Juniper Limits (The Juniper Series, #2) - Lora Richardson

Synopsis:

Celia has spent her life waiting for the next crisis. When the tension at home begins to ease, she wonders if she’ll finally be able to relax. Her father has stopped drinking, her cousin Fay has moved back to Juniper, and it seems like Paul might really care about her. But trust is an uphill battle for Celia, fighting against doubt the whole way.

Paul has been drawn to Celia for as long as he can remember, and she is finally giving him a chance to show her how he feels. But when Celia can’t stop worrying everything will fall apart, and when things in Paul’s own life take a turn for the worse, can they learn to rely on each other?

Review:

Having read and reviewed Lora's work which is the first book of The Junpier Series called The Edge Of Junpier and fell in love I was more than happy and honoured to read Junpier Limits. This time we follow Paul and Celia throughout the book, watching their friendship strengthen and blossom.

I was so happy to be back in Juniper and seeing who felt like old friends, this story takes place so close to where The Edge Of Junpier ended and it all fitted so well. Celia's father Tedd is staying sober after being within the hold of alcohol for so long which we got to see in the previous book. it was ice to finally have faith in Tedd and wish he would follow the sobriety all the way through. At the end of the previous book we find out that after leaving Junpier, Fay is moving back and the trio she left behind are excited for her to return. All the while Paul is trying hard to show Celia how much he cares for her and he means it all but Celia doubts him all the way having struggled with trust for a long time.

It's beautiful to watch them both blossom with each other, I knew in the previous book that Paul cared and he was being true. Paul is a breath of fresh air. He isn't a bad boy, just a funny and cheery guy who is persistent in his pursuit of the only girl he's set on getting, but much like Celia his life isn't perfect and my heart really goes out to him, he's caring and sympathetic and yet he's strong and way beyond his years.

What struck me (yet again) about Juniper Limits is how realistic it feels. The dialogue and humor shared between Celia and Paul was so true and relalistic. When it came to how Celia dealt with the stress at home, her reactions felt so believable. Between the sadly true to life situations Celia and Paul were dealing with, Celia's reluctance to trust not only Paul but anyone, and Paul's conflicted feelings about his mother, there was a feeling of authenticity that ran throughout the book. Richardson perfectly captured Celia's tough outer shell, her constant worry, her fear to hope for better, and the shred of hope she allowed herself to feel anyway.

I don't think I can score any lower than 5/5 here, Lora has blown me away again and it was incredible to be able to see their faces and Juniper once again. I went through so many emotions whilst reading this book, all of them with the characters and that just shows you how great Lora writes. It was sad to have to leave them behind when I closed the eBook but I hope ill be seeing them again sometime.

Top Ten Tuesday - Underrated Books I've Read

The Food Of Love - Amanda Prowse

The Easy Way Out - Steven Amsterdam

The Two O'clock Boy - Mark Hill

 

Ravens Peak and Ravens Fall -  Lincoln Cole

          

    

  Risen, Ascent and A Strange Chemistry - M.T.Miller

 

The Edge of Juniper - Lora Richardson

Just Juliet - Charlotte Reagan

 

The Sign of One - Eugene Lambert

Gravedigger - Michael Israel Jarvis

 

The Flight Of The Pickerings - John Grayson Heide

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke And The Bookish

The Edge Of Juniper - Lora Richardson

Synopsis:

“You’re off-limits, so why can’t I stop thinking about you?”

Fay Whitaker, sixteen years old and yearning for adventure, is excited to spend the summer with her fearless cousin Celia in small-town Juniper, Indiana.

But Fay soon discovers that her summer home is not what she expected. She is alarmed by her uncle’s temper, and learns of the grudge he holds against the Dearing family. Celia handles the tension at home by escaping with her boyfriend, leaving Fay with time on her hands—time that leads her straight to Malcolm Dearing, off-limits because of his last name. Fay is captivated by Malcolm’s warmth and intensity. She finds that trying to stay away from him only makes her think of him more.

Fay and Celia are launched on a journey, and each must attempt to navigate the thrilling and unpredictable world of love. Everything Fay thinks she knows about love is put to the test, as relationships unfold and reveal themselves in ways she never before dreamed.

Review:

I have to declare that Lora contacted me and asked if I was interested in reading her new book if it was something id like to read. This came after she had contacted me what seems like a long time ago offering a copy of her first book Outspoken for a honest review. I said yes to reading her second book The Edge Of Juniper, and this is what I have to say.

First off I have to say once I saw the book cover and then matched it to the characters actual ages I felt like they were written either 2 years too young or pictured 2 years older.

Fay was almost instantly attached to me, or me to her, whichever way you choose to say it. at the age of 16 she had a really strong  mind set and sense of independence. I really enjoyed the fact that when around her cousin Celia, and talking deep conversations she doesn't hold back with how she really feels and that kind of goes all the way through the book and it was great to see her not lose any part of herself.

Celia alone poked at my heart, she was blinded to some things going on and it only took her cousin to stay longer than 1 week to gain clarity, she is the big sister to Abe and although declare she hates him, to me she screams she adores him and would give anything for him to not have witnessed all she and he have.

Malcolm was not the cliché character I first thought he would be and I liked that a lot, he was very much all I ever wanted in a guy yet alone what good old fictional Fay wanted in a boyfriend. He was very understanding and caring. His best friend Paul didn't have a lot of time in the book compared to the other characters but when he was involved, it always helped the story progress that little bit more. Don't get me started on Ronan...please don't.

Unfortunately we don't see much of Freya or Finn who are the twin best friend's of Faye, id of liked to have seen more of them to get an even tighter grip on the strength of their friendship than what I had when they were first introduced and each time they made an appearance.

The development of Malcolm and Faye as well as Celia was so perfect I think I could cry if I had any tears to actually cry, I believe it was that good.

Yet again Lora has produced a book focused on problems that are really happening around the world, parent issues like separation and violence. What I also adore about this book is the fact it also talks about how the children involved in those relationships also feel like they have to carry the weight of the issue and fix it by themselves.

Throughout the eight weeks that Fay stays with her cousins, she slowly learns about herself and what she always believed love and family to be. Her view on them is changes, only for the better.

The book also covers the topic of losing your virginity, now this is an important topic in young relationships yet alone older relationships. Lora takes this opportunity to go down both paths of a virgin teenager, the 1st, being prepared and losing your virginity with your partner as well as the 2nd path where you aren't ready to engage in that level of intimacy and how to approach that topic of conversation with your partner. I love this because it lets readers know that if you are ready and your partner is too then that's okay and if you aren't ready and your partner is accepting of that, that is also okay.

The book gets a 5 frome me, there's no doubt about it, the book is easy to get into a read and isn't too long either, a definite recommendation to anyone.

Lora teaches me a lesson or a few through her writing and I'm wishing her all the luck in the world with all of her writing. I feel very fortunate to have been able to read both of Lora's work and I can not thank her enough for trusting me enough to allow me to.

Refreshing, heartwarming and a pinch of well timed sarcasm