Author: Leigh Talbert Moore

Review: The Truth about Letting Go by Leigh T. Moore

Posted February 26, 2013 by Rowena in Reviews | 2 Comments

Review: The Truth about Letting Go by Leigh T. MooreReviewer: Rowena
The Truth About Letting Go (The Truth, #2) by Leigh Talbert Moore
Series: The Truth #2
Also in this series: The Truth About Faking (The Truth, #1)
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: February 21st 2013
Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 276
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing and played it safe until her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly.

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. Then she meets Jordan. He has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, and he's a great kisser. But he's also safe.

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.

This is the third book by Leigh T. Moore that I’ve read and I’m pretty stoked to say that she keeps getting better and better with each read.  I am definitely a fan of her work.  This book is about Ashley Lockett’s journey to coming to terms with her father’s death.  Her father died of cancer and she’s struggling with her grief and the grief that she doesn’t see her mother or brother showing.  She’s angry with God for not answering her prayers to cure her father.  She’s angry that her mother has thrown herself into work and isn’t showing an ounce of grief over the loss of her father and she’s angry that her brother has gone on with his life as if nothing has changed.

To make matters more complicated, Ashley is pulling away from her friends for reasons that she’s not aware of.  Her best friend feels like a complete stranger to her and the only girl that she looks forward to talking to is a plus size girl who she meets down by the creek.  The creek that she goes to, to think.  To clear her head and to talk about her Dad with someone who had nothing but good memories of him, along with her.

Ashley is mad at the world and she’s looking to be a little bad.  The very last thing that she wants or needs is someone to care about and to care about her but when she meets Jordan, thing start to get away from her.  Her intention to go after the bad boy Colt, her intention to do anything and everything that would make her forget her grief.

When we first met Ashley, I wasn’t at all sure that I was going to end up liking her because of the way that she lashed out at her brother Will and her mother.  She’s out of her mind with grief and she doesn’t know how to deal with it and she acted like a total brat about the whole thing.  I’m not a fan of teenagers who think that it’s their right to be douches because they’re hurting or because they’re sad.  But Ashley wasn’t that bad. She didn’t step over the line of no return and I’m glad for that.  I really enjoyed getting to know her as the book continued on.  It was pretty neat to see her come around and it made the story even better when the alleged bad guy, turned out to not be bad at all.

The characters all came to life for me throughout the book as well.  Jordan was a fabulous character that wormed his way into my heart at the very beginning and even though I should have hated Colt for being a punk for a lot of the book, I didn’t hate him.  I liked him and saw the goodness that he didn’t show many people.  Ashley’s family were pretty great too.  It was good to see Harley’s parents from The Truth about Faking It and it was nice to hear that Harley and Jason are still going strong.

Overall, I’m glad that I got this book for review.  I’m glad that I read this book and I definitely recommend this if you’re in the mood for a good, coming of age contemporary YA novel.  Leigh T. Moore is a great author that really knows how to weave a story in a way that keeps the reader invested throughout the entire story.  I enjoy the way that she tells Ashley’s story and I’m looking forward to reading even more from her.  Kudos to Leigh T. Moore on another winner of a story.

…and that’s your scoop!

This book is available from the author. This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Buy the book: B&N|Amazon
Book cover and blurb credit: http://goodreads.com

four-stars


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Review: Rouge by Leigh T. Moore

Posted December 5, 2012 by Rowena in Reviews | 5 Comments

Review: Rouge by Leigh T. MooreReviewer: Rowena
Rouge (Cheveux Roux, #1) by Leigh Talbert Moore
Series: Cheveux Roux #1

Publication Date: November 10th 2012
Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 302
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Romance, velvet, sequins, and murder...

Hale Ferrer is the rising star of the hottest cabaret in New Orleans. And her one goal is escape. Escape from the lies, from the crime, and from her growing fear that one day she'll have to earn her living in the secret back rooms, where the dancers do more than dance.

But she won't leave behind Teeny, the orphan-girl she promised to protect.

Freddie Lovel is rich, handsome, and in love with Hale, and he's ready to sweep her away with him to Paris. But her heart is captured by Beau, the poor stagehand with eyes as blue as Louisiana iris flowers.

Denying her fears, Hale is ready to choose love and a life with Beau, until a predator hidden in the wings launches a chain of events that could cost her everything--Teeny, their one hope of escape, and possibly even her life.

I’ve never seen Moulin Rouge and I’ve never been particularly interested in seeing it either.  I’ve heard that I’m missing out by not watching that movie but meh, I didn’t care….until now.  This book has made me want to break out my friend’s DVD of this movie because it was a good read.  It’s got everything that a great story should have.  Characters that leap right off the pages and into your heart, a story that had me antsy for more and a forbidden love that I couldn’t help but love.

This book follows Hale, a young woman who sings in a cabaret type show, on the brink of turning 18 and trying to take care of her 12 year old charge.  Hale and Teeny share a small bed in Hale’s room and Teeny is getting older and bigger and it’s getting harder and harder for Hale to shield her from Gavin, the owner of the show.  Hale is afraid that once Gavin start taking notice of Teeny, that she’ll have to start earning her keep and because Teeny can’t sing or dance, Hale is scared of how Gavin will make her earn that keep.  She knows what happens at night on the other side of the clubhouse and Teeny doesn’t have the promise that Hale has.

Freddie Lovel is the answer to all of Hale’s problems.  He’s rich and he fancies Hale so Hale needs to play nice with him so that he’ll take Hale and Teeny away from the show and take care of them.  But when Beauregard starts working as a stagehand for the show, Hale is presented with a problem.  His touch ignites something in her that Freddie doesn’t but she needs Freddie to take her and Teeny away from the show before Teeny becomes a prostitute but all of that is jeopardized with Beau now in the picture.

Hale was one of those strong heroines that handles her business.  She takes care of her own, even if that means she goes without.  You won’t be able to help yourself, you’re going to love Hale.  She’s hard working, she’s loyal and she’s caring.  She loves fiercely and I really liked the person that she was in this story.  I thought that Moore did a fabulous job of making the reader understand just what Hale was up against and what Hale was trying to accomplish for herself and for Teeny.  She’s the kind of heroine that people can get behind. She’s the underdog that you want to come out on top.  You want good things to happen to people like Hale and man, I ate this book right up.

The characters really drove the story for me.  I thought it was such a good read and I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a solid story with wonderful characters that will worm their way into your heart and stay there.  Your heart will soar and your heart will break but you will definitely leave this book, anxious for the next one.  Thanks so much to Leigh T. Moore for providing this book for review, it was a definite treat for this reader.

…and that’s your scoop!

This book is available from Leigh T. Moore. This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Buy the book: B&N|Amazon
Book cover and blurb credit: http://barnesandnoble.com

four-stars


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Review: The Truth about Faking by Leigh T. Moore

Posted October 3, 2012 by Rowena in Reviews | 2 Comments

Review: The Truth about Faking by Leigh T. MooreReviewer: Rowena
The Truth About Faking (The Truth, #1) by Leigh Talbert Moore
Series: The Truth #1
Also in this series: The Truth About Letting Go (The Truth, #2)

Publication Date: September 1st 2012
Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 328
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Jason just wants a date with Harley. Harley just wants a date with Trent. Trent's still getting over Stephanie.

When Harley and Jason decide to fake date, they uncover a school of deceptions. Trent's got a secret, but so does Jason. And the more time Harley spends secretly kissing her fake boyfriend, the further she gets from her dreams with Trent.

Worst of all, Harley's mom is getting cozy with her hot massage therapy student, and even Harley's Reverend Dad can't fake not being bothered by it. But when the masks finally come off, can everyone handle the real truth?

This was a pretty fast read and while I ended up really liking it, there were times that I wanted to smack some hot dang sense into Harley.  I wasn’t a fan of the back and forth between Trent and Jason, especially when Jason was so good to her and so obviously infatuated with her.  There were a lot of things about Harley that got on my nerves but even though they got on my nerves, they also rang true.  She reacted the way that a young woman would react to the things that were thrown at her, but mostly I’m talking about the way she reacted to her mother and Ricky.  Sometimes, knowing things (how much her mother loves her father) and seeing things can trick your mind into believing things that you probably shouldn’t believe.  I thought that Moore did a great job of making the reader see this happen.  You want to believe the best in the character but you just don’t know…

One of the things that I enjoyed the most in this book was all of the Jason scenes.  Right from the moment he comes into the story, I’m a fan.  I loved his personality, his love for ugly, old cars and the way that he thought guys should act around girls.  I loved how upfront he was, even when Harley wasn’t all about him.  I loved that even though he went along with Harley’s stupid plan, he didn’t stop letting her know that he was interested in her, FOR REAL.  I loved that when Harley needed that wake up call, he gave it to her.  I loved that even though he was hurt and he didn’t want to be around Harley, he was there for her when she needed someone to listen.  I could really go on and on about how much I loved his character but I won’t because he’s in high school and I’m …not.  Haha.  He’s the kind of boy that I want my daughter to fall in love with in high school and he’s the kind of boy that deserves a girl as awesome as my daughter.  I enjoyed his character and thought he was a fantabulous love interest for the main character.

One thing that had me curious during this book was all of the couple swapping.  On Jason and Harley’s first “date”, they double with Trent and Shelly (Harley’s best friend) and then the next week, Jason and Shelly are going on a double date with Trent and Harley and then Jason is with Stephanie who used to be with Trent and I couldn’t help but wonder if that happens in real life.  I don’t remember it happening so much when I was in high school but does it happen now?  I must make a mental note to ask all of my high school attending nieces and nephews.

Anyway, I really did enjoy this book and I am glad that I read it but there were too many times when Harley’s attitude toward everything (Jason, her Mom, Trent, Shelley, etc…) made me want to smack her upside her head.  When she couldn’t stop thinking about Jason and yet she was still going out with Trent, I wanted to give her a swift kick to her shins but alls well that ends well.  I would have enjoyed it more had Jason made Harley grovel a bit more at the end but I got over it.  Harley learned her lesson and I was glad for it.

I’m definitely going to be reading more books by Leigh T. Moore.  I enjoyed this one enough to know that I would enjoy other books written by this author so she’s on my radar, for sure.

…and that’s your scoop!

This book is available from Leigh Moore. This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Buy the book: B&N|Amazon
Book cover and blurb credit: http://barnesandnoble.com

three-stars


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