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Contradiction #1
Sweet Contradiction
All Beth Michaels ever wanted was to get out of her small hometown. But when a heartbreaking call sends her back, she meets Matthew Wright, and he makes her question everything she thought she knew…
When Beth Michaels hightailed it out of the hole-in-the-road town she grew up in, she only had two goals. One—get as far away as quickly as possible, and two—never set foot in her parent’s home again. But when she receives a heart breaking call from her childhood best friend, Jen, she has no choice but to turn her ’56 Ford pickup back in the direction of Salem, Missouri to attend a funeral.
There’s a new local in town when Beth arrives, and suddenly, it ain’t all that easy for her to remember her rules for dating.
#1. Cookie-cutter-perfect guys ain’t her type.
#2. Tie wearin’ and church frequentin’ is an automatic dismissal.
#3. Most importantly, never date anyone from small minded, conservative, Bible-thumping towns like Salem.
Unfortunately, Matthew Wright breaks all her rules and then some.
Matt might be from a small town and have small town values, but that doesn’t mean he fits into a little slot of Beth’s preconceived notions. After all, ever so often good guys are good. Now if he could just convince Beth to let go of her past and give him a chance, he’s pretty sure there’s a whole lotta sweet under that prickly exterior.
His own … Sweet Contradiction.
***FAIR WARNING: If you are easily offended by books that happen to mention things concerning God, Religion, Etc., in a favorable or unfavorable light, then this book might not be for you.***
When Beth Michaels hightailed it out of the hole-in-the-road town she grew up in, she only had two goals. One—get as far away as quickly as possible, and two—never set foot in her parent’s home again. But when she receives a heart breaking call from her childhood best friend, Jen, she has no choice but to turn her ’56 Ford pickup back in the direction of Salem, Missouri to attend a funeral.
There’s a new local in town when Beth arrives, and suddenly, it ain’t all that easy for her to remember her rules for dating.
#1. Cookie-cutter-perfect guys ain’t her type.
#2. Tie wearin’ and church frequentin’ is an automatic dismissal.
#3. Most importantly, never date anyone from small minded, conservative, Bible-thumping towns like Salem.
Unfortunately, Matthew Wright breaks all her rules and then some.
Matt might be from a small town and have small town values, but that doesn’t mean he fits into a little slot of Beth’s preconceived notions. After all, ever so often good guys are good. Now if he could just convince Beth to let go of her past and give him a chance, he’s pretty sure there’s a whole lotta sweet under that prickly exterior.
His own … Sweet Contradiction.
***FAIR WARNING: If you are easily offended by books that happen to mention things concerning God, Religion, Etc., in a favorable or unfavorable light, then this book might not be for you.***
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2013
421 people are currently reading
1874 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
July 3, 2013
The
FAIR WARNING
might have given you a pause for a few moments and leave you pondering if you will continue reading or not...
- but let me tell you not to let this part of the blurb discourage you.
Because despite the religious subject of this novel, Ms. Martinez is able to pull off an amazing, heartwarming and one of the sweetest story of love and friendship.
Meet the Characters
Getting interesting, huh?
Beth Michaels rushed herself out of Salem the moment she reached 18, travelling across the country, she never dared look back. But when Jen, her best friend, suddenly cried for help - she came back. Her best friend, who has been with her since she was a child needed her. Despite all the resentment of coming back home, she drove her Ford Pickup back to Salem to mourn with Jen. What she didn't expect is to run in into a new face in town, Matt - who is a total contradiction to what she wanted in a man.
Matthew Wright, is indeed a sweet contradiction. He's more than just your ordinary small-town guy with some values. He may be a good boy, but he too has some wild side. If only Beth can let go of her stigma and give him a chance to show him how much he wants her.
Poor, poor Beth. I hated her family, I hated how they use God, religion and faith to verbally and emotionally abuse a child. I couldn't blame her from bailing out on them the moment she reached her legal age. She deserves a childhood filled with fairy tales and happy-ever-afters, not some parables with distorted story lines being used to frighten a child. Good thing there's Jen and her mother who took her in and made her family. Somehow, despite all the things happening at her home, Beth had experienced a near-normal childhood because of her friend. And when Jen needed her, she came back. It seems that there was more to coming back than joining her friend in mourning. There were some things Jen isn't telling her.
I love Matt, and if I could just creep inside his brain, I'd probably love him even more. Nevertheless, he's just what Beth needed to stay put. Yes, he goes to church. Yes, he's family is religious. But no, he's not like Beth's father. He's a wonderful, wonderful guy who adored Beth. He wants her to be happy, and he's willing to do anything for her. If only Beth could see how lucky she is. I love his romantic side. The scene on the lake, under the stars, in the fair and during the barn dance - yay. #totalswoon!
The pacing of the story was excellent, it didn't bore me. I like how the story progressed and how Beth's character developed. Jen managed to snag my heart too. She's a keeper. Beth is totally lucky to have her as a friend and a sister. I wish she too would have her happy ending when it's time for her story. If only Hunter managed to come to his senses before its too late!!!
Sweet Contradiction is a short, sweet read that left a dreamy smile on my face and a sense of anticipation for Jen's novel. I'm hoping it comes out before 2014 - help me pray!!!
*ARC copy was given by author in exchange for an honest review*
- but let me tell you not to let this part of the blurb discourage you.
Because despite the religious subject of this novel, Ms. Martinez is able to pull off an amazing, heartwarming and one of the sweetest story of love and friendship.
Meet the Characters
Getting interesting, huh?
Beth Michaels rushed herself out of Salem the moment she reached 18, travelling across the country, she never dared look back. But when Jen, her best friend, suddenly cried for help - she came back. Her best friend, who has been with her since she was a child needed her. Despite all the resentment of coming back home, she drove her Ford Pickup back to Salem to mourn with Jen. What she didn't expect is to run in into a new face in town, Matt - who is a total contradiction to what she wanted in a man.
Matthew Wright, is indeed a sweet contradiction. He's more than just your ordinary small-town guy with some values. He may be a good boy, but he too has some wild side. If only Beth can let go of her stigma and give him a chance to show him how much he wants her.
“The town whore and the pure preacher’s son? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Poor, poor Beth. I hated her family, I hated how they use God, religion and faith to verbally and emotionally abuse a child. I couldn't blame her from bailing out on them the moment she reached her legal age. She deserves a childhood filled with fairy tales and happy-ever-afters, not some parables with distorted story lines being used to frighten a child. Good thing there's Jen and her mother who took her in and made her family. Somehow, despite all the things happening at her home, Beth had experienced a near-normal childhood because of her friend. And when Jen needed her, she came back. It seems that there was more to coming back than joining her friend in mourning. There were some things Jen isn't telling her.
I love Matt, and if I could just creep inside his brain, I'd probably love him even more. Nevertheless, he's just what Beth needed to stay put. Yes, he goes to church. Yes, he's family is religious. But no, he's not like Beth's father. He's a wonderful, wonderful guy who adored Beth. He wants her to be happy, and he's willing to do anything for her. If only Beth could see how lucky she is. I love his romantic side. The scene on the lake, under the stars, in the fair and during the barn dance - yay. #totalswoon!
The pacing of the story was excellent, it didn't bore me. I like how the story progressed and how Beth's character developed. Jen managed to snag my heart too. She's a keeper. Beth is totally lucky to have her as a friend and a sister. I wish she too would have her happy ending when it's time for her story. If only Hunter managed to come to his senses before its too late!!!
Sweet Contradiction is a short, sweet read that left a dreamy smile on my face and a sense of anticipation for Jen's novel. I'm hoping it comes out before 2014 - help me pray!!!
*ARC copy was given by author in exchange for an honest review*
July 22, 2013
3.5/5 Stars
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
My thoughts on this book are really complicated, so forgive me if this review ends up being really long. I want to start out by pointing out that there is a disclaimer on Goodreads that I didn't include in my summary because I wanted to address it here. The disclaimer says "FAIR WARNING: If you are easily offended by books that happen to mention things concerning God, Religion, Etc., in a favorable or unfavorable light, then this book might not be for you." Hmmm... this already got me wondering. I need to point out that I am a Christian (and not just a "go to church on Sunday, but forget about God the rest of the week" kind of Christian). When I read the blurb for this book, I thought, "It might be good to read a fun summer romance with a good Christian theme to it." (I mean, I love my vampires, zombies and teenagers with magical abilities, but I can't say they're always the most wholesome characters!)
But, I have to say that the book was not exactly what I was expecting - in some good ways and some not so good ways. And, honestly, I think the disclaimer might be scaring off some of the wrong people, so I thought I would take it out of my description and address it here. This is NOT a traditional Christian romance book. As you can probably tell by my R rating, it's a bit more explicit than you would expect a Christian book to be and some of the ideals in the book will probably not appeal to a lot of Christians (but will probably be pretty appealing to non-Christians so long as you're not so anti-religion that any mention of it makes you run for the hills - actually, the main character starts out that way, so maybe even you might appreciate the book!).
So, now I need to try to coherently explain how I felt about all of this. In general, I REALLY liked aspects of this book. There were a few things that kept me from loving it, though. Instead of just a list of bullet points about what I did and didn't love, I'm going to address how the book handles Christianity as it's own Love/Didn't Love topic and go from there...
Religion in Sweet Contradiction:
What I loved. I absolutely LOVED that this book explored all sides of Christianity and showed that there is more than one type of Christian - from the Bible thumping, hell-fearing extreme to the extremely liberal, we love everyone extreme. There were Christians in this book who we really kind of hated and Christians who we really loved (and a few in between). I thought that this was great! I also LOVED that the book had Christian themes (and a redeeming message), but wasn't preachy. I can't stand cheesy, preachy books!
but... I thought that the book really only presented the two absolute extremes and not a lot of the in-between was shown.
Beth's parents are the ultimate purist Christians who believe that any sign of living in the real world is sinful. They emotionally abused her throughout her childhood and turned her completely against religion. They are pretty much portrayed as conservative monsters.
On the other side of things, Matt is a pastor's son who is supposedly very committed to God, but he has no problem sleeping with a girl on their first date, has a gay brother and doesn't care at all if the person he loves and is a relationship with even believes in God or not. Okay, so the gay brother part was actually totally fine with me (although I know it won't be for some Christians) - his brother is gay, but his family doesn't worry about that. They love him - the end. Makes sense. But the rest of it gave me pause if I'm being truthful. Okay, I know many (if not most) Christians have pre-marital sex. But, you'd think he'd have some qualms about telling a girl he just met that he wants to sleep with her and then following through on their very first date. I mean, really, most non-Christians have a few qualms about that. It just seemed a bit odd. And then there was the fact that he did not care in the least if Beth even so much as believed in God. She thought it might be an issue, but he acted as though there was absolutely no reason to even think about that. It just seemed that he was too accepting - so much so that it didn't feel realistic. I'm not saying he should have broken up with her, but you would think that a pastor's son (who was a strong Christian and supposedly possibly on track to become a pastor himself) would at least consider that being with a non-Christian might be difficult at times. I consider myself to be a pretty liberal Christian, so I was excited to see that explored in a book. But, in the end, I started to feel that Matt and his family were just a little too accepting of just about anything to ring true for me.
The only people in the book who didn't seem to be completely extreme were Jen (Beth's best friend) and her mom. But their influence, as far as Christianity went, seemed to be largely ignored. Even though Beth considered Jen's mom like a second mother to her, she apparently didn't influence her at all as far as religion was concerned, which seemed odd to me.
Oh, one more thing that I loved: I loved that Beth grew throughout the book and came to realize that she didn't have to completely shy away from everything having to do with God or religion in order to escape her past. She came to a place of acceptance and possibly understanding with God (but also didn't necessarily jump on the Christian bandwagon, which would have been a little sudden). I thought that this growth was presented in a touching, non-preachy way and I loved it!
Okay, so I'm sorry if that was a really LONG explanation of my feelings on the religious aspect of the book, but I warned you that my feelings were complicated! As far as the
Romance (and Other Stuff) in Sweet Contradiction:
What I loved. The romance in the book was sweet and romantic - it felt like a perfect, light summer read in that respect. Matt was a really interesting character - sometimes a bit arrogant, but also fun and lovable and very romantic. He was definitely swoon-worthy. I also loved the more serious storylines in the book - death, illness, escape from a haunting past. All of these things were explored, but they didn't bring the tone of the book down (you didn't feel like you were reading a heavy novel about the effects of a horrible childhood).
but... This book featured the dreaded insta-love and it was hard for me to get past that sometimes. I guess I just didn't see that instant connection between them or understand why Matt was so sure they were soul mates. At one point in the book he talks about how he was engaged to someone for a whole year before he figured out that she wasn't meant for him and yet he was sure after one date with Beth that they were meant to be together forever? He said it didn't matter if the person he was with was a believer or not or whether or not they had anything in common so long as they could sit in silence together and their souls could commune or something (okay, that's not exactly how he put it). But, I couldn't help but think, "Really? You could tell all that in one date?" Ah, insta-love, why do you taunt me so?
So, I apologize that this was a long, rambling review. I think that this is a GREAT book to read if you're like me and you like to obsess over the moral and religious themes presented (I really like a book that makes me think!), but you will need to realize that if you have very strong opinions about religion, you might find things in this book you don't like. If you are neutral on religion, then you can probably happily ignore all of that and just read a sweet summer romance and be happy. Either way, it's worth a read.
**Disclosure: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
My thoughts on this book are really complicated, so forgive me if this review ends up being really long. I want to start out by pointing out that there is a disclaimer on Goodreads that I didn't include in my summary because I wanted to address it here. The disclaimer says "FAIR WARNING: If you are easily offended by books that happen to mention things concerning God, Religion, Etc., in a favorable or unfavorable light, then this book might not be for you." Hmmm... this already got me wondering. I need to point out that I am a Christian (and not just a "go to church on Sunday, but forget about God the rest of the week" kind of Christian). When I read the blurb for this book, I thought, "It might be good to read a fun summer romance with a good Christian theme to it." (I mean, I love my vampires, zombies and teenagers with magical abilities, but I can't say they're always the most wholesome characters!)
But, I have to say that the book was not exactly what I was expecting - in some good ways and some not so good ways. And, honestly, I think the disclaimer might be scaring off some of the wrong people, so I thought I would take it out of my description and address it here. This is NOT a traditional Christian romance book. As you can probably tell by my R rating, it's a bit more explicit than you would expect a Christian book to be and some of the ideals in the book will probably not appeal to a lot of Christians (but will probably be pretty appealing to non-Christians so long as you're not so anti-religion that any mention of it makes you run for the hills - actually, the main character starts out that way, so maybe even you might appreciate the book!).
So, now I need to try to coherently explain how I felt about all of this. In general, I REALLY liked aspects of this book. There were a few things that kept me from loving it, though. Instead of just a list of bullet points about what I did and didn't love, I'm going to address how the book handles Christianity as it's own Love/Didn't Love topic and go from there...
Religion in Sweet Contradiction:
What I loved. I absolutely LOVED that this book explored all sides of Christianity and showed that there is more than one type of Christian - from the Bible thumping, hell-fearing extreme to the extremely liberal, we love everyone extreme. There were Christians in this book who we really kind of hated and Christians who we really loved (and a few in between). I thought that this was great! I also LOVED that the book had Christian themes (and a redeeming message), but wasn't preachy. I can't stand cheesy, preachy books!
but... I thought that the book really only presented the two absolute extremes and not a lot of the in-between was shown.
Beth's parents are the ultimate purist Christians who believe that any sign of living in the real world is sinful. They emotionally abused her throughout her childhood and turned her completely against religion. They are pretty much portrayed as conservative monsters.
On the other side of things, Matt is a pastor's son who is supposedly very committed to God, but he has no problem sleeping with a girl on their first date, has a gay brother and doesn't care at all if the person he loves and is a relationship with even believes in God or not. Okay, so the gay brother part was actually totally fine with me (although I know it won't be for some Christians) - his brother is gay, but his family doesn't worry about that. They love him - the end. Makes sense. But the rest of it gave me pause if I'm being truthful. Okay, I know many (if not most) Christians have pre-marital sex. But, you'd think he'd have some qualms about telling a girl he just met that he wants to sleep with her and then following through on their very first date. I mean, really, most non-Christians have a few qualms about that. It just seemed a bit odd. And then there was the fact that he did not care in the least if Beth even so much as believed in God. She thought it might be an issue, but he acted as though there was absolutely no reason to even think about that. It just seemed that he was too accepting - so much so that it didn't feel realistic. I'm not saying he should have broken up with her, but you would think that a pastor's son (who was a strong Christian and supposedly possibly on track to become a pastor himself) would at least consider that being with a non-Christian might be difficult at times. I consider myself to be a pretty liberal Christian, so I was excited to see that explored in a book. But, in the end, I started to feel that Matt and his family were just a little too accepting of just about anything to ring true for me.
The only people in the book who didn't seem to be completely extreme were Jen (Beth's best friend) and her mom. But their influence, as far as Christianity went, seemed to be largely ignored. Even though Beth considered Jen's mom like a second mother to her, she apparently didn't influence her at all as far as religion was concerned, which seemed odd to me.
Oh, one more thing that I loved: I loved that Beth grew throughout the book and came to realize that she didn't have to completely shy away from everything having to do with God or religion in order to escape her past. She came to a place of acceptance and possibly understanding with God (but also didn't necessarily jump on the Christian bandwagon, which would have been a little sudden). I thought that this growth was presented in a touching, non-preachy way and I loved it!
Okay, so I'm sorry if that was a really LONG explanation of my feelings on the religious aspect of the book, but I warned you that my feelings were complicated! As far as the
Romance (and Other Stuff) in Sweet Contradiction:
What I loved. The romance in the book was sweet and romantic - it felt like a perfect, light summer read in that respect. Matt was a really interesting character - sometimes a bit arrogant, but also fun and lovable and very romantic. He was definitely swoon-worthy. I also loved the more serious storylines in the book - death, illness, escape from a haunting past. All of these things were explored, but they didn't bring the tone of the book down (you didn't feel like you were reading a heavy novel about the effects of a horrible childhood).
but... This book featured the dreaded insta-love and it was hard for me to get past that sometimes. I guess I just didn't see that instant connection between them or understand why Matt was so sure they were soul mates. At one point in the book he talks about how he was engaged to someone for a whole year before he figured out that she wasn't meant for him and yet he was sure after one date with Beth that they were meant to be together forever? He said it didn't matter if the person he was with was a believer or not or whether or not they had anything in common so long as they could sit in silence together and their souls could commune or something (okay, that's not exactly how he put it). But, I couldn't help but think, "Really? You could tell all that in one date?" Ah, insta-love, why do you taunt me so?
So, I apologize that this was a long, rambling review. I think that this is a GREAT book to read if you're like me and you like to obsess over the moral and religious themes presented (I really like a book that makes me think!), but you will need to realize that if you have very strong opinions about religion, you might find things in this book you don't like. If you are neutral on religion, then you can probably happily ignore all of that and just read a sweet summer romance and be happy. Either way, it's worth a read.
**Disclosure: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
June 19, 2013
Beth's dad is just freakin' cuckoo dang no wonder Beth was weird, "because the outward adorning of a woman's body is sinful. Because the obtaining earthly possessions is ungodly. And sinfulness and ungodliness are what the devil uses to pave the road to Hell." What in the HELL are these people teaching their child! Beth I love her when she's all woman, she's saucy, "looks like your muscles have gotten even bigger, but I wonder if that has played a role in you diminishing brain cells." Oh my Matthew you little charmer you, "I don't mind so much, especially if the damsels were guaranteed to look as pretty as you." Oh, my word, Matthew you sex on two legs guy you, "I want to taste your lips again, but next time I want to take my time. I want you under me so I can feel your entire body quivering beneath me when I make love to you." His voice lowered and his words did funny things to my body. "But, having a quick, meaningless fling is not one of them." He's also a jokester and I love that, "so, you're scared then? You wearing your granny panties today and don't want me seeing them?" Matt good lord I just love that man, "you won't frighten me away, baby. I'm not looking for someone who looks a certain way, lives a certain way, or even believes a certain way. I'm looking for the person who drives me so completely insane that I feel like a hole has been ripped out of my chest when we're apart." Oh good lord, I REALLY love that man stands up for beth, "don't speak to her like that. She's no who** and I'll not have any man saying she is. I don't care who you are." Beth's dad needs a good swift kick in the nuts, "he's there for you now when you allowing him between your legs, but will he be there if he puts a bas**** in you? Or will he move on to another who**?" I really liked this book and I'm kinda hoping Ms. Peggy writes Jenn and Hunter's story I would love to read about them!
July 4, 2013
Sweet Contradiction is the story of Beth Michaels, a girl who was raised by parents who were extremely religious. They weren't your typical church-going, love-your-fellow-man type of religious. No, Beth was raised in a home where she was required to return a birthday gift because a charm bracelet is vain and vanity is a sin. She was not only required to return said birthday gift, but to recite and write out applicable Bible verses after her hands were swatted with a ruler (multiple times) for accepting the gift in the first place.
Needless to say, Beth resented her parents and the way they raised her. So, when she turned 18 she left home and spent the next 4 years traveling across the United States. The only thing that brought her back was the death of her best friend's mother.
When she first arrives back in town, she meets Matt Wright. He's easy on the eyes, but she can tell he's not her type. When her best friend, Jen, informs her that he's a pastor's son Beth KNOWS he's not her type. But, Matt is persistent and Beth can't deny the attraction. And thus the two learn from one another that oftentimes, preconceived notions aren't necessarily accurate.
I enjoyed reading Sweet Contradiction. It was a love story, a story of friendship, and a story of personal growth. Everyone has tough things they go through in life - those experiences have the ability to shape us. However, we are free to choose how we let those experiences influence us. Beth chose to rebel from her parents' oppressive lifestyle to find her own way. But she also passed judgment on all religious people. Matt gave her the opportunity to learn that her judgment wasn't fair or accurate, thus giving her an opportunity to grow beyond her original choice to turn her back completely on her upbringing. Through her friendship with Jen, Beth has other experiences that give her the opportunity to further grow and develop into a better friend and more compassionate and understanding person.
I appreciated the dynamics between Beth and Matt as their relationship developed. It wasn't a simple "love at first sight" and then "happily ever after". There was pushing and pulling, there were ups and downs. There were opportunities to learn about trust and to rely on one another. This is a love story where the couple grows together and learns that a relationship is a partnership and that together they can be more than they would ever be on their own.
FYI: does contain premarital sex, one scene is "open door" but not overly descriptive.
FYI: I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review
Needless to say, Beth resented her parents and the way they raised her. So, when she turned 18 she left home and spent the next 4 years traveling across the United States. The only thing that brought her back was the death of her best friend's mother.
When she first arrives back in town, she meets Matt Wright. He's easy on the eyes, but she can tell he's not her type. When her best friend, Jen, informs her that he's a pastor's son Beth KNOWS he's not her type. But, Matt is persistent and Beth can't deny the attraction. And thus the two learn from one another that oftentimes, preconceived notions aren't necessarily accurate.
I enjoyed reading Sweet Contradiction. It was a love story, a story of friendship, and a story of personal growth. Everyone has tough things they go through in life - those experiences have the ability to shape us. However, we are free to choose how we let those experiences influence us. Beth chose to rebel from her parents' oppressive lifestyle to find her own way. But she also passed judgment on all religious people. Matt gave her the opportunity to learn that her judgment wasn't fair or accurate, thus giving her an opportunity to grow beyond her original choice to turn her back completely on her upbringing. Through her friendship with Jen, Beth has other experiences that give her the opportunity to further grow and develop into a better friend and more compassionate and understanding person.
I appreciated the dynamics between Beth and Matt as their relationship developed. It wasn't a simple "love at first sight" and then "happily ever after". There was pushing and pulling, there were ups and downs. There were opportunities to learn about trust and to rely on one another. This is a love story where the couple grows together and learns that a relationship is a partnership and that together they can be more than they would ever be on their own.
FYI: does contain premarital sex, one scene is "open door" but not overly descriptive.
FYI: I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review
October 8, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
When I let the author know that I’d be interested in reading and reviewing Sweet Contradiction, she had this to ask “Are you able to stomach sickly sweet romance?” To which I can only reply, “I can handle sickly sweet it’s a good balance for the flirty and dirty ones!”
Our Main Character Beth Michaels is brought up under an iron fist with a bible in it as her Father uses religion to control his family and keep them under his thumb. His wild at heart daughter has other plans than sticking around and takes off as soon as she turns 18. Though honestly, why she didn’t leave sooner I couldn’t even guess - but hey, it’s a story, enjoy the ride!
Returning to town when her best friends mom passes away, she’s not in town more than five minutes before her paths cross with our leading man Matthew Wright who falls instantly in love faster than you can flip the page. Now I know a lot of folks who absolutely hate the whole love at first sight thing, and while I don’t, I will usually indulge in the occasional eye-roll at it. But there was just something to how this was written that made me feel that there was something more going on to it. Like he had been there all along through the years while they were growing up, unnoticed by her and he had that unspoken crush for years. It doesn’t really seem to be the case though, but that’s the “vibe” I got out of it.
I expected Beth to have stronger feelings against religion and God and for there to be a great deal more drama revolving around that. Especially when certain things are brought to light! (No, I’m not going to tell you what those are!) but while there’s a pretty serious story arc going on, the romance is definitely sweet as can be. There’s a bit of steam but nothing I would consider too graphic.
The ending though, wow that’s frustrating! How you view it is totally going to be a personal thing, I can’t really call it a cliffhanger but I have so many questions about the details that would be upcoming! There are also so many questions about all the things happening between Jen and Hunter(the best friend and the brother), but apparently we have to wait for the next book “Perfect Contradiction” to find out those details!
If you’re in the mood for a sweet heavy and drama light romance about finding love where you didn’t want to look, this is the story for you.
When I let the author know that I’d be interested in reading and reviewing Sweet Contradiction, she had this to ask “Are you able to stomach sickly sweet romance?” To which I can only reply, “I can handle sickly sweet it’s a good balance for the flirty and dirty ones!”
Our Main Character Beth Michaels is brought up under an iron fist with a bible in it as her Father uses religion to control his family and keep them under his thumb. His wild at heart daughter has other plans than sticking around and takes off as soon as she turns 18. Though honestly, why she didn’t leave sooner I couldn’t even guess - but hey, it’s a story, enjoy the ride!
Returning to town when her best friends mom passes away, she’s not in town more than five minutes before her paths cross with our leading man Matthew Wright who falls instantly in love faster than you can flip the page. Now I know a lot of folks who absolutely hate the whole love at first sight thing, and while I don’t, I will usually indulge in the occasional eye-roll at it. But there was just something to how this was written that made me feel that there was something more going on to it. Like he had been there all along through the years while they were growing up, unnoticed by her and he had that unspoken crush for years. It doesn’t really seem to be the case though, but that’s the “vibe” I got out of it.
I expected Beth to have stronger feelings against religion and God and for there to be a great deal more drama revolving around that. Especially when certain things are brought to light! (No, I’m not going to tell you what those are!) but while there’s a pretty serious story arc going on, the romance is definitely sweet as can be. There’s a bit of steam but nothing I would consider too graphic.
The ending though, wow that’s frustrating! How you view it is totally going to be a personal thing, I can’t really call it a cliffhanger but I have so many questions about the details that would be upcoming! There are also so many questions about all the things happening between Jen and Hunter(the best friend and the brother), but apparently we have to wait for the next book “Perfect Contradiction” to find out those details!
If you’re in the mood for a sweet heavy and drama light romance about finding love where you didn’t want to look, this is the story for you.
July 16, 2013
Sweet Contradiction was a cute short read, but the warning in the synopsis made me think that it was going to be a sweet, clean read. It's sweet, but if you are expecting clean, this isn't the book for you.
The beginning of the book sets the tone of the story. Beth has completely given up on religion because her parents were basically nuts. They called her a whore and a sinner her entire life. They'd make her write Bible verses 100's of times on pride if she wanted anything pretty. I can understand that turning her away from her parents' view of religion. Because it was not religion. It was twisted and sick and had nothing to do with a loving God. They had no room for mercy in their "religion" only for judgement.
Beth comes back to the small town she grew up in when her best friend needs her support after a tragedy. Beth expects to be there for only a short time, so she can get back to running away from her past. But while she's back, she meets a man who is not her "type" but ends up sweeping her off her feet. Very quickly I might add. So while it's a sweet love story, it's not extremely realistic. Love usually takes more time than in a novel. And hopefully most first dates don't go as far as theirs does. IDK, I've been out of the dating scene for over 20 years though, so who knows!
The characters are believable and likeable. Matt's parents are very loving and accepting which is how true Christians should be. Yet, I think that if Matt is a Sunday School teacher, he should be a little better about keeping his pants on. Not being judgmental, just saying!
I wish that this had been a clean read. I'd feel so much more comfortable recommending it. As it is, if sex in books doesn't bother you, then you'll find it a quick, sweet love story. If it does bother you, then steer clear. It's not a Christian book though Beth does try to make some peace with God. For ages 18+
The beginning of the book sets the tone of the story. Beth has completely given up on religion because her parents were basically nuts. They called her a whore and a sinner her entire life. They'd make her write Bible verses 100's of times on pride if she wanted anything pretty. I can understand that turning her away from her parents' view of religion. Because it was not religion. It was twisted and sick and had nothing to do with a loving God. They had no room for mercy in their "religion" only for judgement.
Beth comes back to the small town she grew up in when her best friend needs her support after a tragedy. Beth expects to be there for only a short time, so she can get back to running away from her past. But while she's back, she meets a man who is not her "type" but ends up sweeping her off her feet. Very quickly I might add. So while it's a sweet love story, it's not extremely realistic. Love usually takes more time than in a novel. And hopefully most first dates don't go as far as theirs does. IDK, I've been out of the dating scene for over 20 years though, so who knows!
The characters are believable and likeable. Matt's parents are very loving and accepting which is how true Christians should be. Yet, I think that if Matt is a Sunday School teacher, he should be a little better about keeping his pants on. Not being judgmental, just saying!
I wish that this had been a clean read. I'd feel so much more comfortable recommending it. As it is, if sex in books doesn't bother you, then you'll find it a quick, sweet love story. If it does bother you, then steer clear. It's not a Christian book though Beth does try to make some peace with God. For ages 18+
August 10, 2013
Gosh where to start… I really enjoyed this book. It tugs at a bunch of different heart strings. Quick read, or maybe it just had me pulled in. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book as well, warm welcoming and wild at moments.
Small town girl raised under the menacing thumb of a father who used his extreme religious beliefs to scare, abuse, and torture his own daughter.
18 years was quite enough for Elizabeth and she high tailed it out of there, traveling around here and there working odds and ends to cover her expenses. Carefree and on her own agenda, that is until she gets the message of tragedy that has taken place back home, the one person that could bring her back to that town that held so many hideous nightmarish memories was her best friend Jen.
Beth hits town later than planned hoping to skirt through without incident… Not happening.
First stop in town to grab some flowers and freshen up she is confronted with her past, but saved by a new stranger… a handsome stranger that has “out of my league” written all over him.
Beth is shortly there- after faced with decisions she is not fond of… the last 4 years have been spent moving on and not sticking around anywhere, for any one .
Now faced with a friend who needs her to stay, and a past that has blurred her view and acceptance of faith, religion, and her desire to have a stable future.
A steady flow of emotions from start to finish. If you can relate to Small towns, County Fairs, and Barn Dances then I think you will enjoy this book as much as I have.
I’m only left with one unanswered question, but I think it will be answered in the follow up to this in Jen and Hunters story.
This book is live July 13th so throw this sweet read on Your TBR and snatch it up once its available!
Small town girl raised under the menacing thumb of a father who used his extreme religious beliefs to scare, abuse, and torture his own daughter.
18 years was quite enough for Elizabeth and she high tailed it out of there, traveling around here and there working odds and ends to cover her expenses. Carefree and on her own agenda, that is until she gets the message of tragedy that has taken place back home, the one person that could bring her back to that town that held so many hideous nightmarish memories was her best friend Jen.
Beth hits town later than planned hoping to skirt through without incident… Not happening.
First stop in town to grab some flowers and freshen up she is confronted with her past, but saved by a new stranger… a handsome stranger that has “out of my league” written all over him.
Beth is shortly there- after faced with decisions she is not fond of… the last 4 years have been spent moving on and not sticking around anywhere, for any one .
Now faced with a friend who needs her to stay, and a past that has blurred her view and acceptance of faith, religion, and her desire to have a stable future.
A steady flow of emotions from start to finish. If you can relate to Small towns, County Fairs, and Barn Dances then I think you will enjoy this book as much as I have.
I’m only left with one unanswered question, but I think it will be answered in the follow up to this in Jen and Hunters story.
This book is live July 13th so throw this sweet read on Your TBR and snatch it up once its available!
March 27, 2014
I am so happy that I picked up this book, it's one that will defiantly stay with me and I took away a great deal.
Let me say that this book will not be for everyone and it should be read with an open mind.
Beth grew up in cold cruel home where her parents used religion to dominate and emotionally abuse her.
Growing up she had to hide her true personality, hopes and dreams. But she vowed to leave that life in order to express herself without limitations. Beth did just that at the age of 18.
However four years later she is forced to return when tragedy befalls the only persons in Salem she loves and cares about.
Upon her return Beth meets handsome Matt. When she learns he is the preachers son and everything she has ran away from and avoided for the past four yeas.
Matt is determined to fine real true love and passion. From the moment he met Beth he is certain that he has found his soul mate and that all consuming love.
Matt will have a battle on his hands to convince Beth they belong together.
Beth will have to face her past and open her eyes to what is right in front if her if they are to stand a chance if having a future.
This book title was very appropriately titled because it was sweet indeed and contradiction because the subject matter is a very emotional not one you would consider sweet.
Sweet contradiction is well written, captivating, real and emotive.
A deserving 4 star from me.
Review By Natasha
Let me say that this book will not be for everyone and it should be read with an open mind.
Beth grew up in cold cruel home where her parents used religion to dominate and emotionally abuse her.
Growing up she had to hide her true personality, hopes and dreams. But she vowed to leave that life in order to express herself without limitations. Beth did just that at the age of 18.
However four years later she is forced to return when tragedy befalls the only persons in Salem she loves and cares about.
Upon her return Beth meets handsome Matt. When she learns he is the preachers son and everything she has ran away from and avoided for the past four yeas.
Matt is determined to fine real true love and passion. From the moment he met Beth he is certain that he has found his soul mate and that all consuming love.
Matt will have a battle on his hands to convince Beth they belong together.
Beth will have to face her past and open her eyes to what is right in front if her if they are to stand a chance if having a future.
This book title was very appropriately titled because it was sweet indeed and contradiction because the subject matter is a very emotional not one you would consider sweet.
Sweet contradiction is well written, captivating, real and emotive.
A deserving 4 star from me.
Review By Natasha
June 21, 2013
I was given an ARC copy for an honest review.
I absolutely love Peggy Martinez! I love her writing style, her characters and how her stories grab a hold of my heart. Sweet Contradiction is no different. I love everything about this book, especially Matthew Wright.
Beth Michaels has been tormented by her very cruel parents. She leaves home to find her own life, but is called back into town when tragedy strikes her best friend Jen. Beth wants nothing to do with religion or the small town she grew up in, but someone new in town catches her eye. Could he change her mind?
Beth has been through so much growing up, but as soon as her friend needs her she doesn't hesitate to come back. Their friendship is so refreshing. They are more like sisters than friends. I love that! Then you add in a handsome, good guy with a sense of humor and passion...PERFECTION. Sweet Contradiction is a beautiful story. I can't wait to read Perfect Contradiction and find out what Peggy has in store for Jen and Hunter.
My favorite quote: "I'm not looking for perfect, I'm looking for real. I'm looking for passion and love, Babe."
I absolutely love Peggy Martinez! I love her writing style, her characters and how her stories grab a hold of my heart. Sweet Contradiction is no different. I love everything about this book, especially Matthew Wright.
Beth Michaels has been tormented by her very cruel parents. She leaves home to find her own life, but is called back into town when tragedy strikes her best friend Jen. Beth wants nothing to do with religion or the small town she grew up in, but someone new in town catches her eye. Could he change her mind?
Beth has been through so much growing up, but as soon as her friend needs her she doesn't hesitate to come back. Their friendship is so refreshing. They are more like sisters than friends. I love that! Then you add in a handsome, good guy with a sense of humor and passion...PERFECTION. Sweet Contradiction is a beautiful story. I can't wait to read Perfect Contradiction and find out what Peggy has in store for Jen and Hunter.
My favorite quote: "I'm not looking for perfect, I'm looking for real. I'm looking for passion and love, Babe."
September 20, 2013
I will admit I was a bit worried when I read the disclaimer for Sweet Contradictions. I don’t like stories where they make fun of or put down religious beliefs. This book does not do that. It does show two extremes of ‘Christian’ religious views – extreme ultra conservative and liberal views. So while religion does make an appearance several times in the book it is not what I would classify as a Christian novel at all.
Other than that this is an enjoyable, romantic story that takes place in a small town. Beth left town as soon as she could to escape her parent’s abusive beliefs. She gets a message that makes her come home – her BFF’s mom passed away. So she goes back to support her best friend Jen during this painful time. What she doesn’t expect is to meet a man who not only makes her feel things she doesn’t want to feel but especially one whose father is a preacher.
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t too short or too long but just perfect. The romance happened pretty quickly but other than that these are characters really grow on you and are very likable. I enjoyed Beth and Matt’s story and I am looking forward to reading Jen’s in the next installment.
Other than that this is an enjoyable, romantic story that takes place in a small town. Beth left town as soon as she could to escape her parent’s abusive beliefs. She gets a message that makes her come home – her BFF’s mom passed away. So she goes back to support her best friend Jen during this painful time. What she doesn’t expect is to meet a man who not only makes her feel things she doesn’t want to feel but especially one whose father is a preacher.
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t too short or too long but just perfect. The romance happened pretty quickly but other than that these are characters really grow on you and are very likable. I enjoyed Beth and Matt’s story and I am looking forward to reading Jen’s in the next installment.
June 20, 2013
Sweet Contradiction is just fabulous. I loved everything about this book. The fact that Beth gets out on her own after High School and doing her own thing because she wants to escape the life she was forced to live with her bible twisted father was a liberating. I felt like I could breathe better for her while reading it lol. The relationship she has with Jen, her best friend, is just epic. Then there is Matt. What can I say about him other than perfection? I love how Matt tested Beth and coaxed her into seeing that just because of who he was and what he believed in didn't make him and his family like her father. This book does not bash the bible in anyway so leave those type of comments to yourself. It showed the two different life styles based on religion and I just loved the moment she came to realize that too. I won't spoil that scene because I think it was the best one in the whole book. The only way I can describe the book is you can take the girl out of the small town but the small town will always be home sweet home.
July 13, 2013
I was given an ARC of this book. What a sweet story for sure!! Beth had to escape her bible thumping father as soon as she turned 18. But when her best friend Jen calls saying she needs Beth, because her mother has passed away, that's all it took for Beth to turn around and come home. As soon as Beth arrives in Salem, she meets a new person, well new to her anyway, Matt. He is adorable and very sweet to her, but he doesn't fit into her rules of dating an she is a preacher's son. Matt doesn't give up and ends up getting her to go out on a date. There are a bunch of things that happen through out this book to pull you in. Is Jen sick? Will Beth and Matt work things out? Will Matt die before Beth tells him how she feels? Will her father ever change and be proud of her? Is there something going on between Jen & Hunter? Read it to find out the answers...it really is worth it.
Thanks for giving me the ARC!!!
Thanks for giving me the ARC!!!
February 4, 2014
The story deals well with some weighty issues and the characters' baggage. But the short length caused some aspects of the romance to feel much too rushed, and there are still many questions left wide open and unresolved (so glad the next book comes out very soon). Definitely a new adult read with sexual situations and language, but nothing too explicit. I'm not a huge fan of love at first sight, and though I could see why she fell for him, not quite sure why he fell for her. Would have liked more development on that side.
April 15, 2014
A short story about a 'bad' girl who meets and falls in love with the preacher's son. It was an okay read with some drama and sweet moments.
Want to read
August 13, 2017AMAZON KINDLE FREEBIE 6/21/17
February 25, 2019
This book was super meh. Nothing special or entertaining about it.
March 7, 2019
Sweet story. No unnecessary drama.
December 27, 2014
This review was originally posted on Gin's Book Notes
Sweet Contradiction by Peggy Martinez is one of the books I purchased at UtopYA whilebrowsing stalking the Crimson Tree/Clean Teen Publishing exhibitor table. I've read several of Peggy's other books so I was super excited about getting my hands on this ARC and finding out how this awesome writer would tackle a new adult contemporary romance. Let me just go ahead and say, "SHE NAILED IT".
Here's what I loved about Sweet Contradiction:
It is a new adult romance and the guy isn't a complete and totally ass that treats women like dirt. WooHoo for real people with morals and respect for themselves and others.
It's complex. Serious issues regarding religion and faith are tackled. The main character Beth struggles with reconciling her past with her present. She measures all Christians against what she grew up around and runs as far away as she can from home, religion, and healing.
It is a story of love, friendship, acceptance, and huge personal growth for several characters in the story.
It is a book about learning to reconcile your past without having to condemn or distrust others.
It left me with a smile and my last thought was "wow, that was great".
The beauty in this story is that it is complex yet simple. The characters are very down to earth and I enjoyed getting to see them grow through out the story. I am really looking forward to book 2 in Peggy Martinez's Sweet Contradiction Series.
Sweet Contradiction isn't christian fiction. It is a straightforward new adult contemporary romance that features Christianity. There is some sexual content and language but nothing extreme. The book is 206 pages so it was a fast read with excellent pacing and well developed characters.
I will be honest. I am not a big fan of new adult romance but if there were more books written like Sweet Contradiction I could quickly become a one.
Side Note: The interior formatting on the paperback version is gorgeous. I really enjoyed all the extra details that went into making the inside look great.
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon. Thank you!
Sweet Contradiction by Peggy Martinez is one of the books I purchased at UtopYA while
Here's what I loved about Sweet Contradiction:
It is a new adult romance and the guy isn't a complete and totally ass that treats women like dirt. WooHoo for real people with morals and respect for themselves and others.
It's complex. Serious issues regarding religion and faith are tackled. The main character Beth struggles with reconciling her past with her present. She measures all Christians against what she grew up around and runs as far away as she can from home, religion, and healing.
It is a story of love, friendship, acceptance, and huge personal growth for several characters in the story.
It is a book about learning to reconcile your past without having to condemn or distrust others.
It left me with a smile and my last thought was "wow, that was great".
The beauty in this story is that it is complex yet simple. The characters are very down to earth and I enjoyed getting to see them grow through out the story. I am really looking forward to book 2 in Peggy Martinez's Sweet Contradiction Series.
Sweet Contradiction isn't christian fiction. It is a straightforward new adult contemporary romance that features Christianity. There is some sexual content and language but nothing extreme. The book is 206 pages so it was a fast read with excellent pacing and well developed characters.
I will be honest. I am not a big fan of new adult romance but if there were more books written like Sweet Contradiction I could quickly become a one.
Side Note: The interior formatting on the paperback version is gorgeous. I really enjoyed all the extra details that went into making the inside look great.
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon. Thank you!
December 31, 2013
From the opening lines of this book, I was completely engrossed in this book. The opening pages were some of the hardest I have had to read. When religion is used to abuse others, I really get incensed. I was absolutely certain that this book was going to be a winner. And I was right!
Let's get the negative issues out of the way first. There is some mild profanity sprinkled throughout the story, but there is nothing hardcore. There are some implied sexual encounters, but there are no details given. There is a minor gay character, but I did not find myself offended in any way in this situation or any other. I felt that everything was narrated in such a way that the story was the focus rather than the peripheral issues. And what a story it is! But I always feel I must provide cautions, especially if your teenager wants to read the book.
I absolutely love Matt and Beth, and I found myself running through the whole gamut of emotions--sorrow, anger, humor, excitement, terror, and true joy. This book is short, but it packs one powerful punch. In fact, I was pretty sure that I knew how the book would end, but the author threw in a couple of curve balls that kept me guessing. I would absolutely love to read the sequel in order to discover what is next for Jenn and Hunter.
The most noteworthy portion of the book for me concerned the religious issues. This is not a Christian book, and it never purports to be so. I have read many innocuous "Christian" books that have no real message or significance. This book's view on religion and Beth's "heart to heart" conversation was full of more depth than so many traditional Christian books. I am not saying that I agree with the premise put forth by the author in the book, but it was a more positive view of religion and faith than so many Christian and secular books put forth. It was refreshing, and it gave me hope that maybe there are those out there who are still open to the message of the gospel even in this growing atheistic age.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Let's get the negative issues out of the way first. There is some mild profanity sprinkled throughout the story, but there is nothing hardcore. There are some implied sexual encounters, but there are no details given. There is a minor gay character, but I did not find myself offended in any way in this situation or any other. I felt that everything was narrated in such a way that the story was the focus rather than the peripheral issues. And what a story it is! But I always feel I must provide cautions, especially if your teenager wants to read the book.
I absolutely love Matt and Beth, and I found myself running through the whole gamut of emotions--sorrow, anger, humor, excitement, terror, and true joy. This book is short, but it packs one powerful punch. In fact, I was pretty sure that I knew how the book would end, but the author threw in a couple of curve balls that kept me guessing. I would absolutely love to read the sequel in order to discover what is next for Jenn and Hunter.
The most noteworthy portion of the book for me concerned the religious issues. This is not a Christian book, and it never purports to be so. I have read many innocuous "Christian" books that have no real message or significance. This book's view on religion and Beth's "heart to heart" conversation was full of more depth than so many traditional Christian books. I am not saying that I agree with the premise put forth by the author in the book, but it was a more positive view of religion and faith than so many Christian and secular books put forth. It was refreshing, and it gave me hope that maybe there are those out there who are still open to the message of the gospel even in this growing atheistic age.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
July 11, 2013
3.5 stars
Sweet Contradiction by Peggy Martinez was a really sweet new adult contemporary romance. At first, I was a bit hesitant to read it because of the warning about religion but I was happy to see how well it was portrayed in the book. It doesn't matter if you're religious or not, Sweet Contradiction makes for an easy, light and short read.
Beth Michaels left her home town as soon as she could. She wanted to get away from her narrow minded, smothering family and live life to the fullest. But when her best friend Jen's mother dies after her long battle with cancer, Beth goes back to help her deal with it. I really liked Beth. I could see how her faith had been shattered because of her family but she still continued to thrive.
Beth in all her wild ways is the complete opposite of the new local in town, Matthew Wright. Beth knows she can't start anything permanent with Matt and she can see all the ways he is wrong for her. But Matt has other plans. I have one word for Matt. Intense. The boy made good look sexy and the way he was with Beth made me swoony.
Matt and Beth had a few obstacles to over come in their path. Matt made Beth see how things are different and not every religious family is like her parents. The romance was sweet but it kinda was in the insta love category. Still, I enjoyed it.
There were also a ton of sparks flying between Jen and Matt's brother Hunter. Now both of them are totally opposites attract with him being a tattooed bad boy and her being a good girl. I can't wait for their story. All in all Sweet Contradiction made for a quick, light read. It was easy to get lost in it for a few hours. If you're looking for a sweet read this is the book for you.
*Note: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. We thank the author.
Sweet Contradiction by Peggy Martinez was a really sweet new adult contemporary romance. At first, I was a bit hesitant to read it because of the warning about religion but I was happy to see how well it was portrayed in the book. It doesn't matter if you're religious or not, Sweet Contradiction makes for an easy, light and short read.
Beth Michaels left her home town as soon as she could. She wanted to get away from her narrow minded, smothering family and live life to the fullest. But when her best friend Jen's mother dies after her long battle with cancer, Beth goes back to help her deal with it. I really liked Beth. I could see how her faith had been shattered because of her family but she still continued to thrive.
Beth in all her wild ways is the complete opposite of the new local in town, Matthew Wright. Beth knows she can't start anything permanent with Matt and she can see all the ways he is wrong for her. But Matt has other plans. I have one word for Matt. Intense. The boy made good look sexy and the way he was with Beth made me swoony.
Matt and Beth had a few obstacles to over come in their path. Matt made Beth see how things are different and not every religious family is like her parents. The romance was sweet but it kinda was in the insta love category. Still, I enjoyed it.
There were also a ton of sparks flying between Jen and Matt's brother Hunter. Now both of them are totally opposites attract with him being a tattooed bad boy and her being a good girl. I can't wait for their story. All in all Sweet Contradiction made for a quick, light read. It was easy to get lost in it for a few hours. If you're looking for a sweet read this is the book for you.
*Note: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. We thank the author.
October 5, 2013
I’ve known Peggy for almost a year now and I didn’t understand why I didn’t find the urge to pick up one of her many awesome books until this one. I regret missing out on the wonderful writing of Peggy Martinez.
Sweet Contradiction instantly became one of my favorite books of the year. Not only did it take me only a couple of hours to read, but it was really really good. I’m a bit disappointed that the book was so short! The plot was well thought of, and definitely one that keeps you reading. It wasn’t the fighting action type of plots, it was the more realistic life plots about small town girls leaving home for four years and only comes back when something terrible happens. Unfortunately, something bad did happen and our main character has to return to a place she never wants to go back to.
Beth Michaels was a wonderful protagonist, she was tough most of the time and vulnerable the rest of the time. She grew up with parents who used religion to verbally abuse her as a child. That made her hate her parents and made her very weary about religion. Her only friends were the Collin’s, Jennifer and her mom. They were the only two people who kept her going during all those years of abuse as a child. I admired the strength Beth had to be able to suffer that much for so many years. Then Matthew Wright comes in and breaks all her dating rules and gives her a sense of hope when it comes to life and religion.
Sweet Contradiction was a beautiful read. The plot, romance, and characters were simple and yet, so good. An amazing summer read for those who enjoy short romances in countrysides. I absolutely loved the book and I can’t wait to read the sequel! Peggy Martinez is an excellent writer and she has definitely got herself another die hard fan to fawn over hers books (all of them)!
Sweet Contradiction instantly became one of my favorite books of the year. Not only did it take me only a couple of hours to read, but it was really really good. I’m a bit disappointed that the book was so short! The plot was well thought of, and definitely one that keeps you reading. It wasn’t the fighting action type of plots, it was the more realistic life plots about small town girls leaving home for four years and only comes back when something terrible happens. Unfortunately, something bad did happen and our main character has to return to a place she never wants to go back to.
Beth Michaels was a wonderful protagonist, she was tough most of the time and vulnerable the rest of the time. She grew up with parents who used religion to verbally abuse her as a child. That made her hate her parents and made her very weary about religion. Her only friends were the Collin’s, Jennifer and her mom. They were the only two people who kept her going during all those years of abuse as a child. I admired the strength Beth had to be able to suffer that much for so many years. Then Matthew Wright comes in and breaks all her dating rules and gives her a sense of hope when it comes to life and religion.
Sweet Contradiction was a beautiful read. The plot, romance, and characters were simple and yet, so good. An amazing summer read for those who enjoy short romances in countrysides. I absolutely loved the book and I can’t wait to read the sequel! Peggy Martinez is an excellent writer and she has definitely got herself another die hard fan to fawn over hers books (all of them)!
July 7, 2013
Peggy Martinez
Sweet Contradiction
Sweet romance, this story follows the life of Beth as she tries to move on from a childhood of torment. Her parents used religion as a way to “teach” her values that every girl should have, but abused it and left Beth scarred and determined to keep away from the town she grew up in and anyone religious after her 18th birthday. After 4 years of travelling, Beth finds herself back in her home town following the death of her best friend’s mum (who also acted as he surrogate mum growing up). Enter Matt Wright, right from the start you can tell they have a connection but Beth soon finds out he is the pastor’s son who teaches Sunday school and is set on keeping her distance. Unfortunately for Beth, Matt has other ideas and will do everything he can to prove to Beth that being religious doesn’t mean anything; everyone is their own person with their own ideas.
The start of the book is likely to get your blood boiling, as you see Beth’s upbringing and what she had to go through but it’s an important part of the backstory and shows how strong she must be, even from an early age. The emotions portrayed throughout the book are so vivid that I could feel everything the characters were going through and the descriptive nature allowed me to easily imagine the whole story as it unfolded. This book has a very real feel about it; it wasn’t just love at first sight or happily ever after. This story finished at the end of the book, but still left the perfect opening to the next book, Perfect Contradiction.
I received an e-arc of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Sweet Contradiction
Sweet romance, this story follows the life of Beth as she tries to move on from a childhood of torment. Her parents used religion as a way to “teach” her values that every girl should have, but abused it and left Beth scarred and determined to keep away from the town she grew up in and anyone religious after her 18th birthday. After 4 years of travelling, Beth finds herself back in her home town following the death of her best friend’s mum (who also acted as he surrogate mum growing up). Enter Matt Wright, right from the start you can tell they have a connection but Beth soon finds out he is the pastor’s son who teaches Sunday school and is set on keeping her distance. Unfortunately for Beth, Matt has other ideas and will do everything he can to prove to Beth that being religious doesn’t mean anything; everyone is their own person with their own ideas.
The start of the book is likely to get your blood boiling, as you see Beth’s upbringing and what she had to go through but it’s an important part of the backstory and shows how strong she must be, even from an early age. The emotions portrayed throughout the book are so vivid that I could feel everything the characters were going through and the descriptive nature allowed me to easily imagine the whole story as it unfolded. This book has a very real feel about it; it wasn’t just love at first sight or happily ever after. This story finished at the end of the book, but still left the perfect opening to the next book, Perfect Contradiction.
I received an e-arc of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2013
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Heat Rating: Mild
Peggy Martinez is a new-to-me author and I am so glad that I had the chance to read Sweet Contradiction! This was a very sweet and touching story that had many good messages about love, acceptance and friendship. I was instantly drawn into the story, falling in love with Michael and cheering for Beth as she begins to realize that she can't runaway anymore.
Sweet Contradiction was like slipping into a comfy bed after a long day, you get cozy and can't wait to spend the rest of the night wrapped up in Beth and Michael's story. I really liked Michael, he is not your typical New Adult hero, it was a nice change see the good, sweet guy get the girl. Peggy Martinez does a great job with the cast of characters, getting to know the secondary characters almost as much as the main characters and you are left wanting more from Jen, Hunter, Beth and Michael.
I cried, laughed, sighed and felt my heart melt (the ferris wheel *sigh*) while reading Sweet Contradiction. This is a book that I would have let pass me by if the author hadn't asked me to read it and that would have been a terrible thing. Even though I like a bit more heat to my books, sometimes the quiet, mild stories are the ones that sneak in and make the lasting impression. Beth and Michael were exactly what I didn't realize I needed in a romance this week, so thank you Peggy for letting me have this story. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book that spins off of Sweet Contradiction, Jen and Hunter's story can't get in my hands fast enough!
Heat Rating: Mild
Peggy Martinez is a new-to-me author and I am so glad that I had the chance to read Sweet Contradiction! This was a very sweet and touching story that had many good messages about love, acceptance and friendship. I was instantly drawn into the story, falling in love with Michael and cheering for Beth as she begins to realize that she can't runaway anymore.
Sweet Contradiction was like slipping into a comfy bed after a long day, you get cozy and can't wait to spend the rest of the night wrapped up in Beth and Michael's story. I really liked Michael, he is not your typical New Adult hero, it was a nice change see the good, sweet guy get the girl. Peggy Martinez does a great job with the cast of characters, getting to know the secondary characters almost as much as the main characters and you are left wanting more from Jen, Hunter, Beth and Michael.
I cried, laughed, sighed and felt my heart melt (the ferris wheel *sigh*) while reading Sweet Contradiction. This is a book that I would have let pass me by if the author hadn't asked me to read it and that would have been a terrible thing. Even though I like a bit more heat to my books, sometimes the quiet, mild stories are the ones that sneak in and make the lasting impression. Beth and Michael were exactly what I didn't realize I needed in a romance this week, so thank you Peggy for letting me have this story. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book that spins off of Sweet Contradiction, Jen and Hunter's story can't get in my hands fast enough!
July 12, 2013
I was giving an E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review
If you are easily offended by the mention of god or religion whether it is good or bad this book may not be for you.
Sweet Contradiction is not my first Peggy Martinez read, but it did take me by surprise. I haven't read many non paranormal books in the last year, so I was a little iffy on whether or not I could get into the story, but Peggy Martinez made it really easy to make the transition. I love Sweet Contradiction & everything about it. Peggy Martinez's writing makes it an easy read that flows perfectly, I could see everything playing out in my head like a movie. She does such a great job getting you emotionally invested into the characters, that I can promise you will shed a tear or two. I absolutely adore the characters in this book. I felt like I could really relate to Beth, the main Character. She struggles with family issues from her child hood that affects the way she lives as an adult. She will do anything for her best friend Jen, who is more like her sister. Jen is the best friend everyone should have in their lives. Jen is always down for her bestie, even if she doesn't really want to do it. And if you're in the market for a new book boyfriend, Beth's love interest Matthew Wright is amazing, almost too good to be true. Sweet Contradiction is an amazing story of friendship, love & self realization that I highly recommend.
August 20, 2013
The name of this story says it all. It's short, sweet, and intense all in one. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. Maybe because it was so short it was a bit hard to really connect with the main character. The author has a strong story and I think she could have taken a lot further.
The romance was sweet, but it was practically love at first site. From the first time Matt sees Beth he falls head over heels. One thing I did love though was that even though he was head over heels for Beth, he wasn't constantly on top of her. Their romance developed at a good pace. For such a short story that was a great bonus.
Matt comes from a religious family, but not as religious as Beth’s family. It’s sad the way Beth’s family treats her and uses the name of God to justify their ways. When Beth first meets Matt you understand why she wants to keep her distance from him. She was raised differently from those around her and looks at life in a certain way. Because of this she thinks that is how the entire world works. Matt steps into her life and shows her that not everyone and everything is the same.
I liked this story a lot, but wish their romance wasn't so rushed. I am happy with the ending and loved Beth’s new point of view on things. I am also hoping and looking forward to a story about her best friend Jen, and Matt’s brother Hunter. That should be fun to read!
3.5 stars!
The romance was sweet, but it was practically love at first site. From the first time Matt sees Beth he falls head over heels. One thing I did love though was that even though he was head over heels for Beth, he wasn't constantly on top of her. Their romance developed at a good pace. For such a short story that was a great bonus.
Matt comes from a religious family, but not as religious as Beth’s family. It’s sad the way Beth’s family treats her and uses the name of God to justify their ways. When Beth first meets Matt you understand why she wants to keep her distance from him. She was raised differently from those around her and looks at life in a certain way. Because of this she thinks that is how the entire world works. Matt steps into her life and shows her that not everyone and everything is the same.
I liked this story a lot, but wish their romance wasn't so rushed. I am happy with the ending and loved Beth’s new point of view on things. I am also hoping and looking forward to a story about her best friend Jen, and Matt’s brother Hunter. That should be fun to read!
3.5 stars!
June 26, 2013
Beth's parents are your typical deep south, bible belt, Christians. The type that don't allow their children to do anything because everything is a sin. I don't know how that girl put up with it honestly. When she hit legal age, she left and vowed she would never go back. All of that changed with one phone call from her best friend.
My copy was an ARC so I'm unsure if it was corrected already or not, but I did spot a couple of small errors.
The story itself is beautifully written and the reader will fall in love with the main characters very easily.
I'm actually very glad that this was the first book by this author that I had the pleasure of reading, I truly loved the theme of it. While I'm not Christian, I could still relate to the religious aspects of the story and obviously all the fears and apprehensions Beth had.
I look forward to reading the next book since while knowing this was Beth and Matt's story, I was left wanting when it came to Jenn and Hunter which I know will be dealt with in the next book.
I give this book 4 of 5 paws.
My copy was an ARC so I'm unsure if it was corrected already or not, but I did spot a couple of small errors.
The story itself is beautifully written and the reader will fall in love with the main characters very easily.
I'm actually very glad that this was the first book by this author that I had the pleasure of reading, I truly loved the theme of it. While I'm not Christian, I could still relate to the religious aspects of the story and obviously all the fears and apprehensions Beth had.
I look forward to reading the next book since while knowing this was Beth and Matt's story, I was left wanting when it came to Jenn and Hunter which I know will be dealt with in the next book.
I give this book 4 of 5 paws.
July 19, 2013
A definite 4.5 stars!!!
So, I picked up this little wonder, just this morning. I read it in about 2-3 hours and I absolutely adored it. This is the story of Matt and Beth. Beth was a girl that had left home as soon as possible at age 18 because her parents were cra-cra. Like mean old bible thumping crazy. Using religion and God to tear Beth down. She only returned because her best friend's mom died and she was back to take care of her best friend in her time of need. Then she meets Matt. Matt, is the sweetest, sexiest preacher's son I have ever read. I didn't even realize that I had a thing for a good ol' religious boy. But, he totally made it hot. Now, I have realized that bad boys are not my guy of choice, but a sexy wholesome boy completely taken by a girl is exactly what I love.
It was really very taken by this sweet story. There were some scary moments through out the story that had my emotions going. And, I am really excited to see how the next one plays out with Beth's BFF and Matt's brother.
So, I picked up this little wonder, just this morning. I read it in about 2-3 hours and I absolutely adored it. This is the story of Matt and Beth. Beth was a girl that had left home as soon as possible at age 18 because her parents were cra-cra. Like mean old bible thumping crazy. Using religion and God to tear Beth down. She only returned because her best friend's mom died and she was back to take care of her best friend in her time of need. Then she meets Matt. Matt, is the sweetest, sexiest preacher's son I have ever read. I didn't even realize that I had a thing for a good ol' religious boy. But, he totally made it hot. Now, I have realized that bad boys are not my guy of choice, but a sexy wholesome boy completely taken by a girl is exactly what I love.
It was really very taken by this sweet story. There were some scary moments through out the story that had my emotions going. And, I am really excited to see how the next one plays out with Beth's BFF and Matt's brother.
September 8, 2013
The introduction was actually pretty good and I thought to myself wow a dark past again but something new :)
I guess I set too high expectations because the following few chapters turns out a little too predictable and cheesy. It doesn't have that x-factor apart from the religious element. It even confirms the fact that I dislike insta love. When I read to the part where they had sex, I was "okay sure girl one minute you were saying how he isn't your type at all and the next minute you let him have access into your pants."
Other than the insta love that puts me off, I actually like the characters in this book! Matt is a really sweet guy who can really speak cheesy lines and yet still make me swoon. He makes Beth believe that a person's religion will not dictate who they are and gives her courage to stand up to her fears. Also, Beth's childhood friend is truly a gem among her friends and does not give up on Beth even when she left town for 4 years. To be accurate, they are even more like sisters!
PS I think this book invoke more feelings of friendship and beliefs!
I guess I set too high expectations because the following few chapters turns out a little too predictable and cheesy. It doesn't have that x-factor apart from the religious element. It even confirms the fact that I dislike insta love. When I read to the part where they had sex, I was "okay sure girl one minute you were saying how he isn't your type at all and the next minute you let him have access into your pants."
Other than the insta love that puts me off, I actually like the characters in this book! Matt is a really sweet guy who can really speak cheesy lines and yet still make me swoon. He makes Beth believe that a person's religion will not dictate who they are and gives her courage to stand up to her fears. Also, Beth's childhood friend is truly a gem among her friends and does not give up on Beth even when she left town for 4 years. To be accurate, they are even more like sisters!
PS I think this book invoke more feelings of friendship and beliefs!
July 12, 2013
Peggy Martinez has created a group of characters that will make you love them long after you've closed the book. Beth comes from a rotten home situation with parents that treat God as a weapon. She leaves home as soon as she turns 18, only returning when her best friend needs her. Through Beth, we get to meet the lovely people of the small town and close-knit community. Each character in this awesome story leaps off the page, and by the time you're finished reading, you feel like they are friends. This book warms the heart, while entertaining the soul. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, but especially those of us who left the discomfort of home to make our marks on the world, but would always come back for the needs of our friends. The romance between Matt and Beth is simultaneously cute and steamy. Great job, Peggy!
April 14, 2014
Sweet Contradiction by Peggy Martinez is such a wonderful book that it made my eyes tear up more than once. It is a sweet romance that leaves the reader feeling like they would walk into town and see these people walking in and out of the shops. While there are a couple of twists in the story, it pretty much stays steady and allows the reader to understand the fears and feelings of the characters. I am sincerely hoping that there will be a book about Jen and Hunter.
This is a story that some teenagers or young adults will be able to relate to. It is not a story about differences in race, money or sex. It is somewhat about how the differences in upbringing can affect a blossoming relationship. Definitely give this book a read. I give 4 out of 5 stars for the pleasure that this book gave me. I am hoping that there will be a next book to bring a little more closure to this story.
This is a story that some teenagers or young adults will be able to relate to. It is not a story about differences in race, money or sex. It is somewhat about how the differences in upbringing can affect a blossoming relationship. Definitely give this book a read. I give 4 out of 5 stars for the pleasure that this book gave me. I am hoping that there will be a next book to bring a little more closure to this story.
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