BOOK REVIEW FOR - SEEKING MANSFIELD - BY KATE WATSON

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Sixteen-year-old Finley Price has perfected two things: how to direct a world-class production, and how to fly way, way under the radar. The only person who ever seems to notice Finley is her best friend, the Bertram's son Oliver. If she could just take Oliver's constant encouragement to heart and step out of the shadows, she'd finally chase her dream of joining the prestigious Mansfield Theater. 

When teen movie stars Emma and Harlan Crawford move next door to the Bertram's, they immediately set their sights on Oliver and his cunning sister, Juliette, shaking up Finley and Oliver's stable friendship. As Emma and Oliver grow closer, Harlan finds his attention shifting from Juliette to the quiet, enigmatic, and thoroughly unimpressed Finley. Out of boredom, Harlan decides to make her fall in love with him. Problem is, the harder he seeks to win her, the harder he falls for her. 

But Finley doesn't want to be won, and she doesn't want to see Oliver with anyone else. To claim Oliver's heart—and keep her own—she'll have to find the courage to do what she fears most: step into the spotlight.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Well, welcome to the writing world Ms. Watson!  Your debut novel is amazing, and has been a pleasure to read and review!  

Let's take a moment to visit the characters of this book.

Finely - has had a horribly hard life.  It started to look up when the Bertrams took her and her brother Liam in after their fathers death.  At first she is quiet and reserved, and only trusted the Bertram's son Oliver.

Liam - Finley's older brother who is on the search for a professional soccer team to play for.  He's kind, and compassionate.  He has a soft spot for his sister, and misses her terribly when he is gone.

Oliver - is yummy.  Right from the very beginning he is just yummy.  He cares for Finley like an over protective guard dog, but he is finding it harder and harder to fight his feelings for her.

Juliette - is Oliver's evil sister.  I don't think I have much more to say about her.  She's just evil.

Emma - teen movie star who moves in next door to the Bertram's.  Emma is not my favorite person.  She acts like a spoiled princess.  Of course she usually gets her way because she is famous.  She gets the "dislike" (in my eyes) because she has her eyes on Oliver.

Harlan - sounds like your typical teenage throb.  He's famous and he knows it.  He is known for all the shenanigans he puts on.  Let's just say Harlan is my least favorite person in this book.  He is a great guy to hate :).

Finley likes to be in the background.  She has only ever really trusted one person in her life and that is Oliver.  He constantly lifts her up, and watches over her.  Finley believes she might have feelings for Oliver other than friendship and then the Crawford's move in next door.  Ruining Finley's dreams of being with Oliver.

Oliver really likes Finely but doesn't quite know how to tell her.  Then a distraction in the name of Emma moves in next door to him, and he doesn't have to focus so much on Finley any more.  He is constantly concerned for her, but is able to put his feelings for her aside, as he seeks out a relationship with Emma.

Finley feels a little jaded over the whole thing, because now she is forced to spend more time with Harlan, who seems to always be around when Emma is around.  She loathes him.  She thinks he's superficial and arrogant.

Harlan decides he must win Finely over, and while doing so he volunteers to help her with her theater group, and volunteers for Oliver's passion called M.A.D.  While doing this Finley finds out there is more to Harlan than meets the eye.  Slowly he wiggles his way into her life, and Finely accepts him as he is. (which was a horrible idea...just FYI ;))

The relationships in this book are messed up :).  In a way you cannot put the book down because it's like a train wreck, you just cannot turn away.

I love the writing in this book.  I love the setting, and the characters.  They come to life with Watson's words.  You feel their joys and their pains.  It was like watching a movie while reading the book.  Fantastic.

There are so many wonderful things in this book.  Life lessons, acquired love and finding healing in the most unlikely places.  

This book was written by a good friend of one of my nieces.  I have been following her journey to see her dream come to life in this published novel.  If you like love stories, with amazing characters and writing, you will love this book.  Watson is a very talented writer and it has been fun to see her dreams become a reality.

Source:  I bought this book for myself.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

Content:  Clean and fantastic

MY RATING:

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ABOUT THE AMAZING AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Kate Watson is a young adult writer, wife, mother of two, and the tenth of thirteen children. Originally from Canada, she attended college in the States and holds a BA in Philosophy from Brigham Young University. A lover of travel, speaking in accents, and experiencing new cultures, she has studied in Israel and lived in Brazil, the American South, and now calls Arizona home. 

Her first novel, SEEKING MANSFIELD, debuts in Spring 2017, with the companion novel to follow in 2018. She is also a contributor to Eric Smith's Welcome Home adoption anthology coming in 2017.