Review: ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL by M.K. Oien
Synopsis
My name is Lucille Marie Harris, but everyone calls me Lucky.
My life was planned out by me, for me. I wanted nothing more than to finish school and have my dream job. I let nothing or no one stand in the way of that. That is until I met Zeppelin Rhoades. He had a way of changing me; turning my world upside down and making me feel reckless.
This is the tale of a summer romance that changes the course of two people’s lives forever.
You think you know how this story ends, but you have no idea. It isn’t always about where we end up. It’s about how we get there.
One person can change your life forever.
Zeppelin Rhoades changed mine.
♥♥♥
Nicole’s Review 4.5 Stars
Holy Cow!! I just finished reading M.K. Oien’s Always Beautiful. Talk about the ultimate “never saw it coming!!” M.K. Oien had me convinced I knew exactly what was going to happen and then WHAM!!!! I never saw it coming! Oien’s gift for writing is such that I was so invested in the story and characters that when I finished the book, I was dumbfounded by the ending. Very few books I have read (and I read A LOT of books) have left me just shocked by their ending.
Always Beautiful is the story of Lucky (Lucille Marie Harris) and Zeppelin Rhoades. They meet the summer before Lucky starts college. Lucky is goal-oriented and a planner. She has a plan for school. She has a plan for what she is going to do once she graduates. Lucky doesn’t really know how to not follow her plan. While living with her cousin for the summer, Lucky meets Zeppelin. Zeppelin doesn’t have a plan. He is a “live for the moment, grab what you can from life” kind of guy. He’s covered in tattoos. He street races. He has been known to participate in underground fighting. Zeppelin is NOTHING like the boys Lucky dated in high school and he SO doesn’t fit into her plan!! The moment that Lucky and Zeppelin meet, the sparks between them start to fly. Poor Lucky doesn’t really know what to do those sparks. Fortunately for Lucky, Zeppelin has some experience in the sparks department and knows exactly what to do with them!!
The development of their attraction and its transition to affection is sweet and beautiful. They both learn so much about themselves and each other. This is where I found myself totally invested in the characters. I admired both of them for their strength; though they displayed it for completely different reasons. I ached with them for the pain that they both suffered. I hoped for their love to endure. I cried right along with them.
Always Beautiful is worth the read. I give it 4.5 stars. It isn’t just a great story. It is a great example of how an author can weave a wonderful story; bring you in; hit you in the gut and leave you feeling overwhelmed and satisfied all at the same time.
♥♥♥
About the Author
I’m a self-proclaimed book nerd, loud and proud! I firmly believe that reading and writing go hand in hand. When I picked up my first book of poetry (It was a children’s book of poems in my elementary school library) I decided that I wanted to write. I would jot down many a poem in my notebook and one day my grandmother looked at me and said “You should be a writer.” She was the first to encourage me and I haven’t stopped writing since.
I love writing whatever comes into my head, whether it’s paranormal, sci-fi, romance, poetry or songs. I’m a daydreamer with a vivid imagination and I love listening to music. Rock, Folk, Pop, Rap, Indie and Classical music all serve as great inspiration. I’m in a zone when I write, no sense of the “real” world or anything else around me. It’s like my hand is overcome by the person who needs to tell their story and they control the pen. It’s an amazing feeling and I don’t know how to live without. I simply can’t.
My favorite novel of all time is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. A romantic at heart, I am influenced by the amazing LaVyrle Spencer and Kathleen Woodiwiss as well as the New Adult authors of today including Colleen Hoover, Abbi Glines, E.L. James, and J.A. Redmerski. My first taste of paranormal was R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and the Bunnicula series by James Howe. I grew to love C.C. Hunter, Karice Bolton, and Stephen King. Authors are pretty much my version of rock stars and I hope to one day have a gigantic library filled to the brim. Obviously my favorite Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast.
I love talking all things literary and uniting with fellow bookworms! Feel free to stop by and say “Hi”.
Connect with the Author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MKOien
Twitter: @MKOien
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-MK-Oien/143383079167780