I definitely need to read more Kelly Barnhill stories, because this is my second book by the author, and once again I've given it five stars...
Look, I don't know how to properly review this story. Part of me just wants to gush about the writing, the plot, the characters, the depth, the symbolism, the enchanting magical realism writing style.
I don't want to pick things apart, like I normally do.
This is a story about finding out who you are. A story about love and friendship, and what makes family. In the end this is about moving on, because the world doesn't stop changing and neither do we.
Just read it.

All book bloggers go through it once in awhile. It's our holy grail. That elusive five star story that keeps escaping us by the turn of the pages... until it does appear, and we get all flustered and scared searching for words that will never make that story true justice. As you can see, this is one of those cases. I don't even remember any more what it was that caught my attention when requesting this title. But I am so glad that it did. If you're looking for an entrancing story with complex and diverse characters, then search no more. If to that, you're also a fan of magical realism and of beautiful writing, then you're in for a treat. Sam and Miel have been friends since "forever". Forever being, since the old water tower got destroyed, a rush of rusty water delivering this strange girl, Miel to Sam's small town. Alone and with a few bag of memories. Sam, or Samir, is the boy with the dark skin and black hair. The boy that doesn't seem to fit in anywhere: until Miel arrives. Miel, the girl with the roses growing in her wrist. Literally. And with a lot of lore attached to them. Both of them have secrets of their own. Both of them are outcasts in their own way. But one thing is constant between them: their friendship, and later on their love. Their feelings for each other, and most of all, the way they respect one another is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. How they love each other, not despite something, but because of those elements, made me fall in love with them. A wonderful story about all the different bonds of love. A story about what makes us unique. What makes us, us. Is it our bodies? The way other people perceive us? A wonderful complex story of friendship, family, love, and even witches. Witches with glass coffins and wishes that aren't theirs to hold. A story that in the end leaves us sad because it has ended. But happy for having read it. A definite must read!

And now I must go and read the author's first book asap.

Author's Official Site BookDepository.com

1st read - 27 to 31 October 2014
2nd read - 29 September to 2 October 2016

_________________

And Murdo, oh Murdo...

This series is just an absolute joy to read. I enjoyed it even more the second time and kind of want to start a reread already. David and Murdo are just so, so lovely and it's just all so, so lovely.

1st read - 26 October 2014

2nd read - 27 September 2016

____________________

"Just because you lose a battle, doesn't mean it was never worth fighting."

Goodness but I love this series. I loved it even more on the second read because now I KNOW!!!! I know what's to come. I know Murdo and I know David and I know that all is not lost. For me the Enlightenment series is just one big book. I first read it after all three were released and I'm not gonna lie, I would have a conniption if I'd had to wait for any of them. I'm not at all patient and I'm certainly not patient when it comes to David and Murdo. Even rereading them I just want to devour them so I can see what happens. I love me an historical and I especially love them when they are set in places I adore and I adore Edinburgh, to be honest I just love Scotland in general but Edinburgh has a very special feel to it. It's just dripping in history and it's really easy to picture David walking about the streets. I really want to organise a weekend and read these again while I'm there. Reading is dangerous for my bank account!!

Seriously, I love this series. It is pure comfort even when it's breaking my heart. It is beautifully written and a joy to read and it is just a wonderful and poignant love story.

"That night - that moment - had been the sweetest of all David's life. And if thinking that made him wicked and bound for hell, he wasn't sure he had it in him to repent. But Christ, it was bittersweet. More bitter than sweet, truth to tell. Sweet to know that for once in his life, he'd known such tenderness, but oh so bitter to know it would never come again."

1st read - 23 to 25 July 2013
2nd read - 20 to 26 June 2014 (audio)
3rd read - 5 to 9 September 2016

_____________________

“Jules, sweetheart, home isn’t a place. Home is anywhere, just as long as the people you love are there.”

I fell truly, madly in love with Vance in Rock Chick Redemption when he took care of Roxie. He is a man of few words is Vance but the ones he says make me swoon.

"But any man is defined by the woman who shares her bed with him.”

“That isn’t true.”

“It is, and it works the other way, too.”

Oh my God. Did he really think that?

“Crowe—”

“Which means, if someone like you, someone as unbelievably beautiful as you, as crazy and sweet as you, filled with attitude and courage with her heart in the right place, in a lot of right places even though her head normally isn’t… if someone like you shares her bed with me, then that says something about me.”

And he rides a Harley.

So that's Vance. And obviously Vance needs himself a head-crackin’ mamma jamma and he gets an awesome one in Jules. Jules is without a doubt one of my favourite Rock Chicks and her introduction is THE best Rock Chick introduction there is.

The audio for this is also great and I recommend it.