Katherine OwenBesprekingen

I admire every single person who writes a book. I may not like the book, it may have faults, but I can’t ever take away from an author that he or she has poured out thousands of words to fulfil a dream to pen a novel. Truly admirable.

So, here’s the thing: the key word there is the ‘a’ in 'a great idea'. I can’t help thinking that this author scribbled down a number of ideas and thought, I know, I’ll put them all into one book. Result? Idea overload. (Which stretched to covers as well: I've seen three for this book.) Can you have too much drama in one book? Quite possibly.

Ellie’s husband has an affair with her best friend. The big C rears its ugly head. Ellie marries best friend’s husband. That’s probably enough to make a pretty good story, but no, let’s throw in two tragic deaths, a pregnancy, infidelity (yes, more) and you find yourself pretty stuffed after this smorgasbord of cheesiness.

And now, just to confuse you…despite what I’ve said, I…er…actually quite enjoyed it. (quite…let’s not get too carried away).

I found it a little hard to understand how Ellie seemed to be able to have men…three of them…falling at her feet. She was full of cancer and babies and not much personality, and yet they were all declaring undying love for her. It was all a bit mushy, despite dealing with some pretty full-on issues, and none of the characters were developed enough. It was hard to like, or even dislike, any of them.

Four things irritated me: the repetitive ‘bodacious tah tahs’. First time was amusing. The second, a little less. The third raised a titter. But after the seventeenth time, I’d had enough. I was also a little irked by the habit-of-stringing-a-whole-sentence-together-with-hyphens-to-make-it-an-adjective. Thirdly, this was written in the first person, present tense. It didn’t work. The (huge) issues in this book were ones dealt with by different people in different ways: I didn't perceive the gamut of emotions of the other characters, because of the first person POV and present tense. Lastly, the main character, Ellie, is an editor. A pity she didn’t edit her own book. There are a number of grammatical and punctuation howlers.

I really can’t quite fathom why I found it such a compelling read! Apart from the afore-mentioned annoyances, this author does write rather well. There was something about this work that drew me in, and ultimately, it was an effortless read.

I stayed up late at night devouring this book and finishing it was a bittersweet moment for me because it really is the end of the beautiful, tragic, epic love story of Linc and Tally. After reading This Much is True, I knew for a fact I was going to love The Truth About Air and Water, there was no question about it.

This second book was just as amazing as the first. It was intense, filled with extremely heartbreaking moments but ultimately unforgettable. Linc and Tally face a whole new set of hardships in this sequel as the world conspires to keep them apart. Prepare yourself for the angst that comes with this unique couple -it's another crazy ride but Linc and Tally will steal your heart all over again.

Also, I am completely enamored with Katherine Owen's writing style. I love the quotes she includes and the depth behind her words. Her characters are flawed but perfect in their imperfectness. Tally is different from any other heroine I've encountered as is Linc and I can honestly say I will never forget this couple.

I highly recommend this amazing series and if you're tired of reading the typical, predictable new adult romance books, you should definitely give these a try.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

When I started reading this book, I had seen the comments about it being an overwhelming and heartbreaking story so I braced myself and dove headfirst into the darkness, expecting the worst. Well I must say I rather enjoyed the darkness. I liked the tragic story of Linc and Tally in all it's ill-fated glory. These contemporary star-crossed lovers stole my heart with the impossibility of their fate in true Romeo and Juliet fashion (minus the ending, of course). I loved the intensity of the characters.

"Liquid fire burns through me. I struggle to breathe. He is steel. I am the magnet that holds him here. I am here. He's here most definitely. He's alive. I must be, too."

Sometimes love stories can be predictable and maybe even trite. This Much is True was probably the complete opposite in every way. It never failed to surprise me. When you read as much as I do, you develop a sort of intuition and you can usually guess what's going to happen next. Up until now, I had missed the feeling of not knowing at all what would come next and this book filled that void for me.

There is no gray area when it comes to Linc and Tally. It's either black or white.

"This feels good. Dying feels fine and I welcome the blackness with open arms."

"Closeness erases the many secrets still held between us although the important ones remain. No longer strangers, we venture to a secret place where just the two of us exist. This connection of continuity seems to contain a degree of permanence, but that's further up ahead."

Reading this book was like riding a rollercoaster with a blindfold. It was a wild and crazy ride but the thrill was absolutely worth every tear I shed along the way.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

***Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review***

Wow. Just wow. I think maybe I need a xanax after finishing this book. Life sometimes really does just get in the way and just goes on. Unfortunately for Tally and Linc this holds true.

Tally is just barely making it through life after losing her twin sister. The other half of her soul is gone forever. But life just keeps moving. Time doesn't stand still. Ballet is all she has left.

Linc was at the right place at the right time. If it wasn't for him Tally wouldn't be here anymore. He can't forget her though. Even though he needs to stay focused on baseball and nothing else.

There was so many ups and downs in this story. My emotions were all over the place. I have to admit I am not very happy with Tally. I disagree with so many of her decisions in this book. What makes me so mad is that she knew her lies and avoidance were wrong, but she still chose to lie and avoid. I feel like this story could have been less painful if she was just honest. Honest with herself. But I understand with all the loss she faces that she was just trying for something else. To be someone else.

I loved Linc from the start. My heart broke for him so much in this story. So much. He is just this beautiful person. Inside and out. He lied some too but I feel like his lies were justified.

This really is a story of true love and life just getting in the way. Others forcing them apart. Careers and dreams keeping two people apart when really nothing else matters if they aren't together.

This Much Is True
by Katherine Owen (Goodreads Author)
Melissa Cushing's review
Feb 13, 2014

5 of 5 stars
Read from February 05 to 06, 2014

I am giving this one 5 stars! I LOVED this book! Seriously a roller coaster ride of action when it comes to the two main characters Tally and Linc who I hopelessly adore even though they seriously have their own issues which are the main reason they torture themselves throughout the entire novel to begin with! At the beginning I thought it may end up being a boring read, simply because it seemed things were going so perfectly for Tally and Linc's characters, but I was SO WRONG!It seems one thing after another happens to keep these two "perfect for each other" characters apart. I was more than frustrated a number of times, but was also pulled along by the wonderful storyline, that takes twists and turns that at times I did not see coming. I also love the characters, which you really get a good feel for after reading this book. You really get to know them, even the secondary characters. I loved Rob Thorn and Marla's characters, and I even LOVED To HATE Nika Vostrikova as well as Kimberly Powers characters. Without them... it would be so boring! I want to thank the author for this fabulous novel! It is a long read but a fabulous read. I read this one, even though it is a LONG book, in less than 24 hours! I could not put it down. If you love a tortured romance involving 2 characters that are amazingly talented at "what they do".... Tally an amazingly talented and devoted Ballerina and Linc an amazing Baseball Pitcher....who are so destined to be together but so pulled apart by this or that.... until you just cannot take it anymore.... this book is for you. You will never be bored. Enjoy the synopsis here....



Fate brings them together.Fame & lies keep them apart.One truth remains…

She’s become the Paly High girl with the most tragic story…
At 17, Tally Landon just wants to graduate and leave for New York to pursue ballet. Her best friend Marla convinces her to attend one last party—a college party—where she can be among strangers and evade the whisperings about her heartbreaking loss of her twin that follows her everywhere she goes. She meets Lincoln Presley, Stanford’s famous baseball wonder and has a little fun at his expense—when she lies about her age and who she really is—intent on being someone else for the night and escaping her tragic story.

His only focus is baseball, but he can’t forget the girl he saved on Valentine’s Day…
At 22, Lincoln Presley’s star is on the rise—about to finish at Stanford and expected to be taken early in Major League Baseball’s upcoming draft—his cousin’s party serves as a welcome distraction. But then, he sees the girl from Valentine’s Day that he saved from that horrific car accident and can’t quite hide his disappointment when she appears to look right through him and not remember him at all. He vows to learn her name at least before he leaves. What’s the harm in getting to know this girl? What’s the worst that can happen?

They share this incredible connection, but fate soon tests these star-crossed lovers in all kinds of ways...
And yet, despite the lies being told to protect the other, and the trappings of fame that continually separate them, and in lieu of the deception by those they’ve come to trust the most; one truth remains.

This much is true.

***Author's note*** THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

NOTE: I received this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This must be the longest contemporary novel I have ever read. Goodreads says 432 pages, but I'm seriously thinking more like double that. Why? It took me three days to finish it, and that's some pretty hard reading done too. It was long, it was full of drama, it was one cracking soap opera on paper. I was barely half way through when I was begging for things to move faster.

Now don't get me wrong, this is a very good read. It's full of lessons that any adolescent should learn (hopefully NOT the hard way), and it's also well written. The story flows great and makes you want to turn the pages.

But.

The length of it... Gosh, it reminds me of the Game of Thrones novels. It just goes on and on and on!! I firmly believe that if it was split into a trilogy, with each part being a separate novel, it would've been much better. The way it is now, it just completely freaked me out. I was pressing the 'next' button on my Kindle, but the percentage would stay the same for-smucking-ever! By the time I actually finished it, I was going on autopilot, just wishing to get through it and be done.

Once I was done with it, I was glad it turned out to be a novel worth reading, because seriously? Spending so much time on a bad novel? Gah! I might've gotten the urge to bang my head somewhere hard.

Anyway, so let's see what This Much is True was like. Besides long, that is.

Firstly, it was full of drama. Lots and lots of it, which sort of reminded me of The Bold and The Beautiful. Thankfully, it didn't span over decades, so that was a plus. Two years I can handle. So, the drama. Well, it starts out with the sudden death (via car crash) of Tally's twin sister, Holly. Tally is depressed, she's not herself. Instead, she's trying to fill Holly's empty shoes. But she can't, and thanks to her bff Marla, she finally comes to her senses. Then hot baseball player Lincoln Presley enters the picture and Tally is completely swept off her feet. Except, they cannot be together. Not now and not in the future two years. Because she's only 17 and if ever that little detail slipped in the press, Lincoln's budding star career will be over before it could even begin.

What? That's not enough drama? Gosh, there's more! Much much more, but if I were to disclose anymore of it, you'd get all the spoilers, and none of the fun/hair-pulling that this book brings along. So... just take my words for the truth and let's move on, okay?

Secondly, the characters were incredibly realistic. They were silly, even stupid at times. They were loving and caring and driven. They were up for the challenge to be together, but for the sake of each other had to move on separately. They were ruled by emotions, or whatever drove them at a certain moment. Sometimes a career was more important than anything else, sometimes not.

Tally had me almost screaming out loud so many times I can't even count them. The girl was NOT stupid, but she acted it and I swear I would've strangled her if I were her friend. She made so many stupid mistakes for the sake of Lincoln, and I do understand her motives - after all, she loved him. But man! She could've lived better! She could've made more sophisticated choices. Especially concerning Rob, who - unlike Tally - I ended up despising. The bastard was such a user/loser/whatever.

Lincoln stroke me as the wise kind of a guy. The guy who cared for a girl, instead of trying to play her. He even wanted to do the right thing with Nika, which simply disgusted me. That girl was such an obvious viper/leech, I had no idea how anyone missed to see it. Anyway, Linc's problem was that he was too trusting of what people told him to do. Gosh, I don't think he should've ever listened to his manager to drop Tally in the beginning, at all! That stupid poor decision made the wheel roll in the direction of sorrow and heartbreak for the rest of the novel! I did love his character though. He had substance, depth, a sense of reality.

Rob and Nika disgusted me almost the same way. Their betrayals were awful in completely different ways, but they still hurt.

And Marla? Thank heavens for Marla. That girl... should win the Oscar for best-friend-through-any-possible-bad-situation role!

You got curious? Go grab the book. It's lengthy, but it's worth it.

The author has embarked me into her beautiful romance from the beginning to the end! A deeply distressing and amazing voyage...

It has been a long time since I had not read a romance taking time to live with its characters and make them known and discovered intimately to the readers. Katherine Owen put her framework, pictured its landscapes and has described them with details for you to live as if you were a part of her world.

At the beginning, the reader follows Jordan in her life as a military wife with a husband who has to go back to war.
Feelings of loneliness, anger against the noble but selfish husband's professionals choices. Because although, he loves his job and his country, every time he goes to Afghanistan, he leaves a wife and child behind. A difficult experience for all parties because the craving is an important part of their life.

The author then takes another direction when involving Brock in its romantic plot. A delicate love triangle, full of unspoken words and feelings, with an impossible promise to hold as a key word for drama.
The story is emotionally charged with lightness touch of charming moments but also with horrible fate's blows that make you run hot tears.

All the disasters, that are linked like a cruel joke from fate, have seemed difficult to bear. Jordan is so unlucky with all the heavy crap she has to deal with, that I wondered how she did not end in therapy. Her strength and determination are admirable but a little less horror in her life would have been nice.

Meanwhile, this novel has made me eagerly turned the pages, kleenex in hands!
A romance to devour absolutely ...

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr/2013/06/when-i-see-you-by-katherine-owen.h...

How much heartache can a person really endure?

For the past four years, each time that twenty-seven year old Jordan Holloway's Navy SEAL husband Ethan is deployed to Afghanistan, she battles an inner fear of being abandoned. Her fear stems back to when she lost her famous Oscar winning parents to a brutal murder at the age of seventeen. After losing her parents, Jordan swore that she would never allow herself to fall in love, because loving someone and then losing them was too great a price to pay. She no longer believes in fairy tales or the happily-ever-afters, even after getting swept off her feet by the dashing Ethan, having an adorable three year old son named Max, and a successful career as a head chef at an exclusive Malibu restaurant. Each of the three times Ethan has departed for another tour in Afghanistan, she plummets into despair at his leaving her once again, it feels like the loss of her parents all over again, the fear of losing the one you love the most comes back, and this fourth time is no different, even though he promises that this will be his last tour. On the final day before Ethan departs, Jordan seeks out Lt. Brock Wainwright, Ethan's best friend and Navy SEAL/sniper partner. Jordan makes Brock promise that he will keep Ethan safe in Afghanistan and bring him home to her. Brock is conflicted by her request, but is willing to keep his promise. Can such a promise be kept?

When I See You is an emotionally charged and poignant love story that will tug at your heart strings, and make you feel the full gamut of emotions. Author Katherine Owen weaves a gut wrenching tale about two people who have a deep connection between them: both have suffered heartache after heartache, they have overcome traumatic obstacles, and have learned to survive and to love again.

Told in the first person narrative with alternating perspectives by Jordan Holloway and Brock Wainwright, the reader will find themselves caught up in Jordan and Brock's story. This is a riveting story full of raw emotion and endless plot twists, with attention to detail of Jordan and Brock's trials and tribulations, and rich descriptions of the settings (Malibu, Afghanistan, and Austin), it will make the reader feel like they are on the journey alongside Jordan and Brock. You can't help but get lost in this captivating story, the drama and reality of the intertwining lives of Jordan and Brock takes you on a emotional roller coaster ride that will leave you completely spent.

This is a deeply moving story that delves into the reality of life full of drama, romance, heartaches, ups and downs that anyone can relate to, especially our military families. One word of advice, have a full box of tissues at hand, you're going to need them!

When I See You is a beautifully written tear jerker of a story, it is one that will resonate with you long after the last words have been read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/03/when-i-see-you-by-katherine-ow...

Reviewed by Ursula
Review copy provided by author
Seeing Julia by Katherine Clare Owen is a moving, emotional and turbulent ride through the eyes of a young widow. Julia has had a lot of tragedy in her nearly 30 years of life, starting with the loss of her parents at 16. The scenes described, such as the funeral scene, is a no holds barred description of what Julia is going through. You really feel her pain and desolation at the loss of her husband.

While the story details the sorrow and devastation Julia is going through, and the infallible support from her inner circle, it drags it out and makes you feel depressed. The story is well written, but you almost feel like you are in mourning yourself. Almost the entire book is about Julia's coping, or lack of coping, with the loss of her husband. She is refusing to move on and, even though she is a new mom, she neglects her child. There are token mentions of him here and there but it seems that when he doesn't 'fit' into the flow of the story, a nanny or friend is there to just take over his care.

The story gets better for a while when she finds out things about her husband and revelations are made about him that Julia didn't know. But she makes these 'grand plans' to get her life back on track and winds up back into the not coping, black hole life she'd been living in since the death of her husband. There is also the intrigue of Jake's fiancee that stirs up some interest and it's the highlight of Julia coming back from the abyss of unbearable grief.

Jake is someone Julia meet once when she was 15. She doesn't realize who he is, but he's known for a long time and is just waiting for her to realize who he is. The relationship between them at times is well written and believable, but at other times, it's not realistic. At the end of the story, Julia manages to get her entire life in order in a matter of a few pages. Julia and Jake manage to come to terms with all the 'secrets' and insecurities, and in the end, declare their undying love for each other. It doesn't come as much of a surprise that Jake declares his love, but for Julia to do a complete turnaround and declare her undying love so fast is. Normally, a happy ending is exactly what a reader wants, but this seemed to be too neatly tied up, too fast to be in line with the rest of the book.

I wouldn't re-read this book, but it was interesting enough to want to see how it ended. It isn't something I would recommend to everyone, but those that like stories that tug at the heartstrings and evoke strong feelings would enjoy this story. It is more of a true to life story of grief and sorrow, well written, but hard to feel happy when reading.

There is a pattern I follow when I start a new book. Kind of like a ritual, I guess. Something I do without even thinking. First, I look at the front cover for a minute and try and see it all. Then I flip the book over to read the back cover. You know, the blurb and/or review comments and/or the author's bio. So, I picked up When I See You and the front cover is nice enough; kind of soothing in earthy tones. Then I flip the book over ... and am totally blown away! It is NOT what I expected. There is a small - very small - author bio at the very bottom of the cover. But the rest of it is beautiful! Why has no one (that I know of) thought of this before? Is there a reason the back cover can't be a highlight? Why should the front cover get all the
attention? On to opening the book. The first thing that pops out is that the whole book is a study in feminine pretty: the font of chapter headings, the graphics, the little quotes ... it is all very appealing to the eye.

As for the story, there was a pretty even balance of good and bad points but the weight of the good outweighs the weight of the bad. Here's what I mean: on the negative side there is almost too much tragedy in the protagonists lives. Jordan and Brock have an inordinate amount of bad karma going on. One has to wonder what these two have done to incur the wrath of every god out there. What pulls this story out of the hellish mire it could be stuck in, is this amazing thread of almost palpable hope that winds it's way through the narrative. No matter the depth of tragedy, Jordan pulls herself up by the bootstraps and carries on. Brock is a little more apt to wallow (he is a man after all) but he also manages to find his way through. The good out weighs the bad.

The characters and relationships in the book are, for the most part, well developed and believable. The only relationship in the book that I didn't feel, was the relationship between Jordan and her young son Max. She seems rather disconnected from him. This can be explained by the fact she spends almost the entire book going through a grieving process, however. And I was so impressed by Katherine Owen's portrayal of grief. It was honest and took time to plough through; it wasn't pretty or easy. I did wonder at the role of sex in the process but, never having been through it myself, that may also be real.

There were also quite a number of editing errors throughout the pages. Normally, I won't even read a book with more than one, or maybe two, editing errors but I found myself overlooking these because I was so caught up in the story. Having read two of Katherine's books now, I can say with great certainty that she is a fantastic story teller!

This book was the epitome of an emotional rollercoaster, and I say that with a smile on my face. I love when I'm able to read a book and realize that part of it seems realistic, while the other part has that hint of unrealistic behavior. That is how I would describe Ellie. In many cases, I believe that she personifies the type of person many of us long to be. Of course, we would never tell anyone this dirty little secret. I read through this book rather quickly, because it captivated me so much and I just had to see what was going to be on the next page. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Reviewed by Judy

Not to Us is crafted flawlessly in first-person present tense, a difficult mechanism. Ellie’s emotional journey is explored in depth; readers will recognize and identify with many of her thoughts and feelings. However, the overall plot strains belief.

Ms Owen writes well. The story has tremendous possibilities, but in the opinion of this reviewer the characters’ actions and reactions to the situations in which they find themselves seem unrealistic. The topics of surviving cancer, divorce, and personal tragedy are certainly relevant but call for a more balanced approach by mature adults. While people may feel they are on a rollercoaster, as rational (or even irrational) human beings, they are well aware of the necessity to traverse the ground below with some plan and purpose.

At this writing, the novel has received four five-star reviews at Amazon.com, so readers considering the book might want to check there for another insight.

http://www.romancing-the-book.com/2011/08/review-not-to-us-by-katherine-clare.ht...

There was before. And, there was after.
Before was magical, embraced promise,
and bequeathed good things.
Before was for the innocent.
After was the haunted, and relinquished all promise. (pg 5)

'Seeing Julia' has one chapter of before; the rest is after. The after starts with Julia at her husband's funeral. And this is where I began to cry. Katherine Owen is able to write Julia's story with so much emotion that I was almost overwhelmed. Reading it is a truely emotional ride! Julia tells us her story in first person present so each feeling, each action is immediate and real to the reader. We follow Julia through loss and grief and through the agonizing process of trying to redefine herself as a 27 year old widow and mother to seven month old Reid. Julia's 'inner circle' of close friends becomes her strength when she can find none in herself. They hold her up and pull her through.

For some reason, I expected 'Seeing Julia' to be a fluffy, unreal romance novel. I don't know where I got this idea but I couldn't have been more wrong, 'Seeing Julia' is so much more. It is deep and real and full of emotion and pain and friendship and love. I can't say enough good about it. The main characters in the novel are very well developed and the story is easy to follow and read. I could feel Julia's pain from the beginning and I could also see the inner strength that she was struggling to reach. At first I wondered at her relationship with Jake, husband Evan's best friend. The intensity of her feelings for Jake seemed out of place considering the circumstances, but as we become privy to what is really going on in Julia's mind and how her grief is affecting her, understanding dawns. The reader begins to accept this relationship for what it is as secrets are revealed and Julia's past is explored.

If there is a negative about this book it is the lack of development of the relationship between Julia and her nanny, Lianne. For playing such an important role in Julia's life, Lianne remains a shadow in the story. She just seems to be a convenient plot ploy so that Julia has more freedom to grieve without having to think of Reid. I would have liked her to have more substance.

Julia's story will stay with me for a long time. I'm a little sad that this is a stand alone book, I would like to spend more time with all of the characters involved. As it is, I look forward to reading more by Katherine Owen.

This author weaves a gripping, and emotionally taut story. Robert & Ellie's perfect marriage is suddenly destroyed by infidelity. Ellie's world comes toppling down on her as she battles breast cancer, anger, resentment and betrayal.

If that wasn't enough, more things come at Ellie that shake her to her very core. Ellie's breast cancer is not the main issue here. It's about healing, forgiveness, and learning to trust again. This story is not predictable by any means and there are several twists that I did not see coming.

The author does an outstanding job fleshing out these characters. They seem real and I truly cared what happened to every one of them. The dialogue is well-written as is the interaction between the characters. The book flows at a steady pace and does not get bogged down in it's own plot. Be warned though, this is a two-hanky book.

It's an excellent read!