Book Review: Sand Dollar by Sebastian Cole.

Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love, by Sebastian Cole.
Book Summary: What if you lost your true soul mate, the one person in life you were meant to be with? Would your love ever truly die? Not if you’re Noah Hartman, who refuses to let go of Robin after she inexplicably abandons their love and disappears from his life seemingly forever, her hidden secret yet to be discovered.And when you finally accept your fate and do your best to move on with your life, what do you say when the unthinkable happens: your true love Robin reappears as your wedding ceremony to another woman is about to commence, looks deep into your soul with her loving, tear-filled eyes, and tells you the one thing you’ve desperately longed to hear for all of these years?But the ending to this heart-wrenching love story has yet to be written, as Noah, old and sick in a hospital bed, tells his story of love and loss to Josh, a wise orderly at Mount Sinai Hospital. As his family members arrive to bid him goodbye, Noah discovers a far greater truth about his past, present, and future. Things are definitely not as they appear as the pieces of a shattered love are put back together in the remarkable final chapter of Noah’s life.

Liana's Summary: Noah Hartman is stinking rich. People think he has everything, but he doesn't. He doesn't have a true love. A true love to him is not a person who would want him for his money. It would be a person that loves him for him.When he meets Robin, he knows that she's his one soul mate. But something is keeping Robin away. Determined, Noah tries to get her back every time she leaves him, but it's not working the way he wants. When Robin finally remembers how much she loved Noah, she goes back to him, but it might be too late.

Rate(1-10): 9!

I know a label says, "Fantasy", and my summary and the book's summary look like they don't have unicorns in them! What I mean is, it's still KIND of fantasy, since there's this huge miracle at the end that involves God and the Bible, that I'm not going to mention. In Sebastian Cole's "Note" at the end, he said that it was fantasy, too! So I'll just agree with the author. But like, 98% of it is Modern Romance/Tragedy. At least I thought it was Tragedy! There were sad parts and all. (I really should make a label that says 'SAD'.) Well then. It's kind of like a Christian story. I read the kid version of Bible stories, with pictures, and I read the one about Noah's Ark, the one this story refers to! So I totally get it, even if I'm not Christian.

It reminded me a lot of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.  Not because of the characters, or the genre, or the plot. Those things are COMPLETELY different! It's just the writing outline/set up thing. Like, the beginning is the end, and the end is the beginning.

If you haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird, the below paragraph is a spoiler. If you have, go ahead and read the paragraph!

Spoiler: So, you know how Jem broke his arm at the end, trying to save Scout from Bob Ewell, right? And in the beginning of the book, she went like, "When my brother Jem was nearly thirteen, he broke his arm.." It's circular! I couldn't help but think of it when Sebastian Cole did the same thing to his book. (:
End of spoiler.

ISN'T THE BOOKMARK FABULOUS?
 Yeah, I was too lazy to position it. LOL. BUT YOU SEE. IT'S FABULOUS. Thanks, Sebastian!

I really liked this book. To be honest, I fell in love with it immediately when I started. And then, I just got a bit confused, and then Sebastian finished drawing the circle!

And below, is a little tiny video showing my thought process. (x

 Yeah, so you see. He kind of lost me at 3/4! But then at the end, I totally understood as it connected.

I forgot what I was about to say. omg. Well, before I do quotes,

I highly recommend this to all avid readers of Modern Romance. If you like Nicholas Sparks, here's a book for you! The author writes really good. This book reminds me of Nicholas Sparks's. Sort of. It reminds me of a lot of things.

A note on the characters and their romance: I think it's kind of a tragedy because of Noah's efforts that don't do anything. He's trying so hard, but Robin's just being a stupid bitch. I think Robin reminds me of Bella from Twilight because I like neither, but Noah kind of reminds me of Bella more, because he's ATTACHED. Robin is sort of like Edward, but not really because she doesn't leave for his own good.

So, I like how Sebastian just calls having sex "making love" without going into detail because I'm sick of porn. Butterfly Swords. omfg. Also, I will never so much as TOUCH Fifty Shades of Grey. Please. No.

I took so long because of academics! So much homework after this whole summer break. And I like to procrastinate on the computer, which is why I took a week. I only have time on weekends now. I'm planning to use this Labor Day weekend productively!

Speaking of using the weekend productively, Scholastic just posted this on Facebook, and I think it's worth sharing:

It says, "Read More Books. It's good for your soul." ISN'T THIS FABULOUS. SHOULDN'T IT BE MY MOTTO. Oh wait, but I already have one. (Read. Because reading is good for you.)

My age recommendation would be 12+. Even seniors can enjoy this! As long as you appreciate a good romance,  you would love it.

There was this part that got me really really really really really really, okay, REEEEEAAALLY, furious. It was when Robin left. I hate that woman. omg. I still don't like her. Even if that 'one thing' is keeping her away. It's no excuse! She can't just leave Noah like that!

And a little thing about the title. It was really creative. I hated Twilight's title though. It had nothing to do with anything. This title, though, had a big part in the story! Like The Hunger Games's MOCKINGJAY. ;D I just facepalm whenever someone says "Mockingbird."

One more thing about Noah. He's not that masculine. He's kind of weak! But I guess that's what happens when he's rich and he's got everything he needs. Except for 'true love'. He gives everything too easily. So he just cries when he's frustrated. Somehow I would feel better if he did something that showed his anger. I don't want him to hurt Robin physically though, because that would just show that he's a jerk and he's at fault when Robin's really the one who ruined it all. Honestly, I don't know what he should have done. Just something besides crying. There was this one part though, where he showed his anger and I calmed down. But he just cried!

Yeah. Time for the long awaited quotes. I feel like I'm missing something, but, oh well! Those are most of my thoughts, and the rest will be in my quote reactions.

"..his jaw dropping at the sight of her.."
Oh my goodness! This book is good by page two. Unbelievable. This is Sebastian's debut, too!

"GODDAMN YOU!"
Oh jeez! When I read this, I actually HEARD Noah scream that in my head, so I kind of got startled. (x

"It's our five-year anniversary... working together."



"The pile on the left is all of the profiles of the women I want to contact on Mymatch.com. As you can see, I've given each woman a calculated score based on my special rating system.."

Really.

"You remember, dear-- a girl who isn't Jewish," Miriam reminded him.
" Oh yeah...I'll throw her right out of the house !" he said, swinging his fist through the air.

This randomly reminded me of this one time in my Algebra II & Trig Preview class. Where this one Indian dude was telling racist jokes. And then the other dude was like, "DON'T BE RACIST LIKE A JEW." omfg. I'm just recalling.. Oh yeah, did I mention that Noah's mom is really insistent on him marrying a Jewish girl? And any girl that's NOT Jewish is apparently a shicksa.

"I'm too sexy for my car, too sexy for my car, too sexy by far."


"No." He went up to a third young woman and received yet another "No."
I don't get why people would say NO to Noah Hartman!

"Hey, wait, where ya goin'?" said the other, chomping on her gum as Noah pulled away. "Why didn't you say you was rich?"

Stap bein' ratchet.

"She pulled her hand away from Model Man and shook her head."
<3 (: LOL reading this sentence put me in a good mood.

"I have a boyfriend,"


"SHIT!"
Oh goodness. I got startled, AGAIN.

"Next, they headed for the butterfly building.."
Did I ever mention that I hate butterflies. They are so freaking scary.

"..her white underwear see-through."
omfg, Noah. Why would you look at her underwear.

"I'm the lucky one."
Noah is the most romantic guy character I've ever read of. I think. The point is. He's really romantic. Oh yeah, I wanted to mention this quote because it reminded me of Nicholas Sparks's THE LUCKY ONE! (:

"Noah grimaced, lowering his head as Miriam proceeded to lick her hand and pat his hair down."
This is so gross. I can't even..

"Someday, sweetie, when you're old enough to afford to buy me real jewelry, with real gold and real diamonds, then you can buy me jewelry for my birthday, okay?"

This is the saddest thing ever. She can't just say that to her own little boy! :c That's really messed up.

"I'm your father, so your business is my business."
Dude. He's an adult.

"...try to trick a guy like you into getting them pregnant..."
Okay, since when did girls like that have sex to get pregnant? Isn't pregnancy like an unwanted side effect?

"Noah, you don't understand, your mother and I love you very much, and we only want what's best for you."


"Isn't she, like, in fifth grade?"
LOOOL.

"She's very upset about this, and that would only add fuel to the fire."
For some reason, I've always considered 'add fuel to the fire' a Chinese term because they always use that in Chinese Dramas.

"Come on... just because I was dating Joe for a couple of months before I met Noah, doesn't mean I'm going to go running back to him the second I see him again."

Oh yes it will. Just watch. And I realized that Robin went for like, four guys in this book. Ugh. I hate her guts.

"...engraving a brick."
Noah is busy putting his proposal on a brick while that slut is kissing another guy. omg.

"Noah.. it's over.."
I KNEW IT! I HATE HER GUTS!

"I HAVE TO HAVE SEX, SCOTT; I HAVE TO HAVE IT !"
STARTLED ME AGAIN! What the hell!

"I don't care about the money; I care about you."
No. She doesn't even.

"He let out a scream,...."
Every time Noah screams, I get startled. Really?!

"My whole life, you always forced me into doing whatever you wanted me to do under the guise of preventing me from making mistakes!"

YOU TELL THEM, NOAH.

"Okay, Noah... I'll stay."
Even after all the things she did. I was actually glad that she said it!

"You're so fired."
:c

"..but I have to leave."
This is the point where I ultimately hate her guts.

"Harry?" Noah asked.
"Yeah, that's my name. Don't overuse it," said the man..



"She hated to bother him after all this time.."
OH HELL NO. SHE IS NOT CALLING HIM TO ASK FOR MONEY.

"Twenty thousand dollars."



"Why? After all these years, why should I help you?"
Exactly. You tell her, Noah.

"WHAT? I can't believe she asked you for money. What a bitch ! I haven't seen her in five years. Do you believe that? After she married Frank, she dumped me. Wouldn't even return my calls. After all I did for her, letting her and Britt stay in my apartment rent-free for all those years. She was my oldest friend, since second grade. What did I do to deserve that? Screw her; don't give her any money."

She's right. I totally agree.
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That is finally it! I will be moving on to another book now. Must make use of this weekend!

Please leave a comment of what you think of this review! Thanks. (:

And, lastly, I would like to show my thanks to Sebastian for giving me a free signed copy(And the fab bookmark)! Made me so ecstatic. Everyone, go ahead and find this book anywhere you can, open it up, and read it!