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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Review ~ Remembrance (Transcend Time Saga, #1) by Michelle Mado

New Hampshire high school junior Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she seem to get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, the pair of them soon find that fighting fate isn't going to be easy.(From GoodReads)

My Review

I don't know why, but I always want to start my reviews with a one-word summary of the book. Not easy to do if you just feel "Meh" about the book, or worse, you hated it. But when you really enjoy or are swept away by, it's astonishing how easy it is. My one-word summary for Remembrance is ENCHANTING.

Remembrance swept me up and carried me away on a romantic, exhilarating ride. The ride started with the cover. This cover is just simply beautiful and full of promises. I've seen bloggers get aggravated because people like me talk about covers. And yes, I know "You can't judge a book by it's cover". I am a firm believer that for people, no it's not right. But for books? Oh yes, you can judge a book by it's cover. And the cover for Remembrance is spectacular. In fact, I noticed it a few months before the author asked me to review the book.

Once I began reading Remembrance, the joyful ride continued. Michelle Madow's writing has such an ease about it. I don't know if it's her natural writing style or if it was polished until it shined, but every word, every gesture, every nuance was perfectly placed. That perfection made Remembrance such an easy, enjoyable read.

I learned before reading Remembrance that one of the inspirations was Pride and Prejudice. I love that book, it's without a doubt my favorite from Jane Austen. I enjoyed being able to pick up on the influence while reading and loved the references to P & P from main character, Liz.

Speaking of Liz, I have to say that I loved the characters in Remembrance. Except the ones I didn't, but I'm pretty sure that was the author's intentions. Liz is what you find in a lot of YA heroines. She's bright, brave and reliable. Liz's love interest Drew was sexy, charming (sometimes) and romantic. Because of his actions at the beginning of Remembrance, I was afraid that I wouldn't warm to him. But as the story unfolded, Drew's motivation became clear and understandable.

The main arc of Remembrance is the hidden past/connection between Drew and Liz. The handling of that connection could have gone very wrong and become frustrating. Luckily, Madow handled it just right. As a reader, you know immediately about the bond between the two, but you don't know exactly what it is. The author builds the understanding at a nice pace. She gives Liz, and the reader, enough insight that any possible frustration is held at bay. Bit by bit, the realizations come, leaving you hanging on and wanting more.

Because of the slow reveal, I found Remembrance impossible to put down. Desperate to learn the whole truth, I kept telling myself "One more chapter". But I just couldn't stop. In fact, I stayed up way past my bedtime. Actually, I never went to bed. If you must know, a zombie who somewhat resembles me is typing this review.

Remembrance is the perfect book if you're looking for a girly, swoony (but not over the top) romance. Just be sure you don't start it close to bedtime.
Favorite Quote:

"My feelings for Drew couldn't just disappear. They were ingrained within every fiber of my being, and I needed them just the same as I needed air to breathe."


Paperback, 314 pages
Published July 27th 2011 by Dreamscape Publishing
Find Remembrance at:
Find author Michelle Madow at her website.
* I received a copy of Remembrance from the author, in exchange for an honest review.*

10 comments:

  1. I really want to read this book. (I feel like I have been saying that a lot lately.) It's in my list and I will get to it sometime hopefully. Great review!

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  2. This book sounds fantastic...great review! And how brave you are for coming up with one word summaries for books. I need to try that, I think.

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  3. I know exactly what you mean about covers.. I know you shouldn't judge by them... but in reality, we do.. I am more likely to read a description of a book if the cover is gorgeous. So yay pretty covers!

    I have had my eye on this one for a while.. so excited you liked it. I probably will too!

    btw, that's my fav Jane Austen book too. You and I, we are like little pees in a pod.. a stretched out pod... like stretched a couple states long.. but stretched none the less. :)

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  4. Glad you enjoyed it. I also really liked the characters. Great review!

    Giselle
    Xpresso Reads

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  5. I am glad you enjoyed this book, I am going to be part of a tour for this book in Novemeber. I am really excited to read it, and even more so since it seems to be getting awesome reviews. Great Review!

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  6. Wow! Awesome review, Andrea! I really want to read this one now, and I must have missed putting on my TBR, but I fixed that now. I love Regency era romance and Jane Austen is one of my favorite all-time authors. Sounds like this one will be perfect for me.

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  7. I finished this yesterday and I liked it a lot too! When it got towards the end and you thought you knew why Drew was doing what he was doing and then learned why he REALLY did it - I was so surprised! I didn't expect it at all! Great review! :)

    Liza @ Book Crook Liza

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  8. Wow, that cover really is striking. I think when an author can leak tiny bits of important info slowly throughout the story, it creates the perfect tension. Sounds like she did that here - made this book a real page turner. Great review!

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  9. I'm back, I had to re-read your review... I am thinking of entering her contest and making a little trailer.

    Are there any scenes that you loved the most, not spoilery scenes that maybe you could describe to me via email? Oh, and some physical stats on drew..? Only if you have time.. wont start working on it just yet. I have others to finish.. :) I would like to do it though if I have time.

    Oh, and if you could just head on over to my blog and follow me... cause I need more followers to get free Arcs..that would be just lovely. lol. j/k

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