Saturday, May 4, 2013

Book Review: "All My Life" by Rucy Ban



All My Life

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Kari meets Neil Mars. “Neil as in Armstrong and Mars…as in Bruno.” A boy who beats every vampire, werewolf, highlander fantasy Kari has ever had. But she knows she can’t get close to him. Not ever. Because that would mean telling him everything. Coming clean. And Kari can’t bear the idea of changing the way Neil looks at her. Like she’s the only girl in the world. His reverence is something too precious to lose. Perhaps even at the cost of losing him. 

But Kari doesn't know why Neil calls her his ‘Angel’ and when she finds out, she realizes what love is all about. Boundless joy, unending longing and a fuckload of heartache.



Review:
4.5 Stars

"It takes ten minutes and thirty seven seconds. 
Just ten minutes and thirty seven second to turn my life upside down."

A secret Kari carried along with her for two years. Two. Years. A secret that kept her from living her life the way she deserved to do so. Until she met Neil Mars.

First off, that prologue... it automatically intrigued me. I was not expecting it. At all. It fully spiked my curiosity.

The rest of the book (minus that prologue) was narrated from Kari's point of view and let me just say, I loved that girl!! She was witty, sarcastic, and so funny!! I found myself giggling a lot. 


"What if he doesn't want to see me again?! Oh God!! Stop obsessing, or you'll die a withering wrinkled virgin! 
All through lunch, high definition images of cobwebs flourishing between my legs keep flashing before my eyes..."


"Neil Mars." I look at him incredulously. "Neil... Mars?!"
"Uh-huh. Neil as in Armstrong and Mars as in Bruno." .... No wonder he tortures his Mom by calling her by her name."


"Angel. He called me angel! Huh. What is he? An alpha male wannabe? A classic western aficionado?


"You know as per mythology, Angels were actually men who were sent down by God as messengers? So when you say Angel, it's like you're calling me a dude." Neil looks at me for a few seconds and then throws his head back and bursts out laughing. 


See? She's quite funny! and Neil? Very hot, athletic, swoony, romantic, gentle, and protective of Kari. 


"I think... I need..."
"Me," he says firmly and grasps my chin in his hands. He pulls my face up, making me look into his eyes. "You need me, Angel."


"...you'll still always be Angel to me... you don't know what you've done... you've saved me."


"If you keep looking at me like that, we'll need a room." 


"Then he does this thing. His fingers start moving on my face, tracing outlines. They trail along my eyebrows, the ridge of my nose, the apple of my cheeks and the line of my jaw. His touch is like feather but his eyes... they blaze and just like that, without saying a single word, he makes me believe."


I honestly loved all the characters in this book. Nalini was just as funny as Kari. I'd love to have her as my best friend any day!!


"Maybe you guys should just find a room and get all these come-hump-me looks over with."


Seriously, this was a very enjoyable book. It had an intriguing plot, great characters, and a yummy hero, so of course it was good! There were moments though, where I felt like the story was being rushed and where there was a lot of telling rather showing. It didn't happen often, but it did happen a couple of times. 

Regarding the ending.. rest assured, it's a happy one!! BUT, I have to admit, I didn't absolutely love the Epilogue. Even though it was a happy ending, it was one of those moments that felt a bit rushed.

 That all being said.. I recommend this book!! 
I'm sure you'll love Neil and Kari.


"He calls me an Angel. But it's he who has been my savior. When my world felt damned he brought me back, gave me hope, made me burn, made me feel so beautifully, insanely... alive."



*A copy of "All My Life" was given by author in exchange for an honest review 













About the Author:
Rucy Ban


Rucy Ban was born in 1978 and still continues to thrive. Ever since she first met Francine (the protagonist of her favorite novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Rucy fell in love with the written word. Rucy has a B-school degree in Marketing which she now puts to good use teaching lovable rowdy rogues and negotiating with her equally belligerent adolescent. In her previous avatar, she handled corporate communications for companies. At present, Rucy lives in Sao Paulo, travels often, speaks decent, if not quite fluent, Portuguese and really hates talking about herself in third person.

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