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Always Me
Nicky’s life is privileged and sheltered, but has never felt like her own. Her body’s marked by a scar that no one, not even her parents, has been able to explain. She’s haunted by nightmares and hallucinations of violent scenes that feel more like the memories of a very troubled soul than the typical dreams of a seventeen-year old girl. From blood-painted basements to cold guillotines and dark forests, these visions are taking their toll on her sanity.
When she first meets Xander in class, she sees him bleeding from a gaping wound in his neck. His shirt soaked red, he laughs while she trembles and messes up her class recitation. After the vision passes, she’s left with a burning hatred for him and an irrational fear that he’s a threat to her life. But soon, that relents to wary curiosity and suspicion. Xander knows more about her than he should. And when she sees the scar on his neck—just like hers and in the same spot she had seen gushing blood in her vision—she knows it’s not just coincidence.
When she first meets Xander in class, she sees him bleeding from a gaping wound in his neck. His shirt soaked red, he laughs while she trembles and messes up her class recitation. After the vision passes, she’s left with a burning hatred for him and an irrational fear that he’s a threat to her life. But soon, that relents to wary curiosity and suspicion. Xander knows more about her than he should. And when she sees the scar on his neck—just like hers and in the same spot she had seen gushing blood in her vision—she knows it’s not just coincidence.
- GenresYoung Adult
ebook
First published August 31, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 23, 2012
4.5 stars :)
4.5 Stars speak for themselves!
This was a really good book. I was drawn by this wonderful story from the first moment.
I loved the characters, the plot, the writing and the way the author showed her knowledge of history and poetry in a smooth way and without turning it into a boring read.
It is a story about reincarnation but is far from being similar to others!
The main characters are Nicky and Xander, who meet in high school. Or at least, that's what Nicky thinks ;)
The book begins with a very tormented Nicky, who has terrible nightmares every night and then there is this boy laughing at her that awakens a lot of hatred inside of Nicky without her knowing why.
And that's how it starts, you definitely MUST read this book to find out what happens.
As I said, the writing is beautiful and flows easily.
I'm not a big fan of third person but in this book, works pretty fine.
The main characters are amazing, both of them interesting and so real. They are lovable.
Xander is beyond sexy and Nicky besides appearing a little crazy at some specific moments is a great leading female. At the same time we get to meet them in their previous lives and believe me, you'll be pleasantly surprised!
There are some events that developed close to the end that are totally unpredictable. I love those unexpected turns and the end is perfect.
I couldn't have imagined a better final.
I LOVED IT!
4.5 Stars speak for themselves!
This was a really good book. I was drawn by this wonderful story from the first moment.
I loved the characters, the plot, the writing and the way the author showed her knowledge of history and poetry in a smooth way and without turning it into a boring read.
It is a story about reincarnation but is far from being similar to others!
The main characters are Nicky and Xander, who meet in high school. Or at least, that's what Nicky thinks ;)
The book begins with a very tormented Nicky, who has terrible nightmares every night and then there is this boy laughing at her that awakens a lot of hatred inside of Nicky without her knowing why.
And that's how it starts, you definitely MUST read this book to find out what happens.
As I said, the writing is beautiful and flows easily.
I'm not a big fan of third person but in this book, works pretty fine.
The main characters are amazing, both of them interesting and so real. They are lovable.
Xander is beyond sexy and Nicky besides appearing a little crazy at some specific moments is a great leading female. At the same time we get to meet them in their previous lives and believe me, you'll be pleasantly surprised!
There are some events that developed close to the end that are totally unpredictable. I love those unexpected turns and the end is perfect.
I couldn't have imagined a better final.
I LOVED IT!
December 16, 2012
I really really liked Always Me. It's a very interesting story of a reincarnated couple, and before you go rolling your eyes and think 'yeah, read that before', let me tell you that Always Me isn't really like other stories about reincarnation. Yes, there is love and all but it's also dark and has it's fare share of hate.
Nicky is a rich, good girl that has always suffered from nightmares, horrible nightmares of either herself or other people dying, painful and slow death. When one day she meets the mysterious Xander whom she feels a strong hatred for yet is oddly familiar with, her nightmares are stronger than ever, bringing with them questions that may be their death.
I hated Nicky so much. I was scowling at her throughout the whole book. She was stuck up and childish, though I understood the need for her to be as she was, it didn't make it any easier to like her. Xander on the other hand... yeah, him I had no trouble liking. He was sweet, a bit rude and quirky ( I have a thing for quirky and rude boys). He also had hope and faith which was a part of the message of the book.
Mysterious, full of twists and turns, Always Me is a very emotional and interesting read.
Nicky is a rich, good girl that has always suffered from nightmares, horrible nightmares of either herself or other people dying, painful and slow death. When one day she meets the mysterious Xander whom she feels a strong hatred for yet is oddly familiar with, her nightmares are stronger than ever, bringing with them questions that may be their death.
I hated Nicky so much. I was scowling at her throughout the whole book. She was stuck up and childish, though I understood the need for her to be as she was, it didn't make it any easier to like her. Xander on the other hand... yeah, him I had no trouble liking. He was sweet, a bit rude and quirky ( I have a thing for quirky and rude boys). He also had hope and faith which was a part of the message of the book.
Mysterious, full of twists and turns, Always Me is a very emotional and interesting read.
August 17, 2017
Good book, very interesting but a bit disappointed with the ending :-( but maybe that's just me :-)
December 15, 2012
It's amazing how the books you put off for awhile are the books that end up being the really great ones you nearly did not read at all. Always Me is one of those wonderful books that tend to get neglected.
This is a brilliant book that takes an old tale that is modernized with a paranormal twist to it. Though, I'm a little taken aback by paranormal books now-a-days. Always Me, makes me want to get back into it.
The main character Nicky is your average teen born into a rich family, with high standards and a proper decorum. One thing that makes Nicky not so average is her nightmares. She's been having them almost every night since she could remember. Now, our job as a reader is to guess why she's having these dreams and if the dreams are fragments of a memory or just some random hallucinations.
Nicky is a little bit irritating, she made me go "Come on, Nicky!" a couple of times. But hey! All main characters were written for the purpose of annoying their readers. Well, most of the time.
Xander, Nicky's love interest, is an okay character. I enjoyed reading about him a lot more than Nicky. He was just a mysterious cookie you'd like to find out a lot more about. But along the way, he started to scare me. And together with the main character, you started doubting every character in the book. That's a technique writers love putting into books, to keep a reader reading. It has definitely made me turn it's virtual pages until I reached the end.
The storyline is very intriguing. You can't help but continuously wander what will happen next and why certain things are happening. Oddly enough the plot reminded me a lot of the Fallen Series but at a whole different caliber (Always Me is better). The best part of the book and its plot is the fact that it was very fast paced and doesn't waste time with useless information and details. It's straightforward and it makes the book even more of an amazing read.
Always Me is hands down a page turner! And it's on a subject in history that I absolutely love. I can't get enough of stories like these and to be frank, I'm extremely sad that it had to end the way it did. But hey! All the great stories end with a BAM that leaves you asking yourself - Why?.
Always Me is a wonderful read about romance, friendship, and trust that is all centered around a unique plot, realistic characters and overall, excitement filled pages. An exceptional start to Kelly Riad's career as an Indie Author. I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
This is a brilliant book that takes an old tale that is modernized with a paranormal twist to it. Though, I'm a little taken aback by paranormal books now-a-days. Always Me, makes me want to get back into it.
The main character Nicky is your average teen born into a rich family, with high standards and a proper decorum. One thing that makes Nicky not so average is her nightmares. She's been having them almost every night since she could remember. Now, our job as a reader is to guess why she's having these dreams and if the dreams are fragments of a memory or just some random hallucinations.
Nicky is a little bit irritating, she made me go "Come on, Nicky!" a couple of times. But hey! All main characters were written for the purpose of annoying their readers. Well, most of the time.
Xander, Nicky's love interest, is an okay character. I enjoyed reading about him a lot more than Nicky. He was just a mysterious cookie you'd like to find out a lot more about. But along the way, he started to scare me. And together with the main character, you started doubting every character in the book. That's a technique writers love putting into books, to keep a reader reading. It has definitely made me turn it's virtual pages until I reached the end.
The storyline is very intriguing. You can't help but continuously wander what will happen next and why certain things are happening. Oddly enough the plot reminded me a lot of the Fallen Series but at a whole different caliber (Always Me is better). The best part of the book and its plot is the fact that it was very fast paced and doesn't waste time with useless information and details. It's straightforward and it makes the book even more of an amazing read.
Always Me is hands down a page turner! And it's on a subject in history that I absolutely love. I can't get enough of stories like these and to be frank, I'm extremely sad that it had to end the way it did. But hey! All the great stories end with a BAM that leaves you asking yourself - Why?.
Always Me is a wonderful read about romance, friendship, and trust that is all centered around a unique plot, realistic characters and overall, excitement filled pages. An exceptional start to Kelly Riad's career as an Indie Author. I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
December 13, 2012
Always Me draws us into a world unlike any other. We’re immediately introduced to most of the important characters in the novel, thank goodness! Nicky is a seventeen year old girl, born into a wealthy family with stern albeit loving parents. She attends a boarding school, Damascus Academy, and as perfect of a life as that might all seem, it’s not.
Nicky (or Tatiana if you prefer to use her first name) isn’t one of my favorite characters in the beginning. Honestly, I kind of wanted to smack her and tell her to knock it off. But! She does have redeeming qualities (whew!). She actually feels bad after being rude, so at least she acknowledges her ridiculous behavior. She actually grew on me towards the end of the book, her personality drastically changing due to a series of events and she grows up (yes folks, there is hope for her!)
Xander I fell inlove with off the bat. So I have a thing for rude guys, they’re hot! Haha! Really he’s very mysterious, always an attractive attribute, and he genuinely cares for Nicky. He’s deadly honest and serious at points, and wise beyond his years. My favorite line of his is, “Destiny gets what Destiny wants.” He’s obviously not your typical high-school/boarding school senior.
The twists and turns in this book are semi-predictable, but delightful to follow anyways. The biggest downside in this book is that there’s not much humor (for a good reason of course) but at times it’s nice to take off a bit of the darkness, right? I also wasn’t expecting it to be involved with religion in anyway. I haven’t read many YA books lately that mention religion and beliefs and church-going activities like this one. I find it actually rather interesting, and refreshing.
I love Tatiana and Alexander. I love their story, their interactions, I love how they both learn and grow. And most of all, I love the journey they take to get there. Deception is so easy, lies so convincing, and love so enchanting when it’s been there all along, for many, many years. In the book Lord Byron is quoted, and because I absolutely love the poem, I’ve decided to share a bit to give everyone a taste for the ride of Always Me.
“In secret we met, in silence I grieve, that thy heart could forget, thy spirit deceive. If I should meet thee, after long years, how should I greet thee-with silence and tears.”
~Book Crook Reviews
Nicky (or Tatiana if you prefer to use her first name) isn’t one of my favorite characters in the beginning. Honestly, I kind of wanted to smack her and tell her to knock it off. But! She does have redeeming qualities (whew!). She actually feels bad after being rude, so at least she acknowledges her ridiculous behavior. She actually grew on me towards the end of the book, her personality drastically changing due to a series of events and she grows up (yes folks, there is hope for her!)
Xander I fell inlove with off the bat. So I have a thing for rude guys, they’re hot! Haha! Really he’s very mysterious, always an attractive attribute, and he genuinely cares for Nicky. He’s deadly honest and serious at points, and wise beyond his years. My favorite line of his is, “Destiny gets what Destiny wants.” He’s obviously not your typical high-school/boarding school senior.
The twists and turns in this book are semi-predictable, but delightful to follow anyways. The biggest downside in this book is that there’s not much humor (for a good reason of course) but at times it’s nice to take off a bit of the darkness, right? I also wasn’t expecting it to be involved with religion in anyway. I haven’t read many YA books lately that mention religion and beliefs and church-going activities like this one. I find it actually rather interesting, and refreshing.
I love Tatiana and Alexander. I love their story, their interactions, I love how they both learn and grow. And most of all, I love the journey they take to get there. Deception is so easy, lies so convincing, and love so enchanting when it’s been there all along, for many, many years. In the book Lord Byron is quoted, and because I absolutely love the poem, I’ve decided to share a bit to give everyone a taste for the ride of Always Me.
“In secret we met, in silence I grieve, that thy heart could forget, thy spirit deceive. If I should meet thee, after long years, how should I greet thee-with silence and tears.”
~Book Crook Reviews
December 16, 2014
Nicky has been plagued with horrific hallucinations and nightmares for as long as she can remember, but they feel more like memories. She also bares a strange scar near her ribcage, but no one knows how she got it. Now at the age of 17, her hallucinations are becoming more vivid and frequent, and now they involve a boy at her school. He knows something, but he won't say what. Nicky thinks she's going crazy, but deep down she knows she's not.
Nicky is a little hard to warm up to. She has an elitist attitude, but she's also full of anger, most of all toward Xander. But as the story moves along I began to understand her rough exterior. If you've been murdered over and over again, you'd probably carry over some anger, too!
I absolutely loved how reincarnation was written in this book. It's not exactly happy and romantic. Instead it's dark and morbid. It's the result of heinous crimes and leaves a permanent mark until that person has redeemed themselves. Nicky is stuck in one such cycle of constantly reliving her life in different time periods. It was interesting getting glimpses into each of those periods as Nicky delves deeper into her memoirs. I thought it was very well done.
I wasn't expecting all of the religious references going into this. It takes place at a Baptist boarding school, so there's mentions of chapel and worship groups, which is fine. But there's also random comments such as Baptists don't like Catholics, and sex is bad, and an anti-Halloween lock in. I don't have a problem with religion, but I didn't like how it was presented in this book. It also didn't seem to add anything of importance to the over all story. However, it was interesting to see Nicky struggle with her faith as she remembers more and more from her past lives.
I really enjoyed this book! Nicky and Xander's race against time was thrilling, and I couldn't even being to guess how they were going to break their curse. Although it was quite obvious who else was involved, the ending was still a great twist and shock!
Nicky is a little hard to warm up to. She has an elitist attitude, but she's also full of anger, most of all toward Xander. But as the story moves along I began to understand her rough exterior. If you've been murdered over and over again, you'd probably carry over some anger, too!
I absolutely loved how reincarnation was written in this book. It's not exactly happy and romantic. Instead it's dark and morbid. It's the result of heinous crimes and leaves a permanent mark until that person has redeemed themselves. Nicky is stuck in one such cycle of constantly reliving her life in different time periods. It was interesting getting glimpses into each of those periods as Nicky delves deeper into her memoirs. I thought it was very well done.
I wasn't expecting all of the religious references going into this. It takes place at a Baptist boarding school, so there's mentions of chapel and worship groups, which is fine. But there's also random comments such as Baptists don't like Catholics, and sex is bad, and an anti-Halloween lock in. I don't have a problem with religion, but I didn't like how it was presented in this book. It also didn't seem to add anything of importance to the over all story. However, it was interesting to see Nicky struggle with her faith as she remembers more and more from her past lives.
I really enjoyed this book! Nicky and Xander's race against time was thrilling, and I couldn't even being to guess how they were going to break their curse. Although it was quite obvious who else was involved, the ending was still a great twist and shock!
December 19, 2012
'Always Me' is a fast paced and enchanting young adult fantasy novel that follows the main character, Tatiana "Nicky" Roman as she struggles to deal with the nightmares and hallucinations that have plagued her since she was a little girl. One day at her boarding school, Nicky meets Xander Day - who has an unexpected effect on her. Without knowing how or why, Nicky feels as if she knows Xander very well - without ever having met him before. Through hypnosis sessions, Nicky discovers that she has been reincarnated several times alongside Xander and that their destinies are entwined in the most horrible way possible. Now Nicky and Xander must find a way to break the curse before it's too late and they die - again.
I found this novel to be really captivating and impossible to put down. I loved the concept of the star-crossed lovers being reincarnated throughout time together only to come to miserable ends. There's something completely romantic about it all - so even though it's not a new idea, I still loved it. The book was well written and flowed effortlessly, making this a really fast read for me. I was immediately drawn into the cursed world of Nicky and Xander and couldn't wait to find out why these things were happening to them and how they could break the curse. There was a lot of mystery and action wound into the book, which keeps the reader on their toes. The history between Nicky and Xander, along with their complicated relationship, was very well detailed and I loved finding out all about them. Their characters were deep and complex, which only added to my interest in the novel. The romance between them was very sweet and pure - which was a bit frustrating at times. I found myself just wishing for them to kiss already. But anyways. This was a really enchanting and interesting novel and I will definitely be reading more from this author. Highly recommended for fans of romance and time travel.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this novel to be really captivating and impossible to put down. I loved the concept of the star-crossed lovers being reincarnated throughout time together only to come to miserable ends. There's something completely romantic about it all - so even though it's not a new idea, I still loved it. The book was well written and flowed effortlessly, making this a really fast read for me. I was immediately drawn into the cursed world of Nicky and Xander and couldn't wait to find out why these things were happening to them and how they could break the curse. There was a lot of mystery and action wound into the book, which keeps the reader on their toes. The history between Nicky and Xander, along with their complicated relationship, was very well detailed and I loved finding out all about them. Their characters were deep and complex, which only added to my interest in the novel. The romance between them was very sweet and pure - which was a bit frustrating at times. I found myself just wishing for them to kiss already. But anyways. This was a really enchanting and interesting novel and I will definitely be reading more from this author. Highly recommended for fans of romance and time travel.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2012
The blurb for this book really attracted me to it. It isn't your typical, ya paranormal love story, which I do love, but this one intrigued me so much, I just had to read it. I had to know how it was going to play out and what made Nicky instantly hate Xander, and also, why was she seeing gaping wounds and blood?
When we meet Nicky, she seems like a very nice, elites girl, who sadly seems to suffer from horrific nightmares. These nightmares would turn anyone's hair grey. Just reading about them almost gave me nightmares. When she meets Xander, she has this instant hatred for her and she cannot explain why, and Xander acts like he knows her, which only adds to her fury more. I love the interaction between these two. It's not like, oh I hate you, but no I love you blah blah cheesy crap. Nicky is very cautious and doesn't let her guard down. As she starts to finally figure out what her nightmares may mean, everything in her life changes, and things are not what they seem.
I could not put this book down. The story was drawn out in a good enough way that it did not seem like it took forever to get to the point and it is very enticing so it makes you want to keep reading so you along with Nicky can finally figure out what is going on. With Nicky's nightmares, to Xander seeming to know it all, to the different realities in this book, I have to say that this is my favorite book of 2012. I have read a lot of books and I am not saying one isn't as good as the other, but this book evoked so many emotions from me and I just loved every page I read.
The ending of this book, this ending was one of the most beautiful endings I have read in a long time. As I tweeted to the author, I was a wet, soggy mess. It was just simply beautiful. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It is one you will want to read over and over again.
When we meet Nicky, she seems like a very nice, elites girl, who sadly seems to suffer from horrific nightmares. These nightmares would turn anyone's hair grey. Just reading about them almost gave me nightmares. When she meets Xander, she has this instant hatred for her and she cannot explain why, and Xander acts like he knows her, which only adds to her fury more. I love the interaction between these two. It's not like, oh I hate you, but no I love you blah blah cheesy crap. Nicky is very cautious and doesn't let her guard down. As she starts to finally figure out what her nightmares may mean, everything in her life changes, and things are not what they seem.
I could not put this book down. The story was drawn out in a good enough way that it did not seem like it took forever to get to the point and it is very enticing so it makes you want to keep reading so you along with Nicky can finally figure out what is going on. With Nicky's nightmares, to Xander seeming to know it all, to the different realities in this book, I have to say that this is my favorite book of 2012. I have read a lot of books and I am not saying one isn't as good as the other, but this book evoked so many emotions from me and I just loved every page I read.
The ending of this book, this ending was one of the most beautiful endings I have read in a long time. As I tweeted to the author, I was a wet, soggy mess. It was just simply beautiful. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It is one you will want to read over and over again.
December 24, 2012
3.5 stars
This is one of those books that doesn’t grab you with the first sentence but as you keep on reading, it seems to grow on you. And then you can’t put it down.
After I was past the initial confusion, I realized that the idea behind the book was very unique and just WOW.
There are two main characters – Nicky and Xander. I found myself rooting for Nicky while feeling the same as Nicky felt towards Xander, a pull and yet a deep-rooted fear. Now when I start feeling for a book’s characters, I realize that the author has done good with the character building.
Once the story sets in, there’s no going back. It keeps you rooted in your seat, unable to do anything else because you want to know what will happen next. This is one of those books that starts slowly but later picks up pace and doesn’t let go.
I really liked the historical feel and charm to the story. It was mind-blowing.
Perhaps the only negative thing that I felt was that I, personally was unable to understand what happened towards the end and couldn’t really digest it. If you have read the book and got that part, just let me know.
In all, a lovely book that I would recommend to everyone. And it’s only $0.99 on Amazon right now, so you should go grab it.
This is one of those books that doesn’t grab you with the first sentence but as you keep on reading, it seems to grow on you. And then you can’t put it down.
After I was past the initial confusion, I realized that the idea behind the book was very unique and just WOW.
There are two main characters – Nicky and Xander. I found myself rooting for Nicky while feeling the same as Nicky felt towards Xander, a pull and yet a deep-rooted fear. Now when I start feeling for a book’s characters, I realize that the author has done good with the character building.
Once the story sets in, there’s no going back. It keeps you rooted in your seat, unable to do anything else because you want to know what will happen next. This is one of those books that starts slowly but later picks up pace and doesn’t let go.
I really liked the historical feel and charm to the story. It was mind-blowing.
Perhaps the only negative thing that I felt was that I, personally was unable to understand what happened towards the end and couldn’t really digest it. If you have read the book and got that part, just let me know.
In all, a lovely book that I would recommend to everyone. And it’s only $0.99 on Amazon right now, so you should go grab it.
July 29, 2012
This was the very first e-book I ever read that was published by an indie author!
I picked up this book on a Saturday morning and had it finished before I went to bed that night. Always Me has the makings to be a stand out in the YA thriller/supernatural genre. At times I did not like the heroine, Nicky, as a person, but I felt compelled to read more to see what makes her tick. I was not disappointed. With unconventional characters and a precise attention to historical detail, you really cannot go wrong with this one. Highly recommended.
I picked up this book on a Saturday morning and had it finished before I went to bed that night. Always Me has the makings to be a stand out in the YA thriller/supernatural genre. At times I did not like the heroine, Nicky, as a person, but I felt compelled to read more to see what makes her tick. I was not disappointed. With unconventional characters and a precise attention to historical detail, you really cannot go wrong with this one. Highly recommended.
January 16, 2013
The blurb for this book really attracted me to it. It isn't your typical, ya paranormal love story, which I do love, but this one intrigued me so much, I just had to read it. I had to know how it was going to play out and what made Nicky instantly hate Xander, and also, why was she seeing gaping wounds and blood?
Read full review at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Ashley
Read full review at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Ashley
August 2, 2012
This is an exceptional book - it sucked me in right away and I couldn't put it down! Nicky is an unconventional heroine; complex and detailed. The author does a fantastic job of making her characters real - they are definitely flawed, which makes them so much more interesting! Both the story and the characters are incredibly unique. Always Me is fast paced and exciting, but doesn't really compare to other stories - I've never read anything like it before. I whole heartedly recommend!
September 9, 2012
Loved this book.....the way the author weaves in and out of history to modern day!! Was caught off guard by the ending!!! So, the makes this book A- One!!! Nicky was a little hard on the edges, but you find out why. Great late night sit in the corner chair read. You won't be able to put it down. Thumbs up to Ms Riad.
April 16, 2017
A page turner
This book has it all romance history and adventure. The take on nightmares is a new you do not see often and the different lives throughout kept me from wanting to put this down.
This book has it all romance history and adventure. The take on nightmares is a new you do not see often and the different lives throughout kept me from wanting to put this down.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews