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Lilac Sand
1995 is bound to be a very exciting year for Morgan Evans. One night at a crowded party she heads outside for solitude, but she will not be alone for long. Frederick Rhoades, lead singer of a world famous New Jersey band sits beside her. A chance meeting brought on by her need to get away from people leads to her finding the one person she always wants to be with.
Morgan meets Frederick under an overgrown lilac tree. The purple lilac symbolizes the first emotions of love. Will the fate of such a random meeting turn into everlasting love, or will they become star-crossed lovers? New adventures and heartbreaking situations await Morgan as fantasy becomes reality, but will it be the reality she craves? The difficult decisions she makes trying to stay true to herself will test her in ways she never knew she could be tested.
Morgan meets Frederick under an overgrown lilac tree. The purple lilac symbolizes the first emotions of love. Will the fate of such a random meeting turn into everlasting love, or will they become star-crossed lovers? New adventures and heartbreaking situations await Morgan as fantasy becomes reality, but will it be the reality she craves? The difficult decisions she makes trying to stay true to herself will test her in ways she never knew she could be tested.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2016
8 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 21, 2017
Lilac Sand had me on an emotional roller coaster! I loved Morgan's strength & level headedness. The ending is different & defiantly leaves you with a book hangover.
April 17, 2017
I've perused some of the reviews for this book before writing my review and I see that I am in the minority.
I have to say that I loved the idea of this book and thought it was something different when I figured out what it was all about. I didn't read the blurb because I like to go in blind on some books.
Now I will say that I did like this book but I while I wanted to love it, I just didn't and a few times didn't think I would finish it.
For me personally this was a "less is more type book". By this I mean there was about 30 to 40% that could have been removed & it wouldn't have made you feel like you had missed anything. It was kind of right in the mid section of the book around the 30% mark. I felt like all it was, was Morgan and Fred (Rick) just repeatedly saying, "I love you", "No I love you more". On repeat the whole time.
The funny thing is my favorite character in the book was Gunner. I liked him so much and wanted so much more of him. He definitely needs his own book whether it is a story for him & Morgan or him & another girl. He was for me one of the big reasons I kept reading & I really did have to know how it ended. The ending didn't do it for me. It was just too vague on where it would go after the book ends. Some stories end & in my mind I can continue on the story & give the characters what I think would happen for them after the story ends. Not with this one. I just didn't feel like we got enough.
With all that said, the parts I liked, I really liked. I just wish there was more of those parts.
I have to say that I loved the idea of this book and thought it was something different when I figured out what it was all about. I didn't read the blurb because I like to go in blind on some books.
Now I will say that I did like this book but I while I wanted to love it, I just didn't and a few times didn't think I would finish it.
For me personally this was a "less is more type book". By this I mean there was about 30 to 40% that could have been removed & it wouldn't have made you feel like you had missed anything. It was kind of right in the mid section of the book around the 30% mark. I felt like all it was, was Morgan and Fred (Rick) just repeatedly saying, "I love you", "No I love you more". On repeat the whole time.
The funny thing is my favorite character in the book was Gunner. I liked him so much and wanted so much more of him. He definitely needs his own book whether it is a story for him & Morgan or him & another girl. He was for me one of the big reasons I kept reading & I really did have to know how it ended. The ending didn't do it for me. It was just too vague on where it would go after the book ends. Some stories end & in my mind I can continue on the story & give the characters what I think would happen for them after the story ends. Not with this one. I just didn't feel like we got enough.
With all that said, the parts I liked, I really liked. I just wish there was more of those parts.
November 26, 2017
Lilac Sand hooks the reader in from page one. This is a wonderful read for every Romance lover, I couldn't put it down! This story taps into subjects not often seen in books today. There's a blend of sweet and sour mixed with spicy and hot. My Romantic heart went crazy reading Morgan Evan's story. This might be the Authors first published book but I know it won't be her last.
March 12, 2018
This book GUTTED ME! I am (days later) still thinking about this book. Seriously book hangover. The ups and downs with Morgan and Fred will give you whiplash. Morgan's age is her excuse, but Fred (who also goes by Rick) definitely has an addictive personality. You can tell that by how he dives into everything head first and can't seem to let go of anything.
And my love for Gunner (sigh). What an amazing character. I would LOVE to read a follow up because this book ends and it leaves questions and also leaves the reader wanting more. So much more.
The writing is raw and manic at times which is perfect for the story line because of the addictiveness that is going on with the story. The characters are well developed and the angst is real. I cannot stress enough how amazing this book is and I look forward to reading more from this talented author!
And my love for Gunner (sigh). What an amazing character. I would LOVE to read a follow up because this book ends and it leaves questions and also leaves the reader wanting more. So much more.
The writing is raw and manic at times which is perfect for the story line because of the addictiveness that is going on with the story. The characters are well developed and the angst is real. I cannot stress enough how amazing this book is and I look forward to reading more from this talented author!
January 14, 2017
Lilac Sand is the kind of book that I find difficult to write a review for because my thoughts and feelings were all over the place with it. It really made me think and left me questioning so many different things. It's not your typical story line and that is what makes it stand out from other stories. It starts off as a slow-burn with Fred and Morgan keeping their relationship innocent. It was a sexy and totally swoon-worthy build up to their relationship. Once they finally gave in to each other it was extremely hot and sexy. Their relationship had many stumbling blocks and some shockers that I didn't see coming. Cignarella's characters were multi-dimensional and at different points in the story, I either loved them hard or I just wanted to smack each of them silly! Morgan, for as mature and wise as she was.....she was far too blinded by love and didn't stand up for herself out of fear of losing the man she loved. Everyone thought she was strong and beautiful but it drove me nuts at how weak she truly was when it came to Fred. I kept waiting for her to find her brass balls so to speak! She never questioned his motives for doing what he did and that left me ultimately not liking her character as much the second half of the book. Fred was ever the romantic but he was incredibly flawed and insecure. He never professed to be anything other than what Morgan saw. He was a man who loved hard and made sure she knew it. I loved the secondary character of Gunner who was very intriguing. He had a tragic and heartbreaking story yet I felt like I didn't get to know him as much as I would've liked to. I feel like there is so much more to Gunner's story that I'd love to know.
It should be noted that Lilac Sand does have a story line that involves cheating so a trigger warning is necessary. However, it isn't cheating in the sense that most would expect but it is cheating nonetheless so if that is a trigger for you, you have been warned. While I enjoyed the story as a whole, it did read slow at times. I found myself wanting things to speed up or jump ahead rather than go day-by-day. The end of the book definitely threw me for a loop with a complete shocker. I found myself turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen. However, I felt like I was left hanging a bit with how things were left. I was expecting everything to be fully wrapped up but felt that the ending maybe was a bit rushed and not tied up completely. It was good but left me with more many more questions but perhaps that was Cignarella's ultimate goal after all. For a debut novel, I really enjoyed it. In my opinion, the dialogue between characters was a bit too formal but the overall writing was detailed and complex. I'm looking forward to whatever comes next from this new, up and coming author.
It should be noted that Lilac Sand does have a story line that involves cheating so a trigger warning is necessary. However, it isn't cheating in the sense that most would expect but it is cheating nonetheless so if that is a trigger for you, you have been warned. While I enjoyed the story as a whole, it did read slow at times. I found myself wanting things to speed up or jump ahead rather than go day-by-day. The end of the book definitely threw me for a loop with a complete shocker. I found myself turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen. However, I felt like I was left hanging a bit with how things were left. I was expecting everything to be fully wrapped up but felt that the ending maybe was a bit rushed and not tied up completely. It was good but left me with more many more questions but perhaps that was Cignarella's ultimate goal after all. For a debut novel, I really enjoyed it. In my opinion, the dialogue between characters was a bit too formal but the overall writing was detailed and complex. I'm looking forward to whatever comes next from this new, up and coming author.
November 12, 2016
First, I’d like to thank the author for sending a copy of the book. I promised to write an honest review so here it goes. (All the reviews I’ve written talked about 4 major points – characters, pace, plot and ending)
This book has good points and bad points. I will start with the bad points first, then the good points, so I’ll be able to justify the score that I’ll be giving the book.
One thing I noticed is that there are a lot of cheesy lines on the story. Like in ever meeting, every scene, they’ll be professing their love and how great the other person is and how they’ll never change and whatnot. Maybe I’m just not that sappy or that sweet vocally, but I don’t find it romantic when you say I love you’s all the time.
Next is the pacing. There are times that the flow is smooth, then all of a sudden it’s not. When it’s just Fred and Morgan the flow of their conversation is ok, but when they have to be with other people or when the scene changes, it’s like it was rushed.
Now let’s talk about why I love the book.
There’s one reason why I can’t put the book down – I can’t guess what’s going to happen next! Like really, I thought I have everything figured out during their first scene together, but they just keep on dropping unexpected bombs! I was like, I did not expect that on every scene. This is not like other books about girls falling in love with a musician – this book is fresh, with a different twist on every turn, and you won’t be able to put it down because you’d want to know more! So you see, even when there are cheesy lines on the book, the twists and the turns kind of make it ok. I didn’t mind it all since I was always looking forward to what’s going to happen next.
And the ending – wow!
It’s not the ending that I was expecting (though I did not expect a lot of things in the book), but it makes sense. If this were based on a true life story, then it is considered a happy ending. It’s the best and the sweetest ending when it comes to this kind of situation. I love Morgan’s character – she’s mature for her age, she’s resilient, and I love it that she chose what’s best for her.
So cheesy lines aside, if you will consider the twists and the ending, it’s actually an amazing book. 5 stars!
This book has good points and bad points. I will start with the bad points first, then the good points, so I’ll be able to justify the score that I’ll be giving the book.
One thing I noticed is that there are a lot of cheesy lines on the story. Like in ever meeting, every scene, they’ll be professing their love and how great the other person is and how they’ll never change and whatnot. Maybe I’m just not that sappy or that sweet vocally, but I don’t find it romantic when you say I love you’s all the time.
Next is the pacing. There are times that the flow is smooth, then all of a sudden it’s not. When it’s just Fred and Morgan the flow of their conversation is ok, but when they have to be with other people or when the scene changes, it’s like it was rushed.
Now let’s talk about why I love the book.
There’s one reason why I can’t put the book down – I can’t guess what’s going to happen next! Like really, I thought I have everything figured out during their first scene together, but they just keep on dropping unexpected bombs! I was like, I did not expect that on every scene. This is not like other books about girls falling in love with a musician – this book is fresh, with a different twist on every turn, and you won’t be able to put it down because you’d want to know more! So you see, even when there are cheesy lines on the book, the twists and the turns kind of make it ok. I didn’t mind it all since I was always looking forward to what’s going to happen next.
And the ending – wow!
It’s not the ending that I was expecting (though I did not expect a lot of things in the book), but it makes sense. If this were based on a true life story, then it is considered a happy ending. It’s the best and the sweetest ending when it comes to this kind of situation. I love Morgan’s character – she’s mature for her age, she’s resilient, and I love it that she chose what’s best for her.
So cheesy lines aside, if you will consider the twists and the ending, it’s actually an amazing book. 5 stars!
July 2, 2017
A Total Book Hangover - I LOVED IT!
Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride - Wow. I absolutely love everything about this book. The writing, the characters, the plot, the timeline (it takes place in the 1990s), and the romance. There are so many obstacles, and the emotional turmoil leaves you breathless. Morgan is so relatable, and strong, and a great role model for women. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story with all the feels, that leaves you thinking about it for weeks afterwards.
This is not a quick read, unless you're a speed reader, but that just made me love this book more. I liked all the detail, the intensity of the relationships, and the well-thought out storyline. I can't wait to read more from Tara Jenkinson-Cignarella.
Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride - Wow. I absolutely love everything about this book. The writing, the characters, the plot, the timeline (it takes place in the 1990s), and the romance. There are so many obstacles, and the emotional turmoil leaves you breathless. Morgan is so relatable, and strong, and a great role model for women. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story with all the feels, that leaves you thinking about it for weeks afterwards.
This is not a quick read, unless you're a speed reader, but that just made me love this book more. I liked all the detail, the intensity of the relationships, and the well-thought out storyline. I can't wait to read more from Tara Jenkinson-Cignarella.
May 28, 2017
While this was a good story with well developed characters, I did find it a little long and saggy in the middle. To be fair, I usually read books with characters who are older and not college students, but overall, the storyline was there and kept me guessing all the way to the end.
February 2, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, which surprised me. Review to come.
September 7, 2017
While reading this book, I had the Winger song Seventeen in my head the whole time. It was a really good read, can't wait to read more by this author.
March 17, 2017
I have a mixed emotions about this book. have a love/hate relationship with the characters. the first few chapters I rated 5 stars. the last few chapters around 3 stars. so it was hard to pin point on how to rate this. so I solidly rated it a 3.75 almost 4 stars. i kept picking this book up, than put it down again. I believe I should of rated until I was in the mood for the book because I would have rated this higher if I did. the writing was good. it flowed but not enough to hold my attention.
May 19, 2021
I read this book in return for Tara's kind review of one of my books. First off, I loved the premise, and when I read the blurb on Amazon I felt confident this story would appeal. When I got going I realized this is pure unadulterated YA fare and I am not a reader of YA so my review is not based on the genre's strengths or weaknesses since I am not an expert reader of YA, (though looking at the other reviews here, I am seeing a lot of high ratings which means Tara is definitely doing something right in YA fiction)!
To talk about the story, it's a book that will appeal to many YA readers I should think because it tackles the celebrity love affair trope brilliantly. Tara writes Morgan, her main character very well. At times I almost wondered if this was a 'true' story so realistic were Morgan's thoughts and attitudes, so my hat's off to how well she transported us back in time into the mind of a 16-17 year old high schooler.
What troubled me and had me skimming large parts were the regular and lengthy professions of love, it was quite heavy on this and I think a lot could be removed and would actually drive the pace better, but that's just my two cents...for all I know this is what YA does, and people love it.
The ending was very satisfying and I think Tara did a wonderful job tying up the loose ends.
All in all a solid 4 stars!
To talk about the story, it's a book that will appeal to many YA readers I should think because it tackles the celebrity love affair trope brilliantly. Tara writes Morgan, her main character very well. At times I almost wondered if this was a 'true' story so realistic were Morgan's thoughts and attitudes, so my hat's off to how well she transported us back in time into the mind of a 16-17 year old high schooler.
What troubled me and had me skimming large parts were the regular and lengthy professions of love, it was quite heavy on this and I think a lot could be removed and would actually drive the pace better, but that's just my two cents...for all I know this is what YA does, and people love it.
The ending was very satisfying and I think Tara did a wonderful job tying up the loose ends.
All in all a solid 4 stars!
December 24, 2017
I am amazed by this book. This is my first child's first novel and I had no clue that she could write like this. She never told me she was writing this for a couple of years for fear she might not be able to do it. Well she did it and it is a wonderful , heart wrenching story. I am so looking forward to novel number two of Morgan, Fred and Gunthers stories.
I want to mention Flutter, Tara's second novel. I read it in a day and a half and I am not normally a romance novel reader. I literally could not put this book down. It is a page turner and I had to keep turning those pages to find out what happened. It's a WOW!
P.S. The cover designs are visual banquets on my table, a bonus to the beautiful arrangement of the 26 letters of our alphabet contained within.
I want to mention Flutter, Tara's second novel. I read it in a day and a half and I am not normally a romance novel reader. I literally could not put this book down. It is a page turner and I had to keep turning those pages to find out what happened. It's a WOW!
P.S. The cover designs are visual banquets on my table, a bonus to the beautiful arrangement of the 26 letters of our alphabet contained within.
June 18, 2017
I'd like to thank Tara for requesting her book to me and with my honest review.
My thoughts on this book is really difficult for me to write cause based on my feelings I didn't feel connected to both characters. Morgan and Rick both had this connection from when they met till the end that I got weird about and I just couldn't not really focus on how their attraction for each other grew. So many things I found wrong about the storyline that I tried to grasp onto and although the writing style is there I do apologise but I just didn't feel so invested or connected in the characters.
My thoughts on this book is really difficult for me to write cause based on my feelings I didn't feel connected to both characters. Morgan and Rick both had this connection from when they met till the end that I got weird about and I just couldn't not really focus on how their attraction for each other grew. So many things I found wrong about the storyline that I tried to grasp onto and although the writing style is there I do apologise but I just didn't feel so invested or connected in the characters.
October 8, 2017
Purple Passion
This is definitely a hot read! It made me miss the beach and want to know what lilac trees smell like! I loved all the songs, they were unexpected. I was on team Gunner from the moment he walked in! If there are more books with him, I'll be reading them!
This is definitely a hot read! It made me miss the beach and want to know what lilac trees smell like! I loved all the songs, they were unexpected. I was on team Gunner from the moment he walked in! If there are more books with him, I'll be reading them!
September 16, 2019
Lots of sex. Cliffhanger.
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