A Different Kind of Lovely

by Petra March

2018 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards Winner - First Place: Fiction: Novel (eBook)
2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards Winner - Honorable Mention: Literary Fiction
2018 Elit Book Awards Winner - Bronze Medal: Literary Fiction
Indie International selection
2018 SOMERSET Book Awards Semi-Finalist


“A man with a damaged soul fell in love with a ballerina with a broken body.”
When Neal Medwin glimpses Mina Automne for the first time, he's a man whose soul is darkened with memories of a painful past, whereas Mina is a vibrant, strong, young woman. She's a determined ballerina who's carefully planning and painting her life.
Neal steps into her existence and threatens to shatter Mina's plans with an impossible request.
Mina can't help the fragile man who's invading her home, even though their parents used to be close friends and she knows of Neal's hurtful background. She allows him to linger within her lovely and artistic world, however, hoping he might find some peace and solace.
Slowly, their conflict turns into friendship, and eventually into love, until a terrible discovery ruins Mina's projects and forces her to let go of all her dreams, and of her sweet, damaged man.
Neal is unable to fight for Mina and for the unripe love they share, because he's not ready to leave his past behind. He's not strong enough – not yet.


(Ages 18+)


Publisher's Note: This stand-alone novel is a spin-off of Petra March's award winning series, A Touch of Cinnamon.


Praise for A Different Kind of Lovely:


"The prose is masterful and completely immerses the reader in the story. Mina and Neal are not perfect, but delightfully human characters that the reader enjoys getting to know." -InD'tale Magazine (September 2017 Issue)


"I love Mina and Neal; their story is beautiful and tragic at the same time, they learn to love each other and live a new life, together." -Inks and Scratches:Magazine (September 2017 Issue)


"Petra March writes with a lot of wisdom and her story is filled with emotion. The characters are genuinely flawed and readers can easily connect with what is human in them. There is a fine sense of the tragic woven into the fabric of this story that many readers will connect with, and I particularly loved the way the author explores the workings of the hearts of her characters." -Readers' Favorite

350 pages, ebook

Published May 23, 2017

About the author

Petra March is the Award Winning Author of the A Touch of Cinnamon Series, and a Library Journal Select Author. Her book, All the Skies I will not See, is a Library Journal SELF-e Selection. The book won the 2016 Pacific Book Awards for Best Short Story, and was a Gold Medal Winner (Fiction - Short Story) in the 2016 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards. In 2015, the book was a Finalist in the 2015 Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards, won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Best Novella, earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval, and received a 5-Star Review Seal from Readers' Favorite. The literary magazine Shelf Unbound listed All the Skies I will not See amid the 2015 Top 100 Notable Books.

The multi-award winning All the Skies I will not See features characters from Petra March's other works: A Veil of Glass and Rain(Special Edition), and A Dream of Lilies:A Novella.
A Veil of Glass and Rain(Special Edition) was a Finalist in the 2016 I Heart Indie Contest (New Adult), organized by the Las Vegas Romance Writers of America, and was featured in the June 2015 issue of the literary publication InD'tale Magazine.

Petra March graduated summa cum laude in Theater and Cinema Studies at University of Rome 3, and earned a MA degree from the Catholic University of Milan. She studied Screenwriting and History of American Cinema at UCLA and NYU, and worked as screenwriter in Italy and France, where she also taught Creative Writing in elementary schools and junior high schools.
Presently, she keeps traveling and dreaming through her novels and stories; just like Petra, her characters are deeply in love with Europe and the USA.

Connect with Petra:
www.facebook.com/AuthorPetraMarch

Reviews

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Different Kind of Lovely is a standalone spinoff novel of Petra March’s A Touch of Cinnamon. In truth, I was a little bit tentative for this very reason. Despite being a standalone novel, I feared I would not understand all the details without reading Petra March’s other books. However, my fear was unfounded – there is no doubt this spinoff book does work perfectly fine as a standalone novel. I am now interested in reading A Touch of Cinnamon, however, as there were characters appear in this book whose story I would like to know more about. Thus, whilst it is perfectly fine to read this as a standalone novel, it will leave you with the desire to read Petra March’s other work.

In truth, my rating of A Different Kind of Lovely is more of a three-point-five-star rating rather than the three-star rating I gave it. I had a bit of a debate as to whether I would round my rating up or down, but in the end I opted to round it down. I know many consider a three-star rating to be a negative rating, but I believe such is not the case. Three-star ratings still reflects enjoyment and a desire to read more, and such was the case with this one – I certainly enjoyed it, and I am interested in picking up Petra March’s other work.

A Different Kind of Lovely is a novel that fills you mind with wonderful images. It is beautifully descriptive, bringing to life the details of every single page. The people, the settings, the events – all of it is brought to life through the wonderful use of words. Whilst I find it easy to imagine any book in my mind, few have ever been quite as vividly detailed as A Different Kind of Lovely. The way Petra March uses her words creates truly detailed scenes in the mind. Moreover, these images occur without an overuse of words – it’s amazing how easily Petra March brings images to life.

These wonderful images accompany a story filled with tragedy. Although this is a romance novel, there is a lot of negative emotion to wade through. Not that it is a chore, merely that it is not the kind of love story where every moment is filled with joy. As with real life, A Different Kind of Lovely shows how the good and bad often go hand in hand – you can fall in love and live life, even with a darkness surrounding the heart.

This is where my rounding down rating comes from. Whilst the images were vivid and the story realistic, I found I didn’t connect with the characters in quite the way I had hoped. When a story has such a heart-breaking storyline, I prefer it if I feel as though I am in the character’s shoes. I want to experience the pain, each and every word should crack at my heart. With A Different Kind of Lovely, I felt like I was an outsider looking in. I could see their pain, I could understand it, but I did not experience it alongside the characters. This is what had me rounding down my rating – although finding the story enjoyable, I wasn’t as connected with the characters as I had hoped I would be. Towards the end I certainly felt that connection starting to build, but it was not quite enough for me to have rounded my rating up.

Overall, however, A Different Kind of Lovely is a beautiful story. It is a tragic romance many will enjoy, one that will leave you wanting more of Petra March’s wonderful words.

[Fizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a beautiful, tragic story. I always enjoy Petra March's unique writing style. It's happy, and sad both at the same time. Story itself is both happy and sad as well. It's written in a very nostalgic way. Author describes everything, characters, places, feelings, in  such a detailed manner that it will bring the story alive for you. All I can say is that this story made me fall in love with the places I've never even visited, and admire the characters which aren't even real. Although they feel as real as can be.
Mina is a dancer. Her grandmother left her a cottage. She wants to make it her dream to live there and may be someday turn it into a dance school just like her grandmother wished it to be. She wants to live her dream. But some dreams are just not meant to be. She soon finds out that dancing is not in her future and now she must comes to term with her broken body.
Neal is living a nightmare. since his younger brother died his life has not been the same. Once he was an actor, an artist, and now he is trying his best to keep his family and himself from breaking down. So here he is trying to buy the cottage in which his brother stayed before his accident. But Mina, the beautiful owner, does not wish to sell. At least she lets him stay there with her. For now that will have to suffice. Soon the two of them start liking each other. They are such a perfect fit. Mina soothes Neal's demons and he gives her strength to fight hers. But will they be able to overcome the tragedies in their lives? If they want to move forward they must dream another dream, a new story, something they didn't think were possible... but may be, just may be, it will be...
P.S. I received a complimentary copy of this book.

[Michelle Ryles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petra March has such a dreamlike quality to her writing that it's the perfect escapism from our dark and dismal lives (I speak for myself, of course). I was honoured to try my hand at editing and read an early draft of A Different Kind of Lovely but it was clear that the quality of Petra March's writing shone through every single page.

Neal and Mina are broken in different ways, so it is natural that they would be drawn to one another. I loved how Neal referred to Mina as his butterfly, both may appear fragile and beautiful on the outside but they are tougher than you think underneath. What Mina didn't realise at first is how Neal managed to enter her life. It wasn't an accident that he was in that place at the time he met her, although it was a tragic accident that ultimately brought them together. I'm being deliberately vague as to get the most out of these books, you should really read them all in order. The characters are linked in such a way that it's so breathtaking to behold the hand of fate at work.

I was delighted to see some of our favourite characters from the early books and it's like they have grown up in front of our eyes. I welcomed them as I would an old friend and felt as if I was hovering on the outskirts of their midst seeing events unfold.

Heartbreaking, ethereal and dreamlike, A Different Kind of Lovely will awaken your senses and encourage you to hold on to your dreams. The strength shown by Mina's character was both uplifting and courageous and it just shows that a person can appear fragile and breakable on the outside but be so very strong and vigorous underneath, and vice versa of course.

Do read these books in consecutive order to get the most out of them, it will really make a world of difference to understand the characters' history and see their development. Pure escapism with a dreamlike quality, open your heart to Petra March's ethereal writing and her exquisite characters.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Different Kind of Lovely” is a poetic bit of prose, as pleasing in its construction as it is in its story.

Read full review in the 2017 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goes down as another off my 2017 Bookworm Bingo Challenge – A book about dancing or dancers. Another beautifully descriptive novel written by Petra March, one that takes the reader on a journey through a wealth of emotions from start to finish. A little repetitive at times but a good read all the same.

After the death of David everyone connected with him – family and friends alike – have all found it hard to move on passed their grief. All grieve in very different ways but all slowly need to find another/new reason to move forward and not live in the nightmares of the past. Something that Neal is slowly starting to learn after meeting Mina.

Neal is a broken soul of a man still struggling – like the rest of his family – with the sudden death of his brother David years before. His coping mechanism is to just shut down all his emotions, put on a mask and take care of his parents and sister. They call, ask him to do something, and its like he is powerless to refuse them. The latest task his mother sends him on is to purchase the cottage David stayed at before he died. One of the roads that lead to it being the one the accident happened on. A weird way to grieve on the anniversary but its what they do, buy something new to help push away their emotions. He thinks he’s just going to have a look as he thinks they are already selling but he gets a shock when the owner very much says she is not.

Mina is a ballet dancer with a passion to perform and live life to the full with her dream but it all comes crashing down when her body starts to betray her. Neal first spots her in a field dancing. Gliding across the land and through the air like a butterfly caught on the wind, soon to be his Butterfly. She caught his attention and drew him to her swiftly. When he follows her to the cottage and she finds out he wants to buy it it’s a push and pull feeling she has to deal with. He intrigues her so she wants him to stay but at the same time angers her with his intensions to buy her home making her want him to go. Seems their parents were friends once upon a time and hers thought to sell when they asked to buy without letting her know, even though the cottage is hers. Her dream being to build a dance studio out on the land and teach, after she has had a career with her ballet that is.

Seems to be heart and head, or should that be body and mind, are feeling very conflicted about what they are doing. Chemistry is a bit of a slow build between them as they try to get a feel for the other. The cottage and Mina’s memories of David help Neal to start to open up to his own. She knows his pain, can see it clearly in his face as his mask is slowly falling away. The cottage and Neal’s subconscious might hold nightmares to start with but soon they will turn around with the presence of Mina. Just as she can see his pain he can see hers, though hers might be more physical. They need each other to hold onto and build something new from their broken souls but his need to help his family pulls them apart. Can they find their way back to each other to help heal their pain, both physical and mental?

Cameos with Eagan and Brina give the story a rounder depth as it’s showing how others have come through the other side of their grief. Felia, Neal’s sister, needed to find her own way through it, which Neal is slowly figuring out. To move on you have to face the past and until they do that they will be stuck in a dark loop repeating their mistakes. Push past it and they will finally be happy again, just like David would have wanted.

To get a proper feel for the story and how certain characters may show their emotions, or lack their of by keeping them locked up, I would recommend reading the other books in the series. This can be read as a stand-alone but I feel you would benefit from reading the others. Plus they are good anyway, so why not.

I received this ARC from the author for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...

[Michelle Mock · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book.
I felt as if I was reading the musings of a 14 year old girl who wrote the same, with minor variations, of sexual fantasies on each page. There was one point in the book where three pages, in a row the characters had sex in different scenarios. But characters having sex doesn't really bother me, it's just the repetitive nature in which they had it.
The biggest issue I have with the book is there is no development of the characters. There is no expansion of who they are as people. The main characters were written flippantly, and consequently and any supporting characters were written even more flippantly (i.e. one of the main characters sibling comes into the scene, from out of nowhere, there isn't really a proper introduction to her, and then she says (more or less) "be happy" and then jets off). Because of the lack of real story telling behind the characters, and the overall development of a substantive plot line, I was unable to suspend reality. I spent the majority of the time rolling my eyes, or saying aloud "this is unbelievable."
The ending was even worse. I felt that the author either got bored or had nothing else to add so she threw in a cheesy line and, boom, there's the ending. There is no closure, no suspense, no delightful ending in which you could interpret the ending in some way, it's jarring and very unsatisfying.
I would not recommend this book for any reason, unless you just want to read about two people having sex and overly dramatic, rather unnecessary scenes. In that case, it's right up your alley.

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different kind of lovely is a romance fiction novel written about Mina and Neil. Mina is an aspiring dancer and lives in a cottage her grandmother left for her. Her ambition is to turn the cottage into a dance studio. Neil is grieving a terrible loss and wishes to buy Mina’s cottage as the property has sentimental value to him. Mina refuses to sell but allows Neil to stay temporarily as she sees how hurt and depressed he is. As fate has it, Mina’s dream becomes a far-fetched idea and as she has to now come to terms with reality, Neil is there to help her.

This is a beautiful story about love and healing. One’s character’s body is broken and the other, his mind. Both find comfort and relief over their individual ordeals. The author’s style of writing is smooth and very eloquent in unfolding emotions and sentiments. The character development is outstanding. The story is appealing from the start and takes you on this journey of loss, self-discovery, and healing.

I believe the world setting was also done in a superb way. Places, feelings, surroundings, emotions, and everything is written in a way that you can visualize standing there as a third person, watching the story unfold. I think the author has great potential in writing similar style storylines.

I recommend this book to romance and fiction lovers.

[Ruth B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neal is a broken man, after losing his brother nothing has been the same. He arrives at Mina´s home only to meet a sweet, fragile and loving young woman who has her eyes set on dancing. Both of their worlds collide and plans are shattered to create new ones. Mina tries to heal him and wants to be loved. Neal doesn´t want to ruin her but love comes in between and there´s nothing these two can do. However, his family and some cruel revelations will do their best to separate them.

This is a story about love, life and grabbing our destiny with our hands and do what comes best. I have totally forgotten how deeply emotional and draining Petra´s books are. I loved the anguish, the despair and the love itself. I felt all the feelings running through me as I was reading and I ended up emotionally drained. I don´t regret it because it only means the author did an excellent job creating characters and a story that comes to life as you read it, that feels like more than just words on paper (or a reader).

I absolutely loved this book. And just so you know the warning of +18 in the blurb is only because the book has some sex scenes that could be too graphic for young readers.

*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A soul searching love story, about the pain of our pasts, and how it can determine our future. The emotionally damaged man, and the physically injured woman find love again after their own personal tragedies in A Different Kind of Lovely by Petra March.

Mina is a dancer who can’t help but dream about her future in the cottage that her grandmother left her. She wants to turn it into a dance studio, but soon finds out that she won’t be able to dance much longer. Her body, her one instrument, has betrayed her.

Neal’s brother has passed away tragically, and ever since, Neal has felt empty. When he stumbles into Mina’s home. a sanctuary, one that he has seen many times before as a friend of her families, Neal can’t help but realize what a gorgeous and strong woman Mina has turned into.

The two quickly fall for each other, and open their hearts to the possibility of love, again. The love that they have runs deep, and you can feel that as you read this book. This book will wrench your heart, and it won’t let go even after you are done reading it. I found this book compelling at times, and other times it felt slow, but it really was a sweet story, with a great purpose. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, thank you to the author for sending me this book.

[Brianna Remus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review was posted on briannasbookreview.weebly.com

Review: This romantic tragedy had me turning the pages at such a fast pace for many reasons. Petra beautifully crafted each scene with amazing details and descriptions of the settings and characters. It is difficult to artfully provide vivid details without sounding repetitive or verbose, but Petra was able to accomplish it very well. Her ability to create such a well established world kept me engrossed throughout the entire journey. It is novels like these that make me fall in love with the written word all over again. Additionally, the characters were well thought out and relatable in ways that evoked the emotions from me that the characters were experiencing. When I read romance novels, especially now that the market is saturated with erotica and poorly written love stories, I want to feel what the characters are going through. I want to experience the heartbreak and the triumph that love can impact on a person. Again, Petra provided her readers with characters that will conjure emotions from even the most guarded hearts. I highly recommend this novel to those who are looking for a romance that will transport you to the scenes and make you feel a gamut of emotions.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written - no doubt about that! The description and character development are superb. My problem is that I didn't really like the characters, at all! :-( I didn't feel connected to them and I don't feel like they would have been people I would have liked or even known in real life. Now, I know - Fiction! Its not real, but I guess they weren't "my type" I just felt they were... strange lol. And as I was reading I kept saying to myself "You are so weird, can you just act normal for a minute.".

There was some sex in this book but I would say it was more sensual than anything and the author did make it beautiful (it was just too sensual for my liking) to me the sensuality overtook the story-line. Again I kept say "yeah yeah I get it you're attracted to each other" because of all this I found it hard to read for long periods, I got tired of it.

While this was not a bad book by any means and I didn't hate (I just didn't love it)! A lot of people gave it rave reviews. It was beautifully written almost poetic at times and reminded me more of prose. But... I just don't think it was my type of book - at least not at the time.

I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from The Author - Thank You!!

[Cat Imb || The Reading Cat || · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ebook of this novel from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Petra March!

The plot seemed intriguing and the characters layered and complex. This story is about how life isn’t always fair. How it can shatter your dreams in an instant. I think the author paints a vivid portrait of what it’s like to live with a disease, and what it’s like to live with someone who has a disease; the challenges they face, and the obstacles they have to overcome.

I love stories about two broken people who come together and put themselves back together. How amidst their brokenness, they are able to fix each other, and this was what this story was about.

I had high hopes for this book. What threw me off, was the writing style. It was very skillful, don’t get me wrong, but I had trouble connecting to the story. There were a lot of back and forths and repetition in the characters’ thoughts and dialogue. It’s a “statement” like kind of writing, that doesn’t read as flowy as other books I’ve read.

Regardless of this, I’m happy I read this book. It was a refreshing change from what I usually read. Thank you again Petra!

[Christie72 (Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Different Kind of Lovely was a beautiful book filled with magical prose. Neal and Mina are both damaged. Neal is damaged emotionally, and Mina’s body is damaged in a sense. Both have challenges and live a somewhat isolated life until they meet one another. I love when two damaged souls come together to make a beautiful love story, and this one was definitely a beautiful love story.

Neal shows up wanting to buy Mina’s cottage which isn’t for sale. It soon turns into a romance, but as I continued to read, this wasn’t just a romance, but there were secrets embedded within the pages of the book. With each discovery, it will either make Mina’s and Neal’s love stronger or break them.

March is one of those rare writers who has the talent of writing with such detail that you will find yourself there with the characters. Her description of the cottage and Mina’s dancing don’t make for just good reading, but it’s a book you feel!

***Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews***

[Disha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Different Kind of Lovely is the story of Neal and Mina. Theirs is a cliché romance with a tragic plot. Neal wants to buy Mina's cottage, which she refuses to sell. Neal and Mina's parents used to be friends, and because of that, and seeing how desperate he is, Mina allows him to live at her cottage. Neal is the typical tortured hero, and Mina—though she doesn't like him invading her "artistic space"—wants him to heal from his painful past. Mina, too, is broken in her own way and maybe because of this shared trait the two are drawn together. Eventually, the two end up helping and healing each other.
Petra March has a unique writing style. Her characters seem so real-life, you can feel their emotions. I loved Neal and Mina; their story is sensual, heart-breaking, and filled with anguish. I got a review copy of this novel from the author and she did an amazing job. I just loved this story.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am in two minds about this novel and I was throughout.

On one hand I enjoyed the love story between ballerina Mina and grieving Neal, but on the other hand I found their relationship very frustrating. However, I liked the fact that the book really was just centered on those two characters and the way they relate to each other.

The writing was in turns lyrical and clumsy. There is some really lovely imagery, but then clear cases of telling rather than showing at other times. The author clearly has talent, but I feel the book could have done with a bit more proof reading for repetition of certain words and the flow of the narrative.

I found most of the time I did not quite feel invested in Mina and Neal’s story, but then at times I did and I just did not know quite how to feel about this book.

In the end I liked it, but I did not quite end up loving it.

[Reckless Readers · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The road ahead is paved with love and pain, Neal. Cherish the love. Face the Pain."

I am a sucker for ballerina books and A Different Kind of Lovely was packed full of dancing and what ballerinas put their bodies through. Mina is strong and even through a devastating disease & heartbreak she never gave up. Neal is mourning his brother and not handling it well even years later. Together they slowly help to heal each other.

This book felt like reading the diary of Mina & Neal and was choppy in the beginning. Chapter 20 is when the writing seemed to change and the storyline grabs you can you don't want to put the book down because you have to know how Mina and Neal's story ends.

**Reviewed by Christiann**

[Kristin Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Not only was it a beautiful journey between two somewhat strangers brought together. One trying to heal from the past. Keeper of his families happiness so to say. One wanting nothing more than to conquer her dream. Neal and Mina story is one of heartbreak, love and healing. It is beautiful written. The story almost felt like a dance in its self. The way their journey moved, the description of these two attraction was incredible.

My heart ached when their ached, my heart was full when I could feel their healing begin. I loved every emotion this book brought out of me. It was a joy to read. I loved every part of this beautiful story. This is a #MustRead. The beauty with in this book is like no other. Loved this one.