REVIEW and GIVEAWAY
Just Like a Musical
by Milena Veen
Just Like a Musical is currently on tour with YA Bound Book Tours. The tour stops here today for my review and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Seventeen-year-old Ruby Fields has always lived by the rules set up by her foolishly overprotective mother. As a result, she doesn't go to school, she's never been kissed, and almost everything she knows about life is what she has learned from old movies.
But now ... now there's this Joshua guy. He's quirky, and he's tall, and he uses "romantic" and "old-fashioned" in the same sentence.
And there's Mrs. Wheeler, an eccentric retired Hollywood costume designer and Ruby's new best friend.
When Mrs. Wheeler ends up in hospital, just after telling Ruby her long-kept secret, Ruby decides to break her mother's rules and embark on a journey that will change her life forever.
This heartfelt story will appeal both to young readers and adults who still remember the pain and beauty of growing up.
Excerpts
My Favorite Lines
" ... she has never made a conscious effort to dive under the surface of my skin and touch my essence. She will never know why I love to watch the raindrops sliding down the windowpanes, although she can see me sitting by the window every time it rains."
"It was one of those quiet afternoons when everything seems to be indolent and all the colors are kind of melted."
"I looked into his eyes for a moment. They were midnight blue and they were smiling and I was ready to fall in love."
"Sometimes, very rarely, life endows you with a moment of sheer flawlessness when everything is just like it is supposed to be - the smell of the air, the softness of the light, the sound of birds perching in the treetops, and someone's smiling eyes."
"Her wide-open, gray eyes were glowing like two lonely stars in the darkest time of night."
"An insane cocktail of all different kinds of words was running down my throat and I was unable to digest it."
... And too many more to share. You'll just have to read Just Like a Musical yourself.
Review
By Lynda Dickson
Seventeen year-old Ruby lives with her over-protective mother and is home-schooled due to health issues. Seeking companionship, she befriends her elderly new neighbor Mrs Eleanor Wheeler, costume designer to the stars. Then Ruby meets Joshua, a boy with his own set of medical and family troubles. Circumstances intervene, leading to an impromptu road trip which brings Ruby any Joshua closer together. Along the way, they meet a fortune teller and a cast of other quirky characters.
Just Like a Musical is written like a puzzle, with little pieces slowly revealing the bigger picture. The writer has a natural style and a great way with words. I loved the interactions between Ruby and Joshua as well as all of the minor characters. After reading this, you'll never look at a shooting star the same way again.
I can't wait to see what this new writer comes up with next.
Guest Post by Milena Veen (originally featured on the her blog)
Six Facts About My Main Character
1. Her name starts with R.
2. Sometimes she imagines her life as a musical film, with running down the stairs, and drums, and funny singing, and everything.
3. Her best friend is 78 years old.
4. Her favorite movie is "Breakfast at Tiffany's".
5. She loves coffee with cinnamon.
6. The thing she always carry in her handbag is her grandfather's Polaroid camera.
About the Author
Milena Veen was born in Belgrade, Serbia. Her first piece of writing, a poem about a walking cherry, saw the light of the day when she was seven. She's been writing ever since.
Milena graduated from University of Belgrade with a degree in psychology. She lives in a little European town with her husband and a mute cat. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading, riding her bicycle, and listening to music. She prefers clouds to sunshine and coffee to tea.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
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