Review of Heavenly by LRC Featured Author Jennifer Laurens

Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

Thank you Jennifer for agreeing to participate and offering Heavenly for giveaway.
If you review any of Jennifer's books this month, you will get extra entries for the giveaway. Make sure you are signed up!


 Loving the Reviews Challenge and Huge Giveaway!

Link goes to and description from Goodreads.com

" I met someone who changed everything. Matthias. My autistic sister's guardian angel. Honest. Inspiring. Funny. Hot. And immortal. That was the problem. What could I do? I did what any other girl would do-I fell in love with him. Zoë's sister darts in front of cars. Her brother's a pothead. Her parents are so overwhelmed; they don't see Zoë lost in her broken life. Zoë escapes the only way she knows how: partying. Matthias, a guardian sent from Heaven, watches over Zoë's autistic sister. After Zoë is convinced he's legit, angel and lost girl come together in a love that changes destiny. But Heaven on Earth can't last forever"

**My rating: 4.5/5** 

*My short but sweet review*
This book is a good one, although I feel that the 3rd quarter of the book is rushed.
Despite that, it is built on a beautiful concept- a guardian angel for an autistic child, and the older sister falling in love with the angel. I connected well with Zoe- she is a genuine character and is easy to relate to. We get to see how she deals with difficulties in not so constructive ways, and then overcoming them. 
Matthias is an easy guy to love- he is humble, honest, hot, old fashioned, and pure. This is a breath of fresh air!
Though, I got nothing out of Brit, Zoe's best friend. She is flaky, fake, and I don't know why they stay friends. 
Aside from that, all I can say is brace yourself for a conclusion that is unexpected, though it is beautiful and a good way to end. 
I would recommend picking it up, and I definitely can't wait to get my hands on Penitence! 


You may also like: Fallen, Body Finder, Dark Divine, Immortal by Shields, Everafter, Ruined


I would love to hear what you think. If you have written a review, feel free to link it here!

LRC Featured Author Jennifer Laurens Guest Post (Heavenly)

Thank you Jennifer for agreeing to participate and offering Heavenly for giveaway.
If you review any of Jennifer's books this month, you will get extra entries for the giveaway. Make sure you are signed up!
 Loving the Reviews Challenge and Huge Giveaway!

     Maybe it’s because I ‘m an only child that I’m used to going after what I want without hesitation. I’m not blaming, I’m taking responsibility for my publishing choices.

     I started writing full time 10 years ago. An instructor I told me to start querying, so I did. I had immense interest in the story I was querying, and one top agent asked for a full manuscript right of the bat.  That was a turning point for me. I learned some key things: my story was 250 pages overwritten ( this in spite of having been extensively critiqued in a professional class, etc. ) and, having that kind of interest in your piece so soon is not the norm. ( as I discovered later with plenty of rejections )

     I brutally chopped ( with finesse) the manuscript until I thought it was as perfect as it could be. The agent ( a top agent at Writer’s House ) read and re-read it but ultimately passed on the project. 

     Back to querying. This time a different project. This project was picked up by another agent, an enthusiastic young newbie I connected well with.  I flew to NYC, met her and her partner and thought everything was going to be fabulous. All my dreams were going to come true!

     No. She didn’t end up shopping the manuscript around much, and, after a year the contract ended and I was once again back to the drawing board.

     I queried again, taking literally hundreds of rejections on various projects. All the while I’m scouring the YA bookshelf in the bookstores thinking,”My work’s at least as good as this.” ( Every author’s thought) The frustration didn’t mix well with the long stream of rejections but I didn’t give up, I kept honing my craft. Kept querying. Kept getting rejections. This went on for about a year and a half.

     Finally, another agent took me on, this time an older gent who’d been in the business for a zillion years. He loved the project, and we talked on the phone and totally connected. But I skipped the trip to NYC. He shopped the manuscript, sent me all of the email responses from various editors and, after a year of hard work with no success, he suggested I find someone who could be a better fit. We parted ways.

By this time 6 years have gone by. I continued to write, stock-piling stories. I’ve permanently shifted into the YA genre.

     My husband has always wanted to write NF with his background in money management, so he opens a publishing house: Grove Creek Publishing.  Only, he never finds the time to write “that book” – but I have a stack. So, I start searching for designers, graphic artists, editors, etc. and put my first books out there.

     I’ve been producing books from inception to hard copy since. I’ve learned so much about the industry, it’s been an amazing experience. I’ve literally handled every aspect of a publishing house myself, and  have come to understand every step. Publishing is a LOT of work. But it’s also so satisfying creatively to write a book, create a cover concept, get the team together to create the cover and interior, and then play with marketing ideas.

     There is NOTHING like holding your hard copy in your hands.

     This year, I sold the rights to Heavenly to four foreign countries – all by myself. Which means I didn’t need to split any money with anyone, nor do I ever have to split any money with anyone. Ever.

     The beauty of the digital age is that doors are opening for artists worldwide. Indie film, indie music, indie authors can reach the world without having to jump through the traditional hoops.

     It’s the best time ever for indies.

     When people ask me about publishing, I tell them to MAKE their own way. Don’t depend on someone else to do it for you. There are roads out there, roads with little or no paving. You can take one of those or you can create your own like I did. Persistence is the sole of your shoes.

     Ten years has gone by now and, after everything I have observed and read and know about the publishing industry I’ve realized I made the right choice for me.  It’s possible to have what you want, even when an industry tries to make it impossible. And they do. There’s prejudice, snobbery, downright ugliness in every industry and the publishing industry is no different. ( But that’s another blog post altogether J )

     As an indie, I bypass all that and focus on what I do best and what I love: writing stories for my readers.

Jennifer Laurens

     Thank you Jennifer, having completed my first novel and beginning to stick my toes into the publishing industry, this is very real and relevant post for me. I am glad that you made your own way and are sharing a wonderful success story with me! 

Review: Absolution by Jennifer Laurens

 Absolution by Jennifer Laurens

Zoe’s secret is out. And the powers of Hell are ravenous to claim her soul. Her brother, Luke, knows her secret: that she sees both good and evil spirits. Her boyfriend knows. At least Matthias is her guardian angel again. But now Hell’s most ruthless leader will stop at nothing to have her soul. 

Albert, Matthias’ father, is relentless in his hunger for Zoe. He wants to destroy Matthias and will use Zoe to do so. 

The battle between Heaven and Hell tests everything Zoe has. As she witnesses everyone important in her life suffering, she’s brought to the ultimate choice: will she sacrifice her soul to save the ones she love

Book links to and photo from The Book Depository and teaser from Goodreads

Publishes in US: Oct 11th 2010

Source: Bought

3rd In Heavenly series

**My rating: 5/5**

*My Review*

    I really love the Heavenly series by Jennifer, and this book did not let me down. Absolution had everything that I hoped for and more! It is such a story of hope, repentance, forgiveness, and true love. It not only demonstrates a familial love, working through troubles and coming out stronger, but what love in friendship should be like, as well as romantic love. 

    Zoe has really matured and blossomed and she deals with everything that bombards her in such a loving and awesome way. I really have grown to love her character and admire her actions. She is not perfect, but she is perfectly written. I love her bravery, and her mouth even though it gets her in trouble occasionally. 

    Abria is ever present and she continues to teach love, acceptance and tolerance. I adore her character, her innocence, and her complete trust. I also appreciate how she is given a bit of hope in this book while still being realistic to the disease.

    Weston is ever handsome and gentlemanly in this book... while he is himself. There are a few scenes that I was not happy with, but I understand why they are written and his actions... if that makes any sense. I really appreciate his love and loyalty to Zoe, even with her conflicted heart. 

    Matthias is as wonderful as ever in Absolution as well. His character has always been so pure, loving, and he has this non-judgmental way of telling it like it as and how it should be. His faith and steadfast convictions in those he loves really just makes me want to cry, and yearn for that to be directed my way. 

   Laurens really has written a masterpiece, and I would recommend getting your hands on this book and the series as quickly as you can!

 I would love to hear what you think of the book and/or my review!

Interview with Jennifer Laurens

Jennifer Laurens
My review of Heavenly here  and Penitence here

Bio from Jennifer's site
"I've written since junior high school. An only child, I grew up writing big stories about big families. I also write YA under the name of JM Warwick. My hometown of Palos Verdes, California figures in much of my work, as does my current home of Pleasant Grove, Utah and other favorite places. I love to travel.

They say "write what you know" and I do. I am a mother, I have six children, five cats and a huge doberman/dane dog. I have a supportive husband and we've been married 25 years. Our lives, though challenging with a handicapped child who has autism, are centered in our family.

My life experiences have worked into all of my novels. Some more heavily than others, but parts of me are in each story. I love stories rich in family drama, where family members overcome obstacles through love and miracles."

 Our Interview:

--Can you give us a brief description of Heavenly in your own words? 

It's the story of a teenage girl who falls in love with her autistic sister's guardian angel.

--How did you get the idea for the story? Did you do much research for your book? 

I have 6 children, one has autism - I write from experience. Zoe and Luke are compilations of my other childrens struggle to deal with and accept their sister's condition.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with? 

Like I said, my family is in this book, so, I eat dinner with them every night!! lol. I'd have to say Matthias.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read? 

Not much time for reading these days, not with the writing that has to get done. Some all-time fav books: Honest Illusions, Endless Love, Night, Stolen, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, The Kite Runner, The Outsider, Sea Swept.

--If a fairy godmother told you your life could be like a favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why? 

Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts. I love New Orleans ( where the story takes place ) and her characters ( in that book ) are unforgettable. I want to meet them. I want to learn magic and be in Luke's show....hahaha

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on the Heavenly "playlist-" songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote? 

I definitely need music and my daughter kindly creates the most outstanding playlists possible for each book I write. I listen to them 24/7 during the writing process of each book ( usually 3-4 months ). I burn out after that and usually can't listen to that playlist for a while when the book is done.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose? 

Being able to heal broken hearts.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time? 

Travel, cook, watch films--oh, and a girl's best friend: shop!

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers? 

Please find me on Facebook. I love connecting with those who've read my books. Outside of writing, I spend my free time connecting with readers, so come find me!

Find Jennifer On:

Her Books:


Heavenly website, and trailer