Jennifer Laurens
Author of Heavenly
About the Author
Series
Works by Jennifer Laurens
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Laurens, Jennifer
Warwick, J. M.
Warwick, Katherine - Gender
- female
- Education
- Brigham Young University
- Organizations
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Short biography
- 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 - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Pleasant Grove, Utah, USA
Palos Verdes, California - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
I am in love with this book. There is no other way to say it. Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens has been on my radar for quite a while now and whilst I’d owned the book for some time, I do have a very large TBR pile and had not read it yet. I seem to be saying this a lot lately! Anyway, I picked it up and started reading one night and absolutely loved the story.
Heavenly is told through the eyes of 17-year-old Zoe who lives at home with her parents, younger brother and little sister Abria who is show more autistic and as such she demands a lot of care and attention from her parents. This leaves Zoe and her brother Luke feeling rather neglected. Their parents are so tired and weighed down with responsibility that they are completely oblivious to Zoe’s escapism into alcohol and partying and Luke’s drug dependency. One day, Zoe meets her autistic little sister’s guardian angel Matthias and their relationship changes everything. But how long can heaven on earth last?
I like to read late at night and Heavenly kept me up for a few nights until 3am (it’s a good job I was on holiday from work is all I can say). I purposefully didn’t rush my way through Heavenly though as I wanted to savour every delicious moment of reading it and prolong my enjoyment of the book for as long as possible. I was hooked into the story immediately and I really enjoyed the way Zoe’s character developed as the story unfolded. I also liked how her parents were portrayed in the book. They weren’t cast as the bad parents or parents that didn’t care about their children. They were genuinely struggling to hold the family together. The family was somewhat dysfunctional yes but they were painted in a sympathetic light because of their struggles with Abria. There was never ANY doubt that they loved their children and I liked that.
One character I was not particularly fond of was Britt who is Zoe’s best friend. She is shallow and selfish which soon becomes obvious to the reader. I didn’t really believe in their friendship and thought that they were using each other for company, which I think is what Jennifer was aiming to portray. On the opposite side of the coin was Chase who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Zoe over a common bond. I liked the fact that Zoe had someone who actually was a loyal friend to confide in.
One of my favourite characters was Luke, surprisingly enough. I thought that Jennifer portrayed his drug dependency in such a humane and sympathetic light that rather than judge him, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him and want to help him.
And Matthias, what can I say about dear, sweet Matthias. Three words methinks...I. WANT. ONE. Not only is he a fantastic guardian angel but he also has the ability to influence people through emotions (but in a good way). Think Jasper from Twilight. This might sound odd but I felt a sense of calmness reading Heavenly as though Matthias were real and influencing me through Zoe.
I think what I love most about Heavenly, besides the story, is the voice. Zoe has a mature voice, it isn't childish or superficial. I thought Heavenly was an excellent example of a YA crossover novel that appeals to both teenagers and adults alike. I can’t wait to give it to my older sister to read and I’ve lined it up as a surprise birthday present for another friend who I just know is going to love it.
I can’t tell you how much I loved this book and I was extremely lucky recently to have been sent the sequel Penitence. I’m sure it will come as no surprise to you to know that I started reading Penitence pretty much immediately after finishing Heavenly and again, read it within a matter of days. And yes, I was up until 3am each time!
In conclusion, I would HIGHLY recommend this book and it has become one of my personal favourites. The ending will leave you desperate for more!! I’d never read anything by Jennifer Laurens before and I now find myself a huge fan of her writing and can’t wait to read and review her other books. show less
Heavenly is told through the eyes of 17-year-old Zoe who lives at home with her parents, younger brother and little sister Abria who is show more autistic and as such she demands a lot of care and attention from her parents. This leaves Zoe and her brother Luke feeling rather neglected. Their parents are so tired and weighed down with responsibility that they are completely oblivious to Zoe’s escapism into alcohol and partying and Luke’s drug dependency. One day, Zoe meets her autistic little sister’s guardian angel Matthias and their relationship changes everything. But how long can heaven on earth last?
I like to read late at night and Heavenly kept me up for a few nights until 3am (it’s a good job I was on holiday from work is all I can say). I purposefully didn’t rush my way through Heavenly though as I wanted to savour every delicious moment of reading it and prolong my enjoyment of the book for as long as possible. I was hooked into the story immediately and I really enjoyed the way Zoe’s character developed as the story unfolded. I also liked how her parents were portrayed in the book. They weren’t cast as the bad parents or parents that didn’t care about their children. They were genuinely struggling to hold the family together. The family was somewhat dysfunctional yes but they were painted in a sympathetic light because of their struggles with Abria. There was never ANY doubt that they loved their children and I liked that.
One character I was not particularly fond of was Britt who is Zoe’s best friend. She is shallow and selfish which soon becomes obvious to the reader. I didn’t really believe in their friendship and thought that they were using each other for company, which I think is what Jennifer was aiming to portray. On the opposite side of the coin was Chase who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Zoe over a common bond. I liked the fact that Zoe had someone who actually was a loyal friend to confide in.
One of my favourite characters was Luke, surprisingly enough. I thought that Jennifer portrayed his drug dependency in such a humane and sympathetic light that rather than judge him, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him and want to help him.
And Matthias, what can I say about dear, sweet Matthias. Three words methinks...I. WANT. ONE. Not only is he a fantastic guardian angel but he also has the ability to influence people through emotions (but in a good way). Think Jasper from Twilight. This might sound odd but I felt a sense of calmness reading Heavenly as though Matthias were real and influencing me through Zoe.
I think what I love most about Heavenly, besides the story, is the voice. Zoe has a mature voice, it isn't childish or superficial. I thought Heavenly was an excellent example of a YA crossover novel that appeals to both teenagers and adults alike. I can’t wait to give it to my older sister to read and I’ve lined it up as a surprise birthday present for another friend who I just know is going to love it.
I can’t tell you how much I loved this book and I was extremely lucky recently to have been sent the sequel Penitence. I’m sure it will come as no surprise to you to know that I started reading Penitence pretty much immediately after finishing Heavenly and again, read it within a matter of days. And yes, I was up until 3am each time!
In conclusion, I would HIGHLY recommend this book and it has become one of my personal favourites. The ending will leave you desperate for more!! I’d never read anything by Jennifer Laurens before and I now find myself a huge fan of her writing and can’t wait to read and review her other books. show less
"His sharp gaze still had me pinned. “And that’s what it all comes down to, doesn’t it? How close can we get to the edge?"
I read this for a challenge in one of my book clubs. I have huge reservations about teacher / student relationships. I mean, hey, I have two daughters - 1 is a teenager. So, it's tough. I cringe. Would i want this for my daughter??
Ugh. No and if I ever saw any of this crazy behavior in my daughter I would get her help.
Eden seems unstable. her stalking and psychotic show more behavior starts on the first day of school and just continues to downward spiral. She seems intent on owning him - even though its dangerous for him. And she's frightening in her need to consume him.
I felt scared for him the whole book. Their stumbling around was never hot or steamy, it was always "dear god, James, I'm scared for your safety"
if you don't have reservations about a student stalking a teacher, by all means, this one just might be for you. show less
I read this for a challenge in one of my book clubs. I have huge reservations about teacher / student relationships. I mean, hey, I have two daughters - 1 is a teenager. So, it's tough. I cringe. Would i want this for my daughter??
Ugh. No and if I ever saw any of this crazy behavior in my daughter I would get her help.
Eden seems unstable. her stalking and psychotic show more behavior starts on the first day of school and just continues to downward spiral. She seems intent on owning him - even though its dangerous for him. And she's frightening in her need to consume him.
I felt scared for him the whole book. Their stumbling around was never hot or steamy, it was always "dear god, James, I'm scared for your safety"
if you don't have reservations about a student stalking a teacher, by all means, this one just might be for you. show less
I made the mistake of starting this at 10:30 last night and finished it at 7:30 this morning. Not sure how many hours of sleep I got in between.
Ashlynn was kidnapped when she was 5 by a woman who worked for her father. After she was rescued, Ashlynn's family pulled up stakes and moved from California to New York City. Since then her father has been obsessed with her safety and protection, to the point where she has a live-in bodyguard, or "companion" as her family likes to call them. show more
Ashlynn's newest "companion" is a family friend from California, who made Ashlynn's life a living hell by teasing her relentlessly. Now he is 21, hopes to go into the FBI when he finishes his degree, oh, and he's gorgeous!
This was an incredibly cute, fast reading YA romance. Lots of sexual tension, but nothing more than kissing. Lots of action when Ashlynn does everything within her power to ditch her bodyguards. Lots of incredibly over-bearing parental supervision. It was a great break from all the net galleys I've been reading. I highly recommend it show less
Ashlynn was kidnapped when she was 5 by a woman who worked for her father. After she was rescued, Ashlynn's family pulled up stakes and moved from California to New York City. Since then her father has been obsessed with her safety and protection, to the point where she has a live-in bodyguard, or "companion" as her family likes to call them. show more
Ashlynn's newest "companion" is a family friend from California, who made Ashlynn's life a living hell by teasing her relentlessly. Now he is 21, hopes to go into the FBI when he finishes his degree, oh, and he's gorgeous!
This was an incredibly cute, fast reading YA romance. Lots of sexual tension, but nothing more than kissing. Lots of action when Ashlynn does everything within her power to ditch her bodyguards. Lots of incredibly over-bearing parental supervision. It was a great break from all the net galleys I've been reading. I highly recommend it show less
Ashlyn's life is one that most people dream of. Rich, lavish and completely perfect. Or is it? Unfortunately for Ashyln she was kidnapped at a very young age, and now her father is extremely protective of her. Trapped inside her beautiful fortress of a house, forced to have a bodyguard follow her around all the time, that's what Ashlyn's life has now become. How can anything at all, even love, possibly happen to her while she is trapped here?
Overprotected was a perfectly written story that show more had me reading it straight through. Ashlyn's character is one that I hadn't met before, and I really liked following her thought process. Her complete anger towards her father for keeping her locked up, her disdain for the way her mother behaves, and the longing she has to just be free and on her own, are all present in full force as the story progresses. By page 20 I was already invested in poor Ashlyn's life. How would it feel to be so overprotected?
Then Colin comes on the scene. Oh Colin! I'd swoon if it didn't mean I'd accidentally knock over my computer. Once her childhood tormentor, Colin has grown up into quite a gentleman. He's sweet, polite, and honestly allows Ashlyn more freedom than any other bodyguard ever has. It made perfect sense to me that they'd start to develop feelings. After all, who spends more time with her than than he does? The buildup of their relationship was perfection. Wrought with discoveries, betrayal and honest feelings, I was totally immersed in their story.
I'm honestly not usually big on romances in books, but the undercurrent of twists, mystery and suspense is really what kept me reading. Jennifer Laurens executes a beautiful marrying of the mystery aspect and the romance aspect. One really doesn't outweigh the other. The ending is so amazing! I won't spoil it, but I thought it fit the book so well. If you are a fan of sweet romances, and clean reads, this is a book that you are sure to enjoy! show less
Overprotected was a perfectly written story that show more had me reading it straight through. Ashlyn's character is one that I hadn't met before, and I really liked following her thought process. Her complete anger towards her father for keeping her locked up, her disdain for the way her mother behaves, and the longing she has to just be free and on her own, are all present in full force as the story progresses. By page 20 I was already invested in poor Ashlyn's life. How would it feel to be so overprotected?
Then Colin comes on the scene. Oh Colin! I'd swoon if it didn't mean I'd accidentally knock over my computer. Once her childhood tormentor, Colin has grown up into quite a gentleman. He's sweet, polite, and honestly allows Ashlyn more freedom than any other bodyguard ever has. It made perfect sense to me that they'd start to develop feelings. After all, who spends more time with her than than he does? The buildup of their relationship was perfection. Wrought with discoveries, betrayal and honest feelings, I was totally immersed in their story.
I'm honestly not usually big on romances in books, but the undercurrent of twists, mystery and suspense is really what kept me reading. Jennifer Laurens executes a beautiful marrying of the mystery aspect and the romance aspect. One really doesn't outweigh the other. The ending is so amazing! I won't spoil it, but I thought it fit the book so well. If you are a fan of sweet romances, and clean reads, this is a book that you are sure to enjoy! show less
Lists
You May Also Like
Statistics
- Works
- 14
- Members
- 698
- Popularity
- #36,253
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 91
- ISBNs
- 20
- Favorited
- 3