Drops of Rain (Hale Brothers Series #1)

SUMMARY:

RATING: 

REVIEW:

I absolutely loved it. The story is about Ali and Drew, who had to face the unfairness of life at very young age. The author delivered the emotions with excellence that I felt theirs as mine. I loved Ali’s special connection with dragon flies and Drew’s freedom feel with swimming. It makes the characters, their story, and emotions all so true and beautiful. Usually in a romance book I tend to fall in love with the characters but it is very rare when I fall in love with MC’s love itself. I experienced it in this book. Also Ali’s passion for her future, career is something that’s rare in YA novels these days.

This young love is powerful, compelling, emotional and overall incredible. And when I mean compelling I literally can’t watch, read, or do anything until I finish this book. Not only I loved the MC’s but also the other character like Drew, Matt and their friends circle too.

And about Ali, I loved her more than Drew. Now that’s rare for me especially in a romance YA novel. Drew grew up with his abusive father, while it’s hard at least he’s used to it. But for Ali, unfairness is thrust upon her immediately with no warning and she’s got to deal with a lot yet she’s strong with the strength from her late mother and Dragon flies. She concentrated on dance with passion. She never settles for less. When she thought Drew was being mean to her, she got hurt but she didn't abandon her passion or self-respect because of life's bitterness. She’s an amazing girl and I love her a lot.

I loved moments that involved the appearance of Dragon flies. I cherished those moments for a matter of fact. And the time when she killed and cried over it makes this story more real and beautiful. The author made me love Dragon flies now. I won’t ever be the same when I see a Dragon fly in my life again.

Never the less I love Drew too. He always looked out for his brother the way he knows. I can’t blame him for not acting against his father earlier because he’s grown into it and until the situation came he saw his swimming as his way out. Also he never hated his mother for not protecting them, which made me love him even more though I can't say same with his mother. Nevertheless his empathy towards Cassidy is amazing too. Deep down he's passionate towards swimming but it makes me a little because most he see it as an escape. I just wish his sorrow gets washed away. Good thing is that it does.

With Ali and Drew together I loved them, their relationship, also the little family created along the way.
But why 3.5 stars?
Here is the reason for that. I found Cassidy parts clichéd and Mean Girls drama. And the way Drew and Ali first met. I loved their progress in love but not their first meet. When I read that part I got a wee bit irritated to be honest thinking that this is going to be one those ordinary romance novels. But thanks to Kathryn Andrews for proving me wrong. For a début novel this is brilliantly written with amazing quotes.
And I know the most dreadful part yet to come in Drew’s life. While expected it to be dramatic ( which I never prefer it) it was written with reality and truth. And I am glad it happened to Drew after he met Ali, because I personally think without Ali he would never have the strength to stand against his father.
I just want to thank Kathryn Andrews for making my first ARC book experience as a beautiful one. This book will always hold a special place in my heart.

Credit to Kathryn Andrews for these beautiful pictures

NOTE: I can't wait to read about the other Hale brothers.

Ugly Love

Summary: When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

Rating:

Review:
This is me after reading Ugly Love.

The story was fine, okay, not bad, maybe even good but that’s what disappoints me terribly. Colleen’s books aren’t supposed to be fine, okay, not bad, maybe even good. They are supposed to be unique, beautiful and heart-warming. They are supposed to steal a place in your heart with it’s beauty.
Ugly Love is not bad. It’s one of those ordinary romance books you get stuck with when you have nothing else to read. I’m disappointed maybe because I expected more from Colleen. But that’s only because her other books were unique, incredible, powerful and well- written.
Reasons why I got irritated at times while reading it: 
1-I can’t get connected to the story or MC’s. Even if I did, the 5 year old Miles POV breaks it and gets me back to square one. 
2-There is no beautiful little scenes that I usually get from Colleen’s other books, where here there’s only sex. 
3-Finding Cinderella has more character development than Ugly Love (considering the fact that Finding Cinderella is a novella). 
4-Miles POV is a like a 5 year old's. It did help the readers to understand Miles’ reactions but the not well- written part really bugged me. 
5-Tate easily gave in to Miles. She was humiliated and she should have shown some anger in this conversation. She should have talked what she thought at that time because it would have made some sense.
“Are you sleeping with him?” he asks, finally resting his eyes on mine as they search for truth.
That’s none of your business, Miles.
“No,” I say instead.
“Have you kissed him?”
Still not your business, Miles.
“No.”
Things that kept me reading this book: 
1-Cap. He’s the best and I like him more than the main characters. I love how he doesn’t give advice but say something related to it for others to understand it on their own.
2-Ian. I wish he could have got more pages. He’s the best friend everyone should have. I would be willing read about him more.
3-Corbin. Best over protective brother ever. I loved him too.

I loved the whole Pilot deal too. The Pilot thing was supposed to be Colleen’s uniqueness in this book. While in her other books, the uniqueness she created would have blended well along with the story and the characters here it looks like the uniqueness have thrust upon it which resulted in not a good product.

I was as I said pretty disappointed after reading this but then later I saw Colleen posting the link to the Epilogue of Finding Cinderella. After reading it I remembered why I love her books so much. I swore that I won’t have any expectations for her future books. I just hope that it’s better than Ugly Love.

Ugly Love is just an ordinary book.