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Rosie
In life, nothing is the same as it seems. People create masks –identities – to hide who they really are –some for noble reasons, or nefarious ones, but only a tiny fraction because they must.
Alessandra and Damien, or Rosalie and Daniel, were once the Princess and Prince of La Pacifica until they were forced out of the beautiful island. Eight months flew by, and they finally began to settle in Alexandria, Egypt, when they found out that they didn’t leave their past behind them, and that they were both wanted urgently.
Dead.
Alessandra and Damien, or Rosalie and Daniel, were once the Princess and Prince of La Pacifica until they were forced out of the beautiful island. Eight months flew by, and they finally began to settle in Alexandria, Egypt, when they found out that they didn’t leave their past behind them, and that they were both wanted urgently.
Dead.
- GenresYoung Adult
164 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2011
395 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 30, 2011
3.5/5
www.booksforcompany.com
Quick note, they use two names in this book (explained in blurb) l am going by their pretend names as they are called that most of the time.
I really didn't know what to expect when l started Rosie. I knew it was only a small book (around 100 l believe?) so the only thing l was expecting was for it to be fast paced.
At the beginning of the book l was confused and have to admit it wasn't the only time in the book. How Daniel was explaining things (from his POV) was sometimes confusing, for example at the beginning l didn't understand whether they had already moved to a new place or were going too. Once l realised that they had already move l was able to get into the book and enjoy Daniel's company.
Daniel was definitely my favourite character in this book and such a sweet brother, l would love him as mine! He is also a very genuine person which made me feel very sorry for him at quite a few points.
Rosalie is a bit of a pain at some points but l like how Daniel deals with her and forgives her due to their loss which helped me not to get annoyed her. Although l definitely liked Daniel more and reading things from his POV the chapters from Rosalie POV made this book more of a page turner as l could see into her mind and see her thoughts as well as Daniels on certain things.
There is random/mystery chapters in places in this book and l wish there was some sort of line to separate it from Daniel and Rosalie's POV or some sort of title to stop confusion. Aside from the confusion l did enjoy the chapters as it added to the mystery of the book and let things build up right until the end.
Towards the end this book got really good although, sadly, everything did feel a bit rushed. I felt Mariam should have probably made the ending at least a few more pages longer to explain things in more depth so it was more understandable and not too much to take in at once. The twists in this book definitely made the mystery chapters throughout the book make more sense and also was a great twist!
Overall
Rosie is a great quick read which will take you on a journey with a sister and brother who are struggling to come to terms with a big loss and are fighting to keep each other.
Mariam is definitely an author to watch out for in the future, if this is her first short story book l can only imagine the sort of great stories she will bring out.
www.booksforcompany.com
Quick note, they use two names in this book (explained in blurb) l am going by their pretend names as they are called that most of the time.
I really didn't know what to expect when l started Rosie. I knew it was only a small book (around 100 l believe?) so the only thing l was expecting was for it to be fast paced.
At the beginning of the book l was confused and have to admit it wasn't the only time in the book. How Daniel was explaining things (from his POV) was sometimes confusing, for example at the beginning l didn't understand whether they had already moved to a new place or were going too. Once l realised that they had already move l was able to get into the book and enjoy Daniel's company.
Daniel was definitely my favourite character in this book and such a sweet brother, l would love him as mine! He is also a very genuine person which made me feel very sorry for him at quite a few points.
Rosalie is a bit of a pain at some points but l like how Daniel deals with her and forgives her due to their loss which helped me not to get annoyed her. Although l definitely liked Daniel more and reading things from his POV the chapters from Rosalie POV made this book more of a page turner as l could see into her mind and see her thoughts as well as Daniels on certain things.
There is random/mystery chapters in places in this book and l wish there was some sort of line to separate it from Daniel and Rosalie's POV or some sort of title to stop confusion. Aside from the confusion l did enjoy the chapters as it added to the mystery of the book and let things build up right until the end.
Towards the end this book got really good although, sadly, everything did feel a bit rushed. I felt Mariam should have probably made the ending at least a few more pages longer to explain things in more depth so it was more understandable and not too much to take in at once. The twists in this book definitely made the mystery chapters throughout the book make more sense and also was a great twist!
Overall
Rosie is a great quick read which will take you on a journey with a sister and brother who are struggling to come to terms with a big loss and are fighting to keep each other.
Mariam is definitely an author to watch out for in the future, if this is her first short story book l can only imagine the sort of great stories she will bring out.
Read
June 5, 2011Title Thoughts: I think it's an okay title that pretty much fits.
Cover Thoughts: I like it. It's pretty with it's colors, although it doesn't really have anything to do with the book.
WARNINGS: None
Let's start off on a positive note. This book defintely has adventure, danger, and the love of two siblings. I have to say that I kind of love Damien. He's so concerned about his sister, her health, and her safety. He's very protective of her and it was sweet to watch. Rosie had two sides to her. The emotionally unstable side where she would zone out and hardly speak and the bright, lively girl which is who she was with her new friends.
I was pleasantly surprised at the complete twist at the end. I was able to be as shocked as the characters. The ending, though, seemed rushed to me. A lot of stuff was packed into the ending so all loose ends could be tied.
I only wish I could connect and relate to the characters more. The best I could was with Damien. I definitely feel the same protective nature with my nephews (more so than my older siblings) as he did with Rosie. Possibly because we are the older ones. Other than that, the characters were pleasant enough. The writing was, for the most part easy to follow.
One thing I do want to mention that threw me off at first was that in the beginning it was in third person. Then it switched to first with the "evil person" without a warning. Then it switched to Damien or Rosie and it took me a second to realize that their bold name meant it was switching. At first, it just seemed to be a part of the flow.
Addict's Last Words: Rosie is a book full of adventure and twists.
To Buy or To Borrow: This is a toss up for me. Although, if you do buy it, do know that there are maybe 3-5 typos.
Available on Amazon.
Disclosure: I am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Cover Thoughts: I like it. It's pretty with it's colors, although it doesn't really have anything to do with the book.
WARNINGS: None
Let's start off on a positive note. This book defintely has adventure, danger, and the love of two siblings. I have to say that I kind of love Damien. He's so concerned about his sister, her health, and her safety. He's very protective of her and it was sweet to watch. Rosie had two sides to her. The emotionally unstable side where she would zone out and hardly speak and the bright, lively girl which is who she was with her new friends.
I was pleasantly surprised at the complete twist at the end. I was able to be as shocked as the characters. The ending, though, seemed rushed to me. A lot of stuff was packed into the ending so all loose ends could be tied.
I only wish I could connect and relate to the characters more. The best I could was with Damien. I definitely feel the same protective nature with my nephews (more so than my older siblings) as he did with Rosie. Possibly because we are the older ones. Other than that, the characters were pleasant enough. The writing was, for the most part easy to follow.
One thing I do want to mention that threw me off at first was that in the beginning it was in third person. Then it switched to first with the "evil person" without a warning. Then it switched to Damien or Rosie and it took me a second to realize that their bold name meant it was switching. At first, it just seemed to be a part of the flow.
Addict's Last Words: Rosie is a book full of adventure and twists.
To Buy or To Borrow: This is a toss up for me. Although, if you do buy it, do know that there are maybe 3-5 typos.
Available on Amazon.
Disclosure: I am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
March 9, 2015
I have been talking to Mariam for quite a while and she is such a sweetheart! I am so thankful that I met her through blogging. So when Mariam asked if I would review her debut book, Rosie, I was absolutely thrilled to read it!
One of my favorite aspects about this book is that it takes place in Egypt. So many times while reading I was transported into the city of Alexandria with Alessandra and Dam. Mariam's descriptions of the surroundings are amazing and really helped me visualize what the characters were going through.
I loved that the story was told from both Alessandra and Dam's perspective. It was a great experience getting to live inside the head of a protective older brother and see all of his worries about keeping Alessandra safe. Dam was definitely my favorite character, he would do absolutely anything to keep his younger sister alive and happy, which is just so admirable.
I had a little trouble liking Alessandra during some parts of the story. I think this was mainly because I was able to see into Dam's head and she obviously could not. Sometimes I wished she would have understood that her brother just wanted what's best for her and wasn't trying to be a total buzz kill. As the story progressed I grew to understand Alessandra more and really saw how much she struggled with her parents' recent death.
The storyline of Rosie is totally unique. I've never read a book about a runaway teen Prince and Princess that have to leave everything they've ever known to try to survive. All the supporting characters that helped (or tried to harm them) throughout the book were awesome additions to the story as well.
As for the ending... holy cow! I didn't not see that coming, I was shocked to say the least! It had a great build up and left all my questions about the characters answered. It was fabulous.
Characters: 4/5
Creativity: 5/5
Voice: 3/5
Plot: 5/5
Impact: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Mariam is an amazingly talented writing who can produce flawless descriptions and lovable characters. Rosie was a super quick read that had me wanting to take the next flight to Egypt. I can't wait to read more from Mariam in the future.
One of my favorite aspects about this book is that it takes place in Egypt. So many times while reading I was transported into the city of Alexandria with Alessandra and Dam. Mariam's descriptions of the surroundings are amazing and really helped me visualize what the characters were going through.
I loved that the story was told from both Alessandra and Dam's perspective. It was a great experience getting to live inside the head of a protective older brother and see all of his worries about keeping Alessandra safe. Dam was definitely my favorite character, he would do absolutely anything to keep his younger sister alive and happy, which is just so admirable.
I had a little trouble liking Alessandra during some parts of the story. I think this was mainly because I was able to see into Dam's head and she obviously could not. Sometimes I wished she would have understood that her brother just wanted what's best for her and wasn't trying to be a total buzz kill. As the story progressed I grew to understand Alessandra more and really saw how much she struggled with her parents' recent death.
The storyline of Rosie is totally unique. I've never read a book about a runaway teen Prince and Princess that have to leave everything they've ever known to try to survive. All the supporting characters that helped (or tried to harm them) throughout the book were awesome additions to the story as well.
As for the ending... holy cow! I didn't not see that coming, I was shocked to say the least! It had a great build up and left all my questions about the characters answered. It was fabulous.
Characters: 4/5
Creativity: 5/5
Voice: 3/5
Plot: 5/5
Impact: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Mariam is an amazingly talented writing who can produce flawless descriptions and lovable characters. Rosie was a super quick read that had me wanting to take the next flight to Egypt. I can't wait to read more from Mariam in the future.
April 29, 2011
Read the review at iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books.
**Actually 3.5 stars.
I love princesses. When I was younger, I didn't go parading around wearing a crown and ridiculous high heels. I read about real life princesses, ranging from Victoria to some lesser-known ones. Anything about royalty, just say the word, and I'll (probably) read it. So, when Mariam asked for a review, I gladly accepted.
I loved how the beginning of each chapter gave you a little insight into the antagonist's mind. Ingenious, really. Most books, if they even have parts from the POV of the bad guy, only have one or two (at least, from what I've read). But in this book, his story ran parallel with Sandra and Dam's. Only, his identity was never revealed until the very end, which made it even more mysterious. I kept trying to guess who the bad guy was throughout the novel, but I couldn't figure it out! Maybe I'm just stupid, but Mariam really kept the story interesting and suspenseful.
I really liked the relationship between the two siblings. It's always great to see a protective older brother. I sometimes felt like Sandra was a little... distant, and not as likable as Damien, but I suppose if you understood what she was going through, then it's okay. In the end, everything is tied up nicely, and it leaves you feeling complete, if not a little teary.
Mariam Maarouf is a wonderful debut author, and I see extreme potential in her. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
**Actually 3.5 stars.
I love princesses. When I was younger, I didn't go parading around wearing a crown and ridiculous high heels. I read about real life princesses, ranging from Victoria to some lesser-known ones. Anything about royalty, just say the word, and I'll (probably) read it. So, when Mariam asked for a review, I gladly accepted.
I loved how the beginning of each chapter gave you a little insight into the antagonist's mind. Ingenious, really. Most books, if they even have parts from the POV of the bad guy, only have one or two (at least, from what I've read). But in this book, his story ran parallel with Sandra and Dam's. Only, his identity was never revealed until the very end, which made it even more mysterious. I kept trying to guess who the bad guy was throughout the novel, but I couldn't figure it out! Maybe I'm just stupid, but Mariam really kept the story interesting and suspenseful.
I really liked the relationship between the two siblings. It's always great to see a protective older brother. I sometimes felt like Sandra was a little... distant, and not as likable as Damien, but I suppose if you understood what she was going through, then it's okay. In the end, everything is tied up nicely, and it leaves you feeling complete, if not a little teary.
Mariam Maarouf is a wonderful debut author, and I see extreme potential in her. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
June 17, 2011
First time, i hear about the book was from a re-create cover contest, which i actually won (thanks Miss
Maarouf!), so you see one more reason for me, than the summary of the book to be excited.
The book was surprisingly small. And that's was also one of the negatives. Everything happened
extremely fast for me. The scenes and the characters could be more developed, with more depth. I felt
like they didn't really have life in them and it was more some roles they had to play. The story also
reminded me of the movie, Princess Program Protection (a Disney one with Gomez and Lovato). It had
the same concept, with the prince and princess hiding,etc.
Now there was also another thing that annoyed me a little, at the start of the book. I think it was about
the Prologue and 1-2 more chapters. Maybe it was problem of the ebook. Anyway, the character POV
changed without a note before or something. There was no "Alessandra" or "Damien" title before the
change or either a decent space between the paragraphs. As a result, i had to re-read part to understand
to which characters they belong. After some point though, titles or * started to appear.
Overall, i can't say i didn't enjoy it.. It managed to get me over the "negatives" and keep my interest at
a normal level.
Maarouf!), so you see one more reason for me, than the summary of the book to be excited.
The book was surprisingly small. And that's was also one of the negatives. Everything happened
extremely fast for me. The scenes and the characters could be more developed, with more depth. I felt
like they didn't really have life in them and it was more some roles they had to play. The story also
reminded me of the movie, Princess Program Protection (a Disney one with Gomez and Lovato). It had
the same concept, with the prince and princess hiding,etc.
Now there was also another thing that annoyed me a little, at the start of the book. I think it was about
the Prologue and 1-2 more chapters. Maybe it was problem of the ebook. Anyway, the character POV
changed without a note before or something. There was no "Alessandra" or "Damien" title before the
change or either a decent space between the paragraphs. As a result, i had to re-read part to understand
to which characters they belong. After some point though, titles or * started to appear.
Overall, i can't say i didn't enjoy it.. It managed to get me over the "negatives" and keep my interest at
a normal level.
May 20, 2011
First time, i hear about the book was from a re-create cover contest, which i actually won (thanks Miss
Maarouf!), so you see one more reason for me, than the summary of the book to be excited.
The book was surprisingly small. And that's was also one of the negatives. Everything happened
extremely fast for me. The scenes and the characters could be more developed, with more depth. I felt
like they didn't really have life in them and it was more some roles they had to play. The story also
reminded me of the movie, Princess Program Protection (a Disney one with Gomez and Lovato). It had
the same concept, with the prince and princess hiding,etc.
Now there was also another thing that annoyed me a little, at the start of the book. I think it was about
the Prologue and 1-2 more chapters. Maybe it was problem of the ebook. Anyway, the character POV
changed without a note before or something. There was no "Alessandra" or "Damien" title before the
change or either a decent space between the paragraphs. As a result, i had to re-read part to understand
to which characters they belong. After some point though, titles or * started to appear.
Overall, i can't say i didn't enjoy it.. It managed to get me over the "negatives" and keep my interest at
a normal level.
Maarouf!), so you see one more reason for me, than the summary of the book to be excited.
The book was surprisingly small. And that's was also one of the negatives. Everything happened
extremely fast for me. The scenes and the characters could be more developed, with more depth. I felt
like they didn't really have life in them and it was more some roles they had to play. The story also
reminded me of the movie, Princess Program Protection (a Disney one with Gomez and Lovato). It had
the same concept, with the prince and princess hiding,etc.
Now there was also another thing that annoyed me a little, at the start of the book. I think it was about
the Prologue and 1-2 more chapters. Maybe it was problem of the ebook. Anyway, the character POV
changed without a note before or something. There was no "Alessandra" or "Damien" title before the
change or either a decent space between the paragraphs. As a result, i had to re-read part to understand
to which characters they belong. After some point though, titles or * started to appear.
Overall, i can't say i didn't enjoy it.. It managed to get me over the "negatives" and keep my interest at
a normal level.
June 11, 2011
Rosie is an extremely fast read. It is only about 100 pages long. Maybe the story is a little too fast, but then again, this story was written by a 17 year old, in which case, this YA novella is really great.
The story is told from Damien, Alessandra and the villians' point of views. At times that makes things a little chaotic, but it also lets you get into the heads of each character better than if the story had been told in the first person and only one character. The only problem I had with the story was that their wasn't a good backstory tying it together. The readers don't get to understand much of what happened before the story was taking place until the final pages.
The characters though were intriguing. Damien/Daniel was the most likable. He was a very protective brother. Rosie/Alessandra was a bit more spoiled, and she was harder to like. At times I found her to be a bit whiny. I know she went through a lot, but it didn't make it any easier to like her.
For the length of the story, it was well paced and it definitely kept my attention. It is a good first effort, and it will be interesting to see how Mariam grows as an author.
The story is told from Damien, Alessandra and the villians' point of views. At times that makes things a little chaotic, but it also lets you get into the heads of each character better than if the story had been told in the first person and only one character. The only problem I had with the story was that their wasn't a good backstory tying it together. The readers don't get to understand much of what happened before the story was taking place until the final pages.
The characters though were intriguing. Damien/Daniel was the most likable. He was a very protective brother. Rosie/Alessandra was a bit more spoiled, and she was harder to like. At times I found her to be a bit whiny. I know she went through a lot, but it didn't make it any easier to like her.
For the length of the story, it was well paced and it definitely kept my attention. It is a good first effort, and it will be interesting to see how Mariam grows as an author.
Read
April 10, 2011Rosie is a very entertaining thriller. While reading, you dent sense the time passing by. Mariam did a great job, giving the reader every minor detail to visualize the story. While reading, it was like watching a movie. Suspense and curiosity overcomes you when a quote comes by, leaving you wonder what it meant before the action really happens. She also did a great job jumping from head to head. And pictured the amazing bond between brothers and sisters perfectly! I felt every feeling the character’s felt, hate, love, curiosity, the urge to keep your beloved safe.
Simply, Rosie is very addicting and amazing. A book that I highly recommend reading.
Simply, Rosie is very addicting and amazing. A book that I highly recommend reading.
September 26, 2012
Nice read. I enjoyed it. however, it starts extremely slow then suddenly it is really fast then The end.
i feel like i needed more... like why he would betray them (not trying to spoil it so i won't say who HE is ) and how ? i came out from this book very confused.
I just had a few comments on it but i enjoyed it. the bond between the 2 siblings and the fact that the events take place in my home town just thrills me
i feel like i needed more... like why he would betray them (not trying to spoil it so i won't say who HE is ) and how ? i came out from this book very confused.
I just had a few comments on it but i enjoyed it. the bond between the 2 siblings and the fact that the events take place in my home town just thrills me
October 4, 2011
A great, thrilling read that keeps the heart pounding. (Uh not that most books stop the pounding, that would be bad. Reading would be very dangerous in that case...). Go here for my full review: http://epicbooknerd.blogspot.com/2011...
Want to read
July 8, 2010Looks promising. Looking forward to reading modern literature from a local author.
May 10, 2011
Read my review here:
http://ecered.tumblr.com/post/5367972...
http://ecered.tumblr.com/post/5367972...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews