The Breakaway by Michelle Davidson Argyle

~Spoiler Alert~

Do not read if you do not want to know how the book ends!

"The word normal had never described her, even now. All she had done for the last month was sleep, eat, and read. She obeyed every order. She was their perfect puppet. Her mind was in a rut like a song stuck on repeat. She was getting so sick of it she wanted to curl up and die. Had she felt like this her entire life, or did she only notice now because the situation was more intimate?" -- The Breakaway

Naomi Jensen is kidnapped and held captive, yet her captors are likable characters and start to treat her as if she were family. How do you react to that when all you've known your whole life revolves around parents who care more about their careers than their daughter? Naomi is torn between how she should feel and react in this situation. She even falls in love with one of her captors, Jesse, but is this just a residual effect of Stockholm Syndrome? Well you must read this book to decide for yourself.

As for me, I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down, but of course had to as I have a 10 month old daughter and got distracted constantly! If I had had the chance this book would have been read in one sitting. It had a way of captivating me, Michelle's writing flows and is so lyrical and descriptive that I literally felt a part of the book.

Naomi's character was one that I hated and loved all at the same time...yet I understood how she reacted to being kidnapped. She felt weak and helpless and that she wasn't a brave person at all, but really who would be in that situation? I even found myself liking her captors right down to the end of the book, and was sad when they were caught. Yet, technically I shouldn't have felt that way, who wants a kidnapper to go free? Or better yet, who wants the kidnapper and kidnappee to fall in love? I did! I wanted her to stay with them. I loved this line in the book and perfectly describes how Naomi felt once free..."Jesse was right. She was free now, but what was freedom without happiness?"

I loved that Michelle combined kidnapping, cooking, good food, classic literature, suspense, drama, and romance in this novel. At times I almost could smell the food they were cooking and eating in the book. It read more like poetry and I loved that!

A great young adult book that I would highly recommend for high school students and even adults!

The Breakaway by Michelle Davidson Argyle

So excited for this book to come out! Check it out and Michelle is doing a giveaway right now on her blog: http://theinnocentflower.blogspot.com/2012/03/breakaway-giveaway.html

ebook SALE for author Michelle Davidson Argyle

Author, Michelle Davidson Argyle's eBooks are all selling for $0.99 for the entire month of December. Go check out this great sale & purchase one or all of her books for your e-readers!

Go to this link for more information on how to purchase! :)  http://theinnocentflower.blogspot.com/2011/12/get-all-my-books-for-99-cents-during.html

Monarch by Michelle Davidson Argyle

My friend's book was just published and is available to purchase!!! Go to this LINK and purchase from any of these online retailers! I ordered my own autographed copy. I am so excited to receive it and read it! I will be reviewing it here, so make sure to check back!

I reviewed her self published book below, Cinders (click here to read the review) which will now be published as an omnibus (3 novella's in one titled Bonded) through the same publisher who is publishing Monarch. Looking forward to when that is published in 2013! Check out the information about Bonded by clicking here.

I love her writing and so proud of her and her amazing accomplishments as an author! You're the best Michelle, CONGRATS!!

Review of Cinders by Michelle Davidson Argyle

If anyone knows me they know that I love reading fantasy novels! So when my friend self-published her book, a re-telling of Cinderella…I was excited to get my hands on it. In many ways I wasn’t quite sure what to expect and to be honest it wasn’t what I thought it would be like at all. The novel itself has hints of mystery, murder,, romance, and magic all rolled into one. It is a powerful story; well written and with very detailed and intricate descriptions. The story takes quite a dark approach to the fairy tale of Cinderella…which is something that I was not expecting. This story was more of a mature and adult re-telling of the tale. I liked the different take on the fairy tale, and especially since the plot focuses on the storyline after Cinderella has married the prince. I was expecting a light, magical, and happy story written more for young adults. I do think a lot of mature high schoolers out there though would love this book.

The characters are well rounded and I felt connected to them and understood them by the end of the book. Not only was the story full of magic, but the writing was magical as well! The storyline hooked me in and held my interest until the end…I absolutely loved it. I would tell more about it, but I don’t want to give any of it away. I truly did feel that the story came full circle by the end and answered all my questions. The story portrays a more realistic view of life. I think we get caught up in having every book we read and movie we see end with everything solved. Life is never like that. I enjoyed Cinders because of its fresh new angle on an old fairy tale.

This isn’t your usual happy fairy tale; it is a dark, mysterious, and captivating read and I would highly recommend it. I am not just saying this either because I "know" the author! I am a huge fantasy fan and love different takes and re-telling of fairy tales! One of the main reasons I wanted to read the book was because I knew it was a genre I love.

If you are interested in getting a copy, link to Michelle’s website, she is even selling and shipping autographed copies as well. You can also read more about Michelle and read excerpts from Cinders as well as her other literary works.

Click here to check out her website: http://www.michelledavidsonargyle.com/
Click here to purchase Cinders

Blog Book Tour - Michelle Davidson Argyle

My friend Michelle just self-published a novella! I just received my copy and have just started to read it. She is offering some great prizes for individuals who help advertise her book blog tour (September 19-25). Anyone can advertise, as long as it is visible on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog, and leave a comment on her website (or email her) regarding where you posted. I am truly looking forward to finishing the book and when I do I will be reviewing the book here. Check out her site to see the prizes and all the information for the blogs hosting her during her blog tour. You can also link on her website to where you can purchase the novella. (link below)

Michelle Davidson Argyle "Cinders" Book Blog Tour

"Cinders" Book Trailer by Michelle Davidson Argyle

My good friend is self-publishing her book. Check out her book trailer! I am so looking forward to reading this. Her friend made the dress and Michelle did the photography...she is a wonderful photographer too! Check back here for my review of the book once I read it!!