Friday, July 4, 2014

Review: Magnolia by Kristi Cook

Title: Magnolia
Author: Kristi Cook
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Simon & Schuster (August 5, 2014)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: 4 Stars!

Book Description:
In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.








en·dear·ing
enˈdi(ə)riNG/
adjective
1. inspiring love or affection.




That one word pretty much sums up my feelings for this read. It was so heart warming, fun, magical, charming and lovable that I really shouldn't have to say more, but I will. 

This is my first book by Cook and I am so very glad that I have more of her books to read just sitting in my TBR pile because I loved her writing and her characters so much so that I had a big smile on my face for the rest of the day after finishing Magnolia.

I have said this before but I really do live for these feel good stories. They can make a bad day good, a good day better and just uplift you and make you want to see the whole world through rose colored glasses. A bit dramatic of me? Yeah, okay maybe but you still get the point. I loved these reads. They make reading for me worth while and make me remember why I love to read in the first place.

If you love this genre, this is one read you are going to want to pick up and trust me on this one, you will devour it in one sitting. You won't be able to get enough of Jemma and Ryder's story. These not so star crossed lovers bound to be with one another (if their parents have any say about the matter) will make you laugh, make you smile, and warm your heart.

They loathe each other, they can't stand each other, and yet, and yet, they love each other too. These are the kind of reads that are believable to me, after all, isn't there such a very fine line between love and hate?





*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

28 comments:

  1. I love a good feel good story too. happy you liked this one. So far I have seen up and down reviews for this one.

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  2. I LOVE THIS REVIEW! I have this book waiting to be read and you have totally convinced me that I need to pick it up AS SOON AS! It sounds like such a happy read, like it could totally pull me from my slump.

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    1. Oh I really hope so! It was such a cute read.

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  3. Hehe I love that you quoted a word definition in your review. It sums up your thoughts perfectly! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and happy 4th of July!

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  4. YES. You sum up my feels for this book exactly. I know there are more intricacies to consider but when I think about this story, all I can conjure up are words along the line of "more why no more? please please so fantastic i need moarmoarmoar amour"- which is why I haven't reviewed it yet. XD

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    1. Heehee, it was cute and I was sad to see it end.

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  5. I'm all about the feel-good stories! This sounds like the perfect summer read!

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  6. Ahh i hadnt heard of this one but its seems like such a good summer booka nd i'm all about feel good books so i'm adding this to my TBR pile! Glad you enjoyed :)

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  7. Totally new to me, and I love the cover. Sometimes these feel good romances are just what I crave after an intense read. So glad you loved it! Have a wonderful 4th Ali!

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  8. I love feel good stories too. I'm glad that you liked this one so much! Thank you for your beautiful review.

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  9. This is the second glowing review that I've seen of Magnolia. I hadn't heard much about it before but between both reviews, I definitely want to give it a try.

    Aly @ My Heart Hearts Books

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  10. I love it when a book does that to me!!! This sounds so cute, and I love the cover :)

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  11. I love books that are so endearing and that leaves you with a smile on your face! I love YA Contemporaries too! I haven't heard of this one before, but now I definitely want to read it!

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  12. I have the ARC of this one and have been looking forward to reading it. I'm so glad you enjoyed it because then it shouldn't be a waste of my reading time with so many books to read. Thanks for the review!

    Tressa @ Wishful Endings

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    1. I hope you end up really liking it as well Tressa!

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  13. This sounds like a great feel good summer read :) I love it

    Great review!

    Michelle @ Book Briefs

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  14. Ooh I love feel good stories like this that you can devour in one sitting. Perfect for the beach! :-) Sorry I'm comment bombing you all at once but I have been on vacation. :D Lovely review, I'll have to try this!

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    1. No problem Lauren and you are right, perfect for the beach!

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  15. Great review. This sounds like the kind of book I really enjoy.

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    1. Thanks Ellen, I think you would like this one.

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