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The Kiss Thief - LJ Shen

1/9/2019

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★ ★ ★ ★ ​½
I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Leigh Shen!

The ANGST! At some points in the story I felt as though my heart would jump out of my chest! Shen is the puppet master to my emotions. She weaves these stories that will take you by surprise and make you want to throw your kindle across the room!

I loved the plot of the novel. The importance the past held, the family ties, the alliances. I love layered and complex situations. The only nick was that the ending felt rushed and not as polished as the rest. It felt as though it tumbled into an HEA. I wanted more of what the rest of the book provided. Hardship and the characters working hard to figure it out. Maybe I’m just mean to the characters *shrugs*.

One thing is undeniable though, LJ Shen’s writing is ART (yes, with capital letters). There are so many beautiful lines, perfectly weaved into context so that they don’t feel like punch lines sprinkled every few pages. She has an unbelievable talent for flowing sentences and the use of literary devices.

I definitely recommend this book! If you’re looking for an angst filled book this is definitely it! 
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Bane - L.J. Shen

5/7/2018

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you L.J. Shen!

I have no words. NO WORDS. God this book killed me and destroyed me in the most beautiful way possible. It gave me all the feels. ALL OF THEM, and I could not put this book down. L.J. Shen is a goddess with words and her readers' hearts. This book will make your heart ache and break, but you will enjoy it.

I cannot even begin to explain how this book affected me. It gave me chills. So much has happened to Jesse, and it blows my mind how strong she is, how she still found it in herself to love and care for people. It chilled me to my core how cunning people are in order to further themselves and to keep up appearances at the expense of someone else.

L.J. Shen wrote this book beautifully. The repetition of the quote really reinforced its meaning. It gave an additional layer to the story, and made it all the more beautiful. L.J. Shen's writing is effortless, flowing and beautiful, just like a wave, yet impacting when crashing at the shore.

There are just so many different aspects and facets to this book to address, but most simmer down to one thing: family. About its importance or lack thereof. About how family is sometimes just a word with no meaning, and that true family is chosen.

Second book I've read by L.J. Shen, and a second home run by this author. She is a master of her craft, and is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.

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Midnight Blue - LJ Shen

1/18/2018

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
​I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you LJ Shen!
 
I have to admit, the rock star romance trope is often used, and often leaves me disappointed; leaves me craving something real, and not superficial. This book, however, was so much more than just a rock star romance. It was a story about addiction, about lies, about love, and about healing.
 
This book popped my LJ Shen cherry. *collective gasp* The first thing that hit me, was her mastery of the English language. Perfectly formed metaphors flowed from page to page in a mellifluous current of words. I was in awe of her poetic side. Her references to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince were a perfect companion to the story. The references happening throughout the book really cemented the importance of this work for the characters, and contributed to the unity to the story.
 
Shen’s characters are complex, layered, and REAL. They don’t plan to fall for each other; their soul purpose is not to simply be together. They are struggling people, with a broken past, trying not to drown. This was not insta-love for the characters or the readers. You willingly succumb to the darkness that is Alex Winslow.
 
I cannot end this review without mentioning the songs. The songs that made my heartbeat quicken without even hearing the melody. The ones that gave me chills, without hearing the voice singing them. The ones I wish existed. Thank you LJ Shen, for your gift to the book world, which is this book.
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