of the book, which unfortunately doesn’t happen very often.
Secondly, I would like to congratulate Denise Mathew for writing this book. It is full of sad events and people who really suffer, but in the meantime it maintains a certain hopeful aura that lets you enjoy the journey and not just cry your heart out.
>>Marilee is such a strong young lady. No one so young should ever face what she has faced. And no one should ever have parents like hers. Parents are supposed to be there for their children, not leave them and go to a hair appointment. That is ludicrous and completely unacceptable. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on and it doesn’t matter if they have their hair or not. I wonder the same thing as Jax :”How could a girl like Marilee be in such a family”.
However, for Marilee’s sake things get better in any possible way..
>>Jax is very mysterious even if he doesn’t want to be. He has his own demons that he deals with every day. But he still continues to help others and stand up for those who can’t. He is really selfless despite the fact he is very proud. He makes his mistakes but he is man enough to go back and apologize for them, as well as ask for a second chance!
Needless to say that I loved the pair of the book Marilee and Jax. I also loved the fact that all the main characters changed throughout the book. Marilee became less judgmental and more outgoing, Jax understood when to forget his pride and just roll with it. Marilee’s parents actually became honest human beings. I loved all the changes, because it’s real. When cancer and/or love knock on your door, you change. People around you change. It’s inevitable.
What I didn’t like so much was the ending. Not the content of it, but the transition to it. What I mean is that I felt like it was rushed. We could have more pages before the Epilogue or it could have been written as a longer chapter.
In conclusion, I really liked the book and I recommend it to anyone who wants to read something more than a typical romance!!
August 31, 2013
Goodreads description:
Seventeen-year-old Marilee Mackie has everything going for her, beauty, money and a bright future. But when she’s diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma her world falls apart, and instead of finishing her senior year she begins the fight of her life.
Nineteen-year-old Jax, an enigmatic hospital orderly, lives on the Strip, the proverbial other side of the tracks. With his edgy attitude, sleeves of tattoos and rocker look, he’s the kind of bad boy that Marilee has always steered clear of.
But when Marilee’s cancer strips away every bit of her identity, leaving her a shadow of the person she once was, all the things that mattered to her before no longer hold any meaning. Determined to make a difference in the world before she dies, Marilee enlists Jax to help her with something she calls the Peace Project, a way to use her college fund money to help the people who need it the most on the Strip.
With Marilee’s money and Jax’s knowledge of the Strip, the teenagers embark on an unforgettable journey. Where two people from completely different worlds find that miracles do exist, and that the darkest cloud of your life may be lined with the brightest rainbow.
Tattoos is a story about love, hope and the preconceived notions and barriers that we put between us for no reason other than the way someone looks or where they live. It’s about letting go of all the things that we thought were important in the quest for our true purpose. And that sometimes the people you never thought you could love, may be exactly who you needed all along.
Comments;
I absolutely LOVED this book!
Seventeen-year-old Marilee Mackie has everything going for her, beauty, money and a bright future. But when she’s diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma her world falls apart, and instead of finishing her senior year she begins the fight of her life.
Nineteen-year-old Jax, an enigmatic hospital orderly, lives on the Strip, the proverbial other side of the tracks. With his edgy attitude, sleeves of tattoos and rocker look, he’s the kind of bad boy that Marilee has always steered clear of.
But when Marilee’s cancer strips away every bit of her identity, leaving her a shadow of the person she once was, all the things that mattered to her before no longer hold any meaning. Determined to make a difference in the world before she dies, Marilee enlists Jax to help her with something she calls the Peace Project, a way to use her college fund money to help the people who need it the most on the Strip.
With Marilee’s money and Jax’s knowledge of the Strip, the teenagers embark on an unforgettable journey. Where two people from completely different worlds find that miracles do exist, and that the darkest cloud of your life may be lined with the brightest rainbow.
Tattoos is a story about love, hope and the preconceived notions and barriers that we put between us for no reason other than the way someone looks or where they live. It’s about letting go of all the things that we thought were important in the quest for our true purpose. And that sometimes the people you never thought you could love, may be exactly who you needed all along.
Comments;
I absolutely LOVED this book!
August 1, 2013
I was sent a copy of this rather unique book in exchange for an honest review. Why is this book 'unique'? Well, this is one of the only cancer books I've read where everything isn't completely heartbreaking. I understand that cancer is topic rife for tragedy but I have massive respect for the author not choosing that path for this book. The other reason this book is unique is that it has a series of beautifully written secondary characters - with the kinds of back stories that one probably has not seen/ thought about before. The secondary characters (especially the ones introduced through the 'peace project' ) are what made this book for me. That being said this book is definitely readable.
If the book is so infinitely readable, why did I give it only 3 *s ? As much as I loved the secondary characters, I have to admit I couldn't really connect to the main pair. The hero, though attractive in the sense that he was sensitive, did not seem to fuel any sort of fire with his heroine. It almost felt like insta-love - when did they actually get to know each other before - WHAAM- considers her special. Again credit to the author for not writing her leading man, the same way so many contemporary writers do, as an alpha male with an 'I am hotter than the sun complex'. Another issue I had with this mostly enjoyable book is that it needs editing - normally I overlook minor grammatical/spelling errors (as I am not particularly good at either), however in this instance it began to effect my enjoyment of the story and therefore I thought it was worth a mention.
Overall, this book is perfectly readable and if you are in the mood for a book that may make you weep just a little bit but not break your heart then this one is for you.
If the book is so infinitely readable, why did I give it only 3 *s ? As much as I loved the secondary characters, I have to admit I couldn't really connect to the main pair. The hero, though attractive in the sense that he was sensitive, did not seem to fuel any sort of fire with his heroine. It almost felt like insta-love - when did they actually get to know each other before - WHAAM- considers her special. Again credit to the author for not writing her leading man, the same way so many contemporary writers do, as an alpha male with an 'I am hotter than the sun complex'. Another issue I had with this mostly enjoyable book is that it needs editing - normally I overlook minor grammatical/spelling errors (as I am not particularly good at either), however in this instance it began to effect my enjoyment of the story and therefore I thought it was worth a mention.
Overall, this book is perfectly readable and if you are in the mood for a book that may make you weep just a little bit but not break your heart then this one is for you.
August 15, 2013
*Received book in exchange for honest review*
Marilee is considered a privileged seventeen year old girl whose life gets turned upside down when she gets diagnosed with cancer and moves into the hospital for chemo treatments. Her parents would much rather preserve their perfect image and seem to have no time to spare to visit their daughter and even her friends barely stop by. The only person that can seem to help Marilee through everything is a volunteer worker named Jax. Jax is everything that Marilee is not; looks like a goth rocker, has long hair, tattoo sleeves and piercings and lives in the dingy side of town known as The Strip. Even though they come from worlds that are miles apart, they form an unusual bond and they begin to learn more about each other the more time they spend together. But is this new friendship confined to the hospital?
I'll admit, I was a little slow to start this book; the idea of a book written about cancer just seemed like a downer to me but I kept reading and I am so glad that I did. This book had me cover my mouth in disbelief at the actions of Marilee's parents and then Jax's reaction to them and then had me laughing as Marilee described herself "feeling like she was gawking at him like she was in Twilight". All in all, I really enjoyed the book. I raced through the ending because I needed to know what happened to Marilee and I was on the edge of my seat during that ordeal and when the surprise came at the end about Jax, I was indeed surprised. I even felt myself getting mad at him for his crappy behavior towards her, but then once everything is revealed a lot of things make sense, to include his Gram seeming so overprotective all the time. I would definitely recommend this book to people and I can't wait to read other things by this talented novelist
Marilee is considered a privileged seventeen year old girl whose life gets turned upside down when she gets diagnosed with cancer and moves into the hospital for chemo treatments. Her parents would much rather preserve their perfect image and seem to have no time to spare to visit their daughter and even her friends barely stop by. The only person that can seem to help Marilee through everything is a volunteer worker named Jax. Jax is everything that Marilee is not; looks like a goth rocker, has long hair, tattoo sleeves and piercings and lives in the dingy side of town known as The Strip. Even though they come from worlds that are miles apart, they form an unusual bond and they begin to learn more about each other the more time they spend together. But is this new friendship confined to the hospital?
I'll admit, I was a little slow to start this book; the idea of a book written about cancer just seemed like a downer to me but I kept reading and I am so glad that I did. This book had me cover my mouth in disbelief at the actions of Marilee's parents and then Jax's reaction to them and then had me laughing as Marilee described herself "feeling like she was gawking at him like she was in Twilight". All in all, I really enjoyed the book. I raced through the ending because I needed to know what happened to Marilee and I was on the edge of my seat during that ordeal and when the surprise came at the end about Jax, I was indeed surprised. I even felt myself getting mad at him for his crappy behavior towards her, but then once everything is revealed a lot of things make sense, to include his Gram seeming so overprotective all the time. I would definitely recommend this book to people and I can't wait to read other things by this talented novelist
June 24, 2017
I recieved a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
It is sometimes difficult to read a book that you know is about cancer. There is no one around that hasn't had there lives affected by the disease. We all know someone that has had cancer, and it is a hard emotional thing to read about. That being said, I found this story to still be enjoyable.
Denise Mathew has written a story that caused me much anxiety with worrying how it would end. This is the story of Marilee and Jax. Marilee is diagnosed in the beginning and starts off right away in the hospital getting treatments. Jax works there as a volunteer, and meets Marilee. He finds himself drawn to her and offers her comfort. They soon become friends and slowly fall in love.
Marilee comes from the rich part of town, and at first Jax thinks she is a spoiled rich girl. But cancer changes Marilee's outlook, and outside appearances are not what she is inside, which Jax quickly finds out. And Jax comes from the Strip, or the poor side of town. He has tattoos (that all have special meanings), piercings, and dresses like a bad boy rock star. But under all that is a secret, and a very caring person that you will fall for.
This story was not just about these two falling in love. It was about them using what little they had to help others. And it was about surviving, and love, and the human spirit. It had a great message about the small things we can do to help those less fortunate. And it stayed pretty clean. I would recommend this story to everyone.
It is sometimes difficult to read a book that you know is about cancer. There is no one around that hasn't had there lives affected by the disease. We all know someone that has had cancer, and it is a hard emotional thing to read about. That being said, I found this story to still be enjoyable.
Denise Mathew has written a story that caused me much anxiety with worrying how it would end. This is the story of Marilee and Jax. Marilee is diagnosed in the beginning and starts off right away in the hospital getting treatments. Jax works there as a volunteer, and meets Marilee. He finds himself drawn to her and offers her comfort. They soon become friends and slowly fall in love.
Marilee comes from the rich part of town, and at first Jax thinks she is a spoiled rich girl. But cancer changes Marilee's outlook, and outside appearances are not what she is inside, which Jax quickly finds out. And Jax comes from the Strip, or the poor side of town. He has tattoos (that all have special meanings), piercings, and dresses like a bad boy rock star. But under all that is a secret, and a very caring person that you will fall for.
This story was not just about these two falling in love. It was about them using what little they had to help others. And it was about surviving, and love, and the human spirit. It had a great message about the small things we can do to help those less fortunate. And it stayed pretty clean. I would recommend this story to everyone.
September 7, 2014
Tattoos tells the story of Marilee and Jax. Marilee is a seventeen year old girl who happens to find out that she has stage 3 of Hodgkins Lymphoma when she's about to start her senior year. Marilee comes from a rich family and they couldn't care less about her disease. They decided to make her stay in the hospital to do her chemo and stuff, so they don't have to take care of her back at home. Her parents are so cruel! But that's where and how she met Jax. He's a nineteen year old guy who works at the hospital, and he comes from The Strip which is where the poor people lives. They met and got to know each other, and Jax is always there to comfort her. He's always there to make her feel stronger. Slowly, they fell in love.
As much as I enjoyed reading this book, I had a hard time trying not to compare it to The Fault In Our Stars. I found so many similarities, especially when we find out the plot twist which is apparently Jax also have cancer. I'm really glad Denise didn't kill him off in this story though, they deserve a happy ending. And am I the only one who noticed some grammar/spelling error? Apart from that, I really like the writing style. It's really simple and I love how we get both Marilee and Jax POV so we know exactly how they feel.
As much as I enjoyed reading this book, I had a hard time trying not to compare it to The Fault In Our Stars. I found so many similarities, especially when we find out the plot twist which is apparently Jax also have cancer. I'm really glad Denise didn't kill him off in this story though, they deserve a happy ending. And am I the only one who noticed some grammar/spelling error? Apart from that, I really like the writing style. It's really simple and I love how we get both Marilee and Jax POV so we know exactly how they feel.
November 10, 2013
4.5 stars! Very emotional read!!! I would recommend this book to older teens and adults.
I will say the story started out a little slow, but still dramatic. Ms Mathews told a very wonderful life and romance story! This is not just a romance, but a teen's struggle with her parents and her struggle with cancer. At times, I wished I could give Marilee a hug cause she so desperately needed it. And I wanted to yell at and smack her mother, beyond reason!!
Marilee, I don't even know how to describe her and put into words.
Jax, well he was just a hottie, he's in a band, from the wrong side of town-yet he is so different than what you would expect. He's caring, and a volunteer at the hospital!! wow
This story reminds you that~ things/people aren't always as they seem~
I'm so glad things changed for everyone, not that I wished Jax harm(at the end) but all ends well.
I'm so glad I got to read this story, I actually hadn't read the synopsis or reviews before agreeing to give this book a chance and I was expecting something else. Haha I guess that's what I get for signing up for something without looking, but I got a great story out of the deal!
I will say the story started out a little slow, but still dramatic. Ms Mathews told a very wonderful life and romance story! This is not just a romance, but a teen's struggle with her parents and her struggle with cancer. At times, I wished I could give Marilee a hug cause she so desperately needed it. And I wanted to yell at and smack her mother, beyond reason!!
Marilee, I don't even know how to describe her and put into words.
Jax, well he was just a hottie, he's in a band, from the wrong side of town-yet he is so different than what you would expect. He's caring, and a volunteer at the hospital!! wow
This story reminds you that~ things/people aren't always as they seem~
I'm so glad things changed for everyone, not that I wished Jax harm(at the end) but all ends well.
I'm so glad I got to read this story, I actually hadn't read the synopsis or reviews before agreeing to give this book a chance and I was expecting something else. Haha I guess that's what I get for signing up for something without looking, but I got a great story out of the deal!
October 27, 2015
I was offered a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Solid 4.0
The only reasons this book is short of a 5 for me is due to the need for one final line edit.
Other than that I loved these things:
* The major relationship is not an unrealistic chance meeting followed by unbelievable insta-love. It progresses authentically and sweetly
* For a book that discusses cancer, it doesn't make me bawl my eyes out...
* This is more a book about people than cancer, and that made it all the more interesting to me. It explores a patient's feelings, relationships, and physical and psychological struggles.
* It has a false end - meaning it stops and tells the reader, "Hey, uh, if you want a happy ending, stop here." Then the reader can choose whether or not to finish the story. I did,
Solid 4.0
The only reasons this book is short of a 5 for me is due to the need for one final line edit.
Other than that I loved these things:
* The major relationship is not an unrealistic chance meeting followed by unbelievable insta-love. It progresses authentically and sweetly
* For a book that discusses cancer, it doesn't make me bawl my eyes out...
* This is more a book about people than cancer, and that made it all the more interesting to me. It explores a patient's feelings, relationships, and physical and psychological struggles.
* It has a false end - meaning it stops and tells the reader, "Hey, uh, if you want a happy ending, stop here." Then the reader can choose whether or not to finish the story. I did,
August 22, 2013
I’m a sucker for a good, well plotted romance and Tattoos delivers. Mathew’s young adult novel tells the story of two teens from opposite sides of the tracks whose worlds collide when edgy, rocker, Jax meets cancer patient, Marilee, and they both fall hard for one another. The unlikely pairing of rich girl and poor boy as well as the mystery behind Jax’s tattoos, kept me intrigued.
Mathew’s writing is heartfelt and engaging. Her characters are alive and vibrant, and I felt truly connected to them. But Tattoos is more than just a romance, it is a story about family relationships and mankind’s humanity, it is about one’s ability to make a mark in the world and one’s ability to overcome obstacles. It is a story about strength, true love, and fate. Mathews delivers a satisfying and surprising ending. I would highly recommend this novel, and I will certainly read more by this author.
Julia Jean
Mathew’s writing is heartfelt and engaging. Her characters are alive and vibrant, and I felt truly connected to them. But Tattoos is more than just a romance, it is a story about family relationships and mankind’s humanity, it is about one’s ability to make a mark in the world and one’s ability to overcome obstacles. It is a story about strength, true love, and fate. Mathews delivers a satisfying and surprising ending. I would highly recommend this novel, and I will certainly read more by this author.
Julia Jean
June 29, 2013
I truly loved the story of Marilee and Jax. I felt like parts of the writing were a bit choppy and I did have a few errors in my copy, but the story was just so beautiful that most of that went in my brain and right back out with barely an acknowledgement. My biggest wish is that we would have had more detail on the bits of time they spent together that led them to fall in love because it felt rushed and choppy with that missing. The fact that the author thought to remind us of what happened to each and every character in the epilogue was wonderful. It was wonderful to see a couple coming together to do something for others too despite their own rough circumstances. I honestly fell in love with both main characters and their story. I just wanted a bit more to make it perfect.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2013
I recieved a free copy from this author for an honest review.
Tattoo's was a good book. It dealt with some serious issues very gracefully. It had me rooting for Jaxon and Marylee. The ending was definitely unexpected. I liked how everything was tied up nicely. The book isn't to sad and it was fun seeing a young couple act maturely. My biggest issue with the book was the poor formatting. It had no indentations or spaces between paragraphs. Aside from that I enjoyed tattoos.
Tattoo's was a good book. It dealt with some serious issues very gracefully. It had me rooting for Jaxon and Marylee. The ending was definitely unexpected. I liked how everything was tied up nicely. The book isn't to sad and it was fun seeing a young couple act maturely. My biggest issue with the book was the poor formatting. It had no indentations or spaces between paragraphs. Aside from that I enjoyed tattoos.
February 21, 2014
Please see my review under the book's revised title Tattoos: A Novel. My review can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... .
August 3, 2013
A contemporary drama/romance for New Adult/Older YA. Very emotive characters and situations full of angst, hope and triumph. I really enjoyed this read.
July 12, 2014
Wow I pleasantly surprised with this read. What a heartwrenching story that the author took us on. I felt all of the emotions of these characters. So beautifully written.
September 4, 2021
DNF. Just not my cup of tea
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