Hello everyone and happy Saturday!! I was thinking about what to post (well, actually, I knew I had to post this all along) and came to the conclusion that since Nano is over and you probably have plenty of time to spare now (!!! who am I kidding? Who ever has time anyway?) you would be looking for things to READ. Or, if your tbr is falling on you already (isn't everyones?) then you may be looking for something to gift to others for Christmas!! Am I right?? For which reason I decided to bring you a review of Victoria Mink's really really lovely book, Jonas and Olivia! (And no, don't look at me like that, it isn't as if I'm reviewing this now only because I'm four months late, oh no.)
Fourteen-year-old Olivia Wilkerson is left desolate and grieving when her patriot father passes away. Directed by his will to be placed in the care of an old friend, Olivia is forced to venture away from all she’s ever known to make her new life among people who are strangers to her.
Unaware of the new responsibility about to be thrust on him, Jonas Carmichael lives the life of a reclusive in an attempt to ignore the painful memories of the past. His heart has grown hard and bitter over the past thirty years of solitude, and his hatred towards people has only multiplied.
Suddenly burdened with Olivia, Jonas’s only burning desire is to shove the girl off on somebody else. But Olivia, still suffering from her loss, is only looking for someone to love her as her father did--and soon realizes that there is more to Jonas than meets the eye.
With the Revolutionary War pressing closer around Jonas’s secluded bubble of safety and threatening to burst it at any moment, Jonas discovers that there are choices to be made--choices that will not only affect himself but those around him as well.
+ OLIVIA. Maybe she could be considered as too "good" by some, but hey -- I LOVE GOOD CHARACTERS. Of course I adore the mischievous, messy, broken ones too -- but I have a special place in my heart for the good ones because when I was younger and read books about mischievous characters I often felt that I didn't get into mishaps often enough lol
+ ISHMAEL. <333 My favorite person by far! The brother/sister relationship that developed was so sweet here and he's just plain awesome! Even though he cannot speak, his honesty, kindness, and good heart just speaks so loudly <3
+ THE OTHER FOLKS. I liked all of them with their quirks and little idiosyncrasies. Hehe -- the Fraisers though *shakes head* amusingly problematic people.
+ THE HISTORICAL SETTING. So at first I was a tad confused as to exactly when this was taking place but I quickly put the pieces together. I could pretty much see everything -- all the historical details -- in my minds eye, so kudos for that!!
+ SO I WAS NEVER BORED? Surprisingly? Because this tale lacked action and fast paced adventure. BUT I GUESS THE CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS AND CONFLICTS KEPT ME SUPER ENGAGED. So huge applause for pulling that off!
+ THE ENDING. It was such an open ending!! an while I actually love open endings, it doesn't mean I don't want more! Like I think this book needs a sequel *nods*
+ DEVELOPMENT. Wow. Huge plus was the amount of character development they all go through! They really learn and change. Jonas's was the biggest, and Olivia acts like the "foli". Ishmael is such a darling <3
+ IT'S REMINISCENT OF HEIDI. I love Heidi (by Johanna Spyri), and this one just brought back all the memories of Peter, and Clara, and her Uncle <3 so if you want to read a book with a touch of Heidi and Scrooge (from A Christmas Carol) this is one for you!!
- NOT MUCH ACTION? Like I said before, if you are a lover of thrillers and fast paced novel ... this might be slow for you *shrug*
- I FELT LIKE THE WAR COULD HAVE PLAYED A BIGGER ROLE? So it's set during the American war for independence and I feel like it could have affected the characters more or it really could have been used for action/conflict/climax ... but it wasn't. Which is perfectly okay! But there could be a sequel which includes it? Maybe? Please?
CONCLUSION. I really really liked this book and I highly recommend it for historical fiction readers -- and just all of you who want a sweet touching story to read! It's basically perfect for Christmas and December!
NOTE: It's completely clean, so there's a plus :D
*MANY THANKS TO VICTORIA MINKS FOR THE EBOOK REVIEW COPY*
A THOUGHT WHILE WE ARE STILL AT IT -- Abigayle Claire is releasing her amazing little novella in paperback TODAY! So go check out Andora's Folly! And if you can't remember what it's about, then check out my post about it here! It would make a great Christmas present too you know *hint-hint* :D
how's the weather at your place?
any snow?
have you read Jonas and Olivia?
also, send me your best Christmas music recommendations!!
OOOHHH *sticks on TBR list* This book sounds like a lot of fun to read!!
ReplyDeleteIt's finally starting to snow here. Yahoo!!
Catherine
catherinesrebellingmuse.blogspot.com
IT REALLY WAS *nods vigorously*
DeleteHurray for you! *throws handfuls of snow in the air*
This looks so adorable! I just might have to get it at some point.
ReplyDeleteIT IS ADORABLE <333 You won't regret getting it ;)
DeleteSo it's snowing here in the Netherlands while I'm reading you blog and the combination of this book and snow sounds perfect to me. Probably because I associate historical fiction with Christmas and snow :)
ReplyDeletex Envy
Lost in Translation
How nice that it's snowing there (also it is so cool you live in the Netherlands :D)!! I'm glad you this gives you the right "mood" haha I don't think there's actual Christmas mentioned in the book, but the theme really fits with it ^.^
DeleteWe have snow, but not lots. Sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteWe have no snow ... at least not yet ... YEP IT WAS A GREAT BOOK :P
DeleteGreat post! I live in Brazil so we're going into summer now! hahahah
ReplyDeleteThanks!! Riiight I was just learning about that in school xD it's funny how I always think that while most of the world is having winter and snow you in the south are having the seasons upside down ... but then I realized that "you down south" are basically half of the world ... so 50% lol XD
DeleteOy, this book sounds awesome!! (And clean, too? Super bonus!!) This might just have to go on my TBR for 2018!
ReplyDeleteHaha yes! (Ikr?)
DeleteYEAH PUT IT ON YOUR TBR!!
YAS ANDORA'S FOLLY I NEED THAT BOOK. *cries*
ReplyDeleteChristmas recommendations:
-Mary Did You Know / Pentatonix
-Carol of The Bells / Pentatonix
-Joy To The World / Pentatonix
-Breath of Heaven / Amy Grant
-I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day / Casting Crowns
-Christmas Shoes / Newsong
-I Saw Three Ships / The Piano Guys
-Flicker / The Piano Guys (THIS SONG!!! *heart clutch*)
YOU BETTER GRAB ANDORA'S FOLLY ASAP IT WAS REALLY AWESOME!!
Deleteahhh thanks so much *runs off to add them all on Spotify*
I KNOW I NEED IT SO BADLY ESPECIALLY NOW THAT IT'S AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK. *screams and runs around*
DeleteYas, go listen to allll the Christmas songs. Or y'know, TØP works too.
It sounds like a nice story! Honestly, the point where you compared it to Heidi did the convincing for me - I have fond memories of that book. And I appreciate your thorough reviewing style too! It's good. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you think so after reading my review!! Same for me -- I've known Heidi for as long as I can remember ... it was read to me when I was really small ^-^ Ahh thank you so much. People have told me I review books well, but I always thought it was just me throwing a bunch of spontaneous thoughts together XD
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