The YA's Nightstand: Cassie Shine

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Tour Post: Harp's Voice

Harp's Voice

by Cassie Shine

The sequel to Cassie's debut YA novel, Harp's Voice.

Pages: 314

Publisher: Createspace

Publication Date: 23rd June 2014

ISBN: 1497559898
Received From: Jen Halligan PR

Summery

Single-minded to the point of near seclusion, Harp Evans’ only goal was to move away from her abusive mother, and start a new life at college. Now a freshman at a prestigious university, Harp continues to struggle letting people in, including her ex-boyfriend—Connor Williams—who has always stood by her, especially after her mother exposed a devastating secret about Harp’s origin.
While Harp figures out how to navigate her relationships, especially with her mom, Anne, she will have to exorcize her own demons and face challenges with uncompromising courage, including reuniting her broken family—the family that was shattered by the acts of one man.
After almost twenty years, is it possible for people to change their minds and open their hearts? More importantly, is Harp strong enough to pull them all back together?

Review

There aren't many books I can sit and read in a day. I'm a little like a magpie and I get distracted way to easily! However, with Harp's Voice I sat down at 3pm and didn't put it down until I had finished reading Harp's story. It was everything I could have hoped for in a sequel and the book laid to rest any unanswered questions from Harp's Song.

When Harp's Voice starts it's been several months since the events of Harp's Song. Her mother has completed her chemotherapy, they're working through their issues with weekly therapy sessions and Harp is well into her fest year at university. Things with Connor are still on pause as Harp tries to get herself together and the story follows her as she finds a way to trust people and open herself up to a life without the constant fear she's always known. With new friends - and old ones - at her side will Harp be able to let go of her gritty past?

It wasn't until I picked this book up that I realised just how much I'd missed these characters! Yes I had a couple of issues with them in the first book but they are flawed and honest and real so they were never going to be perfect. You wouldn't want them to be.

Harp's growth from the beginning of Harp's Song to the very last scene - oh my god it was perfect - is inspirational. She's had so many obstacles throughout these books and even though she falls apart and even though she's not perfect she finds the strength within herself and her family to put her best foot forward and continue living her life. Being able to see the struggle Harp had in book one made her accomplishments throughout Harp's Voice all the more special. I was so proud of her as a character.

Then there’s Connor. Connor is, as always, the perfect boyfriend. He puts a smile on my face every time he’s mentioned and will have you crushing like a lovesick teenager. He's still completely and utterly besotted with Harp and his loyalty to his broken girlfriend is heart-warming.

In my review for Harp's Song I mentioned that I felt the whole cancer story line was a bit of a cop out. It felt like the writer needed a way to make all of Anne's mistakes acceptable and I just couldn't get behind that. There is no excuse for beating your child, not ever. However, Harp's Voice gives us as a reader more information into Anne's life and you get to see that she doesn't ever expect to be forgiven. Not completely. That she'll have to live with what she did for the rest of her life. What I think Cassie is saying is that no matter what you do there is a chance for redemption. It's not easy, but if the circumstances are right you can get your life back. You have to make a choice and that choice(s) is what will shape you as a human being and determine how you live your life.

Overall this was the perfect end to Harp's story. It concluded everything, leaving no questions unanswered. It wasn't flawless but the writing was effortless and these characters made it a joy to read.

**I received this book as an ARC from Jen Halligan PR to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

About Cassie

Cassie Shine released her debut young adult novel, Harp's Song in November 2013, finally finishing the short story she started in her college creative writing class … many, many moons ago. She has always been an avid reader and lover of music (yes, she was in the high school marching band). While she has a weak spot for all things teenybopper, especially boy bands, she also loves classical, country, rock and well, pretty much everything.

After living in St. Louis for more than ten years, she and her husband packed up a U-Haul and headed west. They currently live in Orange County, CA with their furry kids Finnegan and Molly.

Author Interview

with Cassie

What was the inspiration behind Harp’s story?

I actually started this story in my creative writing class in college (many, many moons ago) and every so often I would think about pulling it out and working on it again. So, in February 2013 that’s what I did! At the time I originally wrote it, I was inspired by something a friend of mine was going through, and though the story has changed quite a bit, and become more personal since it was first created, the basis of it is the same.

Was if difficult to write a strong female voice?

No! I am drawn to strong female characters, but have also lived through a lot of things myself and consider myself strong, so it was easy for me to relate to Harp and her inner strength-channel that for this story.

Who was your favourite character to write and why?

Hmmm … this is a toughie! In Harp’s Song I think my favorite character to write was Connor. I mean … he’s just so darn swoon worthy <sigh>! In Harp’s Voice, my favorite character to write is a tie between Jayden and Harmony. When my sister read Harp’s Voice, she sent me a text that said, “Oh Jayden…!” and I couldn’t have said it better! But, there’s something about Harmony and the balance and awareness she brings to Harp’s life that I just love and gravitate toward.

What three books would you recommend to readers of Harp’s Voice?

Only 3… eeek!! OK… Harp’s Song because you need Harp’s Song to fully understand Harp’s journey in Harp’s Voice (but I’m gonna cheat and not really include that on this list).

Almost by Anne Elliot
A Different Blue by Amy Harmon
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Why did you choose to write for Young Adults?

I am a 14-year-old girl trapped inside the body of a 35-year-old woman.

Not really, but kinda … sorta … ok, yeah maybe just a little!

There are a few reasons why I’m drawn to write and read Young Adult-I love first loves … sigh, I love how when you are fifteen everything feels like the end of the world, and I love feeling a character’s growth in such a formative time in their lives. But ultimately, I think what I love most is remembering the feelings that surfaced from deep within me when I was a teenager reading YA, and how reading about what other teens were going through made me feel … normal-like I wasn’t alone in the universe or crazy!

What are you reading at the moment?

Aspen by Rebekah Crane

And lastly… using song titles, list five songs that tell the story of Harp’s Voice?

The Secret for cello and piano by Adam Hurst
Brave by Sara Bareilles
Awake My Soul by Mumford & Sons
Try by Pink
A Little Bit Stronger by Sara Evans

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COVER REVEAL

Harp's Voice

by Cassie Shine

The sequel to Cassie's debut YA novel, Harp's Voice.

Release Date - 24th June 2014

Summery

Single-minded to the point of near seclusion, Harp Evans’ only goal was to move away from her abusive mother, and start a new life at college. Now a freshman at a prestigious university, Harp continues to struggle letting people in, including her ex-boyfriend—Connor Williams—who has always stood by her, especially after her mother exposed a devastating secret about Harp’s origin.
While Harp figures out how to navigate her relationships, especially with her mom, Anne, she will have to exorcize her own demons and face challenges with uncompromising courage, including reuniting her broken family—the family that was shattered by the acts of one man.
After almost twenty years, is it possible for people to change their minds and open their hearts? More importantly, is Harp strong enough to pull them all back together?

About Cassie

After living in St. Louis for more than ten years, she and her husband packed up a U-Haul and headed west. They currently live in Orange County, CA with their furry kids Finnegan and Molly.

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Harp's Song

by Cassie Shine

Publishing Date: November 4th 2013

Publisher: Cassie Shine

ISBN: 1493562630

Received from: NetGalley

Summary

In just a few months Harp Evans will be officially coming of age and graduating from high school. She will be free from the mother that never wanted her, the house that never felt like home, and the disappointment of the last seventeen years. What she doesn’t know is that her mother has been holding onto a secret that has the potential to derail her dreams and destroy her already faulty sense of self.A self-proclaimed recluse, Harp spends most of her time practicing the cello, in the hopes of earning a full scholarship that will grant her freedom, but will also send her away from her best friend Connor Williams, who is becoming more than just a friend.
As revelations are made, will Harp still feel the same way about leaving everyone that cares about her behind? Or will she continue to pursue the life she’s been dreaming of, for as long as she can remember?

Review

Harp's Song is the story of Harper Evens, a shy, cello playing girl with a cute best friend and a damaged family. The book follows Harp as she discovers the heartbreak behind her mother's violent out bursts and how she handles falling in love with her best friend - along with the usual high school drama's.

I think one of the biggest surprises with Harp's Song for me was Harp herself. I struggle with teenage girl point of views and at times - especially towards the end - Harp did fall into that category, but for the majority of the book she was strong and determined and didn't take any crap from anyone. Which I really liked. Her stories a tough one and I think that she did the best she could and I found myself rooting for her.

Although a character I did battled with was Harp's mum Anne. There were some real 'ass-hats' in this book, but you were meant to hate them. With Anne I wasn't sure how I was meant to feel. I didn't develop the appropriate sympathy towards her that I think I was meant to. I simply found her selfish and unreliable.

For a debut novel this isn't half bad, I've certainly read a lot worse but there were some holes in the plot created by overly used YA cliches and altogether randomness. There were a couple of times when the behaviour of a certain character would flip instantly and it would all seem ridiculously sudden. I mean it's not a very long book, so I guess it wasn't going to happen gradually but it almost felt like she had some sort of split personality disorder!

And then we come to Connor. He's protective without being dominate and possessive which is a hard balance to create and I give Cassie a massive round of applause for getting it right! It's not easy. Connor is sweet and popular, he's not afraid to cry and definitely doesn't have a problem throwing a punch or two. He's my favourite character from Harp's Song and I hope you like him as much as I did.

Overall, is was a good book. A little slow paced and sure, it was a tad cliché, but Harp is a strong-willed young lady with a story worth being told. Now that the character's have been introduced and the story laid out I'm looking forward to seeing where the second book goes and as long as it's a little lighter on the clichés I'm sure I'll love it.

**I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**

pages

Tour Post: Harp's Voice

COVER REVEAL

Harp's Song