Cornerstone (Cornerstone Series) Paperback – November 7, 2011

In a category that is riddled with stale old stereotypes and eye-rolling cringe worthy characterizations, Cornerstone reads like fresh flower growing in a spring morning. While I don't think the concepts are new (and really there isn't truly any new concept in the world anymore), somehow the way it's presented and written makes it extremely fresh.If I had to describe the book it would be a WAY BETTER written version of Twilight. HAHAHHAHA no seriously, the romance in here is written a lot better (although it has the same tropes like drop dead gorgeous guy chasing a socially awkward girl, bullying because she's dating said gorgeous guy, etc... I could go on and on) and the world building for this is actually so much better (no it doesn't have vampires but it involves an ancient community).The book starts off with just a brief introduction to Nalena and her mother's hoarding condition. Then it puts you right into the action and you have no clue as to what is going on (just like the main character herself) in the hands of a less skilled author, this could have ended up as a disaster but Misty Provencher dangles enough 'carrots' to keep the reader going on. This really kept the pace of the book going and I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know more about their world.Speaking of which, the writing is very top notch which is highly impressive given that this is a self-published Indie book. Although there are some grammatical errors strewn throughout (like the infamous than vs then or their vs they're) but I can live with those things (Grammar Nazis be warned though!). The writing style reads like a contemporary YA fiction but the plot itself is actually more urban paranormal. I thought that was quite an interesting contrast and it reminded me a lot of Bridge to Terabithia. I guess it's because the contemporary elements play equal weight in developing the character (like how the main character has to deal with bullying from cheerleaders).I also really like the characterization, Nalena (the MC) initially starts off quite docile and weak willed but I can understand where she's coming from as children are cruel and getting bullied does that to you. I really love how there's tremendous character growth in her but still at a realistic pace. She's still a bit apprehensive (socially awkward as well) but at the same time there's a quiet strength in her towards the end that wasn't present before. I really love how realistic the growth was and it makes me sympathize with her character even more.I also love the Reese's! They're so fun and each of them are fully fleshed out and have such clear characterization I can see them in my head as real people. I use to know a family that had that many siblings and it reminded me of my time with them.Now the only thing that I didn't like as much was the romance. While there were some parts that were extremely sweet and swoon worthy, there were some parts I felt that moved along a little too fast and some actions that were so cliche had it been written by a less skilled author I would have been rolling my eyes but somehow Misty makes palatable. The cliche stuff would be popular boy falls in love with social outcast girl, protecting her name and honor, saving her several times and the dreaded insta-love thingy (omg it sounds like Twilight right?!). Thankfully the insta-love is mostly on Garrett's part and I'm glad Nalena didn't head dive into it (she acknowledges the physical attraction but doesn't kid herself that she's in 'love' with Garrett). I still don't get how Garrett could have fallen so quickly in love with Nalena and I can't help but feel this nagging feeling that he has some kind of ulterior motive.Garrett is also a strange character, he has some really swoon worthy knight in shinning armor moments and when you first are introduced he seems like genuinely nice and sweet guy. Then you get to know him a little better and he proceeds to exhibit some chauvinistic and immature tendencies. Like for example he simply introduces Nalena as his GF somewhere along the book (without consulting her) and always makes assumptions in their romance (and in a really smug way too) and seems to think that she's equally as head over heels as he is. Sorry Garrett as lovable as you are, you still need to work it ok! Then he throws a semi-hissy fit when Nalena clearly chooses her mother over him. It's all very strange because genuinely he is a nice guy but I suppose it makes Garrett real because he has these flaws? I'm very curious to see if there's any purpose to give him these character ticks and if they will play a bigger role in the upcoming books.Overall a very great start to what appears to be a very intriguing series. I've been told that the 2nd and 3rd books are a lot more polished so I can't imagine what they'd be like if the first book is all ready pretty good.It's going for 0.99 cents on Amazon, so whatcha waiting for! Get it!!!! :)

My goal has been to try to read more self published books this year but it's not always easy because I've tried to read quite a few that were horrible (mostly terrible editing) and I've read a lot that were good, but not quite amazing. I haven't read that many that totally blew my mind and this one did that. Totally and completely. Cornerstone had me riveted from page one as we are introduced to Nalena and her mother and her mothers paper hoarding. I immediately found this fascinating and I felt this was a clue to the future of the book. Especially when I learned that what her mother writes all over these papers is peoples names and something about them. To Nalena these are characters that her mother has come up with for stories that she never writes. And her mother keeps these stacks of papers everywhere, even in the oven (unplugged of course). And she does this writing compulsively all day long. She doesn't work, she doesn't do anything but write. While this could be a compulsive disorder I immediately knew there was more to it.The story sucked me and held me the entire way through but don't expect to get answers right away. I suppose I grew frustrated because I needed to know more so badly but it wasn't really a bad thing either. I enjoyed the journey of getting to know Nalena and her mother as well as Garrett and his large and very quirky family. Clues are everywhere as you continue through the story and piecing them together was slow going but yet a fantastic ride. And the answers when they came were fantastic because this was a very unique take on something paranormal-like without really feeling paranormal. I don't know what else to call it though... But there's not a vampire, zombie or a werewolf in sight.I thought that the romance might be insta-love but it wasn't! It was instant attraction but Nalena has a bit of a low self esteem and really doesn't believe that Garrett could ever like her. Garrett is different from other boys though and doesn't care one wit about what people think of him. He takes Nalena under his wing and while it appears that they are 'together' to the general population of the school, they aren't quite... not really. I loved all interaction with these two because the vibe between them is strong and Garrett just has this personality that you can't help but be drawn to. He's so hard to explain but he was so easy to 'get' as I was reading. He's not a bad boy, but he's not a 'goodie two shoes' either. One thing I can say is that he's so dreamy... He actually kind of reminds me a bit of Cricket in Lola and the Boy Next Door. Just personality wise as he didn't dress like him.Oh, and I have to mention, editing in this one was perfect! If there were mistakes of any sort I didn't happen to notice them (which doesn't mean they weren't there, but they must have not been very obvious). This is also a clean read. There's kissing but that's about it. I don't recall any cursing.I highly recommend this to YA readers as well as adult readers who are eager for something a bit different. Something paranormal-like but yet not really paranormal.I must also note that I see this book has all high ratings. Right now I'm not seeing one review with less then 4 stars. As a reviewer I prefer to see a variety of ratings as it concerns me that maybe all the reviewers are family or friends of the author. I honestly have to give this one 5 stars because I loved it so much. Yes, it's not a completely perfect book, but because it captured me so completely and had me entranced the entire time I just can't give it less. But I purchased this book and had no prior contact with the author. It wasn't until I read it that I start corresponding with her just because I loved it so much and wanted to tell her so. My review is in no way biased, this is my complete honest opinion of the book and my guess is that the high ratings are because of the awesome'ness of the book. So you better get on reading it cause you're missing out!

(Source: Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk.)17-year-old Nali lives with her mom who is a paper hoarder. Every few days Nali has to stop at the office supply shop to pick up 1500 sheets of paper, which her mother then fills with random sentences, and stacks up in their house. There's hardly any space to even walk around their home now, and everyone at school makes fun of Nali for this.When Nali is attacked near the library one night, and ends up with a broken arm, she is rescued by Garrett, a popular boy at school, but one who seems to have an interest in her. It seems that the attack wasn't random though, and Nali is soon about to find out that there is more to her life, and Garrett's life than she ever realised.What has Nali's mother been hiding from her her entire life? Why does she scribble random things on pieces of paper? What do Garrett and his family have to do with it? And who was the man who attacked her in the woods?I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it certainly wasn't what I got.I know people may think me nuts for doing this, but sometimes when I've been recommended a book loads, I don't read the blurb, because I don't want to spoil a book that so many people have recommended to me because they loved it.Cornerstone was one of these books. So many people have recommended this to me, I've seen people tweeting about it, it's turned up in `best of 2012' lists, it was one of my book club's monthly reads, and it was even free on kindle. Looking at the cover of this one I thought it was an adult book, and that it probably has something to do with sand, hieroglyphics, ancient powers, a bit of mystery, something along those lines, but it wasn't any of those things. Time for a cover change? Maybe.So, onto the story. I'm not really sure what to make of the story. The beginning of the story felt like a contemporary romance, but then we started to get odd paranormal elements, and I just wasn't sure it flowed well from one to the other.Nali's `powers' were interesting, and I don't think I've come across a similar idea before. I liked that she had this `bubble' thing, and how fear circumvented her powers, I just wasn't really sure how she was going to use these powers. Other than running fast and dodging stones that people threw at her, I didn't think that her powers were all that impressive, although these may continue to grow as she is trained?I did like the romance between Nali and Garrett, although there wasn't really enough of it for me. Garrett was an okay character, but I really thought that the communication between the two could have been improved upon. I'm getting really sick of these relationships where people go totally off the deep end over a misunderstanding. I really wish people would just talk to each other!Nali and Garrett totally had this problem. Garrett would say one thing, and Nali would take it completely the wrong way, and go off with totally the wrong impression of him.Nali seems to be really good at not listening to all of a story though, she hears something, interprets it her own way, and comes to completely the wrong conclusion every time. So annoying. I wanted to just grab hold of her by the shoulders, give her a good shake, and tell her to stop for a minute, listen, and give people time to explain themselves!There were a few things in this story that made it unique - the cornerstone for instance, and I thought the idea of having a choice over whether or not you wanted to be part of the whole thing was pretty good, although I thought that choosing not to be involved would be the more difficult option in the long run.There were a couple of twists at the end of this story, I can't say that I saw them coming, I don't think I was really invested enough in the story to guess what was coming next, and although they were a surprise, I can't say I was really all that impressed. I think more than anything I was just pleased that I had gotten to the end.Maybe it's just the mood I'm in currently, but the whole thing was just `okay' for me. I can't say that I really want to read the sequel either.Overall; a YA paranormal, with some unique touches, but only okay for me.6 out of 10.

This is one of those indie books that you just fall in love with from the word go! It was the perfect start to the `Cornerstone' series that brilliantly portrays both the painful reality of everyday school life that some young people have to live through, and the importance of family. I was drawn into this novel from the first page, especially with the subtle Psychology running through the story.I loved how the story started by introducing Nalena's home life and, despite her mother being a paper hoarder which greatly disrupts their life, the emphasis on how strong relationship with her mother. It really helped me warm to Nalena and understand and sympathise with her inner turmoil at her mother's behaviour, feeling sad that being so devoted to her mother causes her so much pain at school, but feeling guilty at her thoughts knowing it is not her mother's fault.Garrett's introduction was simply superb! Garrett is the kind of guy that every girl wishes to be with and every guy wishes they could be. And Nalena meets him in a library!! Enough said, he is perfect (This has nothing to do with my fantasy about meeting my soul mate in a library...of course not...) I loved how without even knowing her well, Garrett stood up to Nalena to bitchy cheerleader Jen, and to everyone at the school who calls Nalena `The Waste' due to her mother's hoarding of paper. He was the perfect example of a saviour that all girls who are bullied wish would swoop in and defend them, and I really sympathised with Nalena for thinking that Garrett's interest in her was because of a cruel joke with their classmates.The storyline was so cleverly written that, having bought the book a while ago, I had forgotten that it was a fantasy story. This was great for me as a reader because I was gradually exposed to the different fantasy elements which had me squealing excitedly. This is one of the best things about not reading the blurb before you read a book, as you become involved in the different storylines at the same time as the main characters and you can more closely connect with the characters feelings and behaviours. I won't go into detail about the fantasy storyline as it was so imaginative and cleverly written that I don't want to spoil the great reading experience for potential readers by giving anything away, but we are introduced to some amazing, unusual, comic and creepy characters that help make this book the gem that it is.Also I have to say "MOVE OVER CULLENS", there is a new paranormal family in town and they are the Reeces.' The Reeces are a family that stick together and help each other no matter what. Some of my favourite scenes were those that involved all the Reece brothers, especially Sean, who I love and hope to see more of in the future books.Overall this was an amazing book! 5 stars easily and such an imaginative well thought out storyline.

Nalena Maxwell's life hasn't been fun. She loves her mother, even though she has filled their house with reams of paper with "characters" and their "stories" on. At school, she is known as 'The Waste', because a popular girl dropped by her house and saw the paper that covers nearly every inch of the floor.School politics serves as a backdrop for this refreshing urban fantasy novel. In a market that is saturated with vampires and werewolves, Misty Provencher has created an original supernatural world that is highly engaging.The story is told in the first person and (unusually) in present tense. As a result, tension is present in every single page and every single word. The main character, Nalena, is easy to love and her emotions come across so clearly, that as a reader you almost fall in love with Garrett along with her.Speaking of Garrett... Provencher has written a romantic lead who isn't cliched. He may be popular, but he doesn't care what other people think and he certainly isn't a 'jock'. He's also not angst ridden (thankfully)! Instead he is funny, compelling and strong.The characters and story pull you along to the end and leave you wanting more. I'm really looking forward to the release of the second book and I heartily recommend Cornerstone to anyone who likes YA fiction, romance, action, or fantasy.

I read Cornerstone on the recommendation of a friend, the first in a four book series that follows Nalena Maxwell, dubbed the Waste by her peers because of her mother's crazy hoarding ways her school life is pretty darn miserable. Nalena loves her mother and doesn't mind too much that they have to live with stacks upon stacks of paper that her mother writes on. Her life is pretty much the same except when the cutest guy, Garett Reese sits at her table, Nalena's life takes a huge turn as she learns a lot more about her mother and where they came from. I couldn't put this book down, I was sucked into Nalena's life and had to stay with her as she went through some pretty major changes. Cornerstone is a must read, well written the story line will grasp you from the get-go. Misty Provencher spins a tale so well that the emotional rollercoaster that is the cornerstone series is one ride that you will hate to get off.

Cornerstone was brought to my attention through a friend of another Author club. I found the story to be really captivating, so much so that I instantly bought the second one once I was finished. There are so many different elements to this book, So make sure you get your copy. Lisa m. Ammari Thanks for the recommendation x