Still one of my favorite Amy Harmon novels, though everything she writes is gold!

A Different Blue is a beautiful story with so many themes running through it. Of course it's known for being a student-teacher romance, but it's so much more than that and the romance is handled in a very tasteful manner. I don't want to recap the entire story and spoil anything, but it touches on issues such as loss, loneliness, heartbreak, and identity. But it also deals with hope, redemption, and love. Blue is young and sometimes a little tough to take, but Wilson is amazing. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family.

Great. Fantastic. Awesome. All the good words to describe this book. Amy Harmon knows how to write a book. I would read a phone book if she were the one to write it. I loved this book from the very beginning and I could not put it down. The characters are well developed and the dialogue is superb. Their is romance without describing the details, which I can do without. I will read this book over and over. An excellent read and 5+ stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love this one .Amy Harmon is one of the best authors.She is one of the top her writing is flawless and her stories so beautiful.

The Spencer Hill Press release will have bonus content never before available.
Blue Echohawk doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on with life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard, and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge and takes the troublemaker under his wing.

This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption become love. But falling in love can be hard when you don't know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can't love you back might be impossible

I love Amy Harmon!! I loved her Making Faces and this book was just as good. I loved Wilson. Blue...gosh, Blue is such a great heroine. She has had so much heartbreak in her short life and she finds Darcy, her teacher, who is such a refreshing character. Blue is a strong character and you get to see her go through all this stuff that no one should have to go through. The thing I long about Amy is that she can write a story without sex and profanity and still it's an awesome book. I absolutely love her storytelling abilities. If you want a book that's wholesome but still tells a story that will make you want to read again and again...then pick this book up.

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

Amy Harmon is one of the few authors that write 5 star books and nothing less. This book is just another masterpiece. Every page is heart felt, the building of the story is good paced, Blue and Wilson are not the love at first sight kind of couple. Their story and circumstances makes this story real. They paved a road where they both fall in love slowly and just perfect. It will leave you wanting more but it is absolutely one of my top fav reads this year!

If I could give this book more then 5 stars I so would. A heartbreakingly beautiful story. So many emotions, I cried, I smiled, I loved every moment. A truly amazing literary journey. I highly, highly recommend this book.

A Different Blue was heartbreaking, inspiring, and simply adorable.

Emotions were running high for me while reading this story and I couldn't get over the life that Blue had endured. How sad but beautiful when you think about her mother giving her up, but then Blue being raised by a man who she truly admired and who gave her a wonderful gift that let her get lost every once in a while, carving wood.

I absolutely ADORED Wilson. Oh my goodness, I don't think Amy Harmon could have came up with a more precious character than WIlson. He was what every woman wants. Smart, passionate, caring, sweet, handsome, gentle. I could go on and on because I have a total book crush on Mr. Wilson. Plus, why couldn't I have a teacher like that in high school! I loved the way he taught the class, obviously since I love everything being told like a story.

Their relationship was by far my favorite part of this book, how much he helped her and made her see the good in herself. It was breathtaking. The angst between them was crazy and I found myself shouting more than once
"JUST KISS"
"JUST BE TOGETHER"
It was aggravating but it made for a beautiful ending.

The quotes, the love story, the passion and finding yourself, A Different Blue had it all and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't wait to read more from this Author, I've been told already countless times that I need to read Making Faces!

Favorite quote;

“I keep wishing you had had a better life...a different life. But a different life would have made you a different Blue." He looked at me then. "And that would be the biggest tragedy of all.”

This book started out a little rough for me. I found Blue incredibly unlikable and mostly unrelatable. I was super bored with the history lessons and legends. And, most of all, I was uncomfortable with Blue’s growing relationship with her teacher. There were no big lines crossed or anything, but their friendship was still inappropriate for being teacher/student. Even though Wilson is only 22 (only a couple years older than Blue), he just seemed so much older and more mature. Thankfully, the book did become a lot better for me as it went on.

Once Blue graduated, I was much more able to get on board the Wilson-Blue ship. I started to really enjoy their friendship and slow burn romance. Wilson was so smart and sweet and protective. I loved him. He did seem just so much older than his age, though. I also really liked his sister, Tiffa, and her friendship with Blue.

I did really like the overall message of redemption and Blue’s journey. She became so much more likable as the book went on, even though there were still several moments where she frustrated me. I liked how she came to respect herself a little bit more and made conscious decisions to help her become a better person.

Overall, I liked A Different Blue, but I didn’t love it. While the overall message and the relationship between Wilson and Blue were good, it started out really rough for me. It also employed a couple of my least favorite romance tropes (teacher/student relationship and another one that I’m not going to share because it’s too spoilery). I was actually not a big fan of the bonus material – an epilogue featuring Blue and Wilson’s physical relationship and a chapter from Wilson’s POV from the first day of school. I liked getting Wilson’s POV, but hearing his initial reaction to Blue falls under the uncomfortable, inappropriate teacher/student thing. However, I am a fan of Harmon and her writing and am definitely planning on reading more from her.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3.5 Stars

Going into this book I thought I had a pretty clear idea of how this was going to go. It’s a sad thing when most books follow the same plot scheme. Thankfully, and sadly, I was wrong.


This was not what I was expecting. It was far from anything that I had at first believed it would be.

It was beautiful and tragic and full of hope, heartbreak, and hate. And it was good. Just that: good. I didn’t love it as I expected. It wasn’t amazing, as I thought it would be. It was just good.

Amy Harmon’s writing style was beautiful. I loved the way she used her words, the stories she would weave into the story and the way the tales flowed throughout. I loved it so much so that I read the entire book in one go, staying up till the wee hours of the morning to finish it.

So, what went wrong? I truly do not know.

I felt like the story dragged in places. It was a long book that could have probably been shorter if certain parts were removed. It also could have kept its length if more things actually happened in it.

Another problem I had with the novel was its lack of subtlety. Like it was sometimes hitting you over the head with the points it was trying to make, with the emotions, it was pushing you to feel. I did not appreciate that.

Then there were the characters. It’s sad to say, I know, but I felt very little for them. If I don’t relate to a character then the plot really doesn’t matter to me. I have loved books with awesome characters and little plot. I have hated books with awesome, action-packed plots and poor characters. And I didn’t care for any of these people.

Blue Echohawk, our main character with an awesome name, was abandoned as a child. Her mother left her under the care of a stranger whom she went on to call her father. Once her ‘father’ died, she was taken to live with her estranged ‘aunt’. She feels unloved, unwanted, and discarded. Those are her actual words by the way. So, what is a girl to do if not wear clothes so tight that they cut off her circulation, and so much makeup that she actually looks like a different person. Then, of course, go sleep with every guy that looks her way, just for the feel of being touched?

The thing is though, that I didn’t mind that. I understand why she felt compelled to do so. I really do. I just didn’t care for her.

Then there was Mr. Darcy Wilson. Mr. Perfect. Mr. Holier Than Thou. He’s a British history teacher come to live in the U.S. His family is rich and he once had the chance to be a doctor. Of course, he turned it down and joined the Peace Corps to teach English in Africa (where in Africa? Who knows because people treat Africa like a country and not a large continent with many countries within it). Anyway, he went to ‘Africa’. He learned some life lessons, which he is happy to throw about at any moment’s notice, and came to the U.S. to teach history in some high school because that’s his passion, I guess. Oh, and he’s handsome. And only 22 years old.

I didn’t care for him either. I didn’t care for pages upon pages of his history lessons. I didn’t care for his wisdom. For his random quotes of Dante and Dickens and all those other dead authors.

I didn’t care for the chemistry between the two. They have a student-teacher relationship. Then a sort of brother-sister. Then they are friends. Every once in a while, it’s almost a paternal relationship. Then some awkward ‘I love you but I don’t deserve you’ sort of thing. And then they are in love. No, I just didn’t buy it.

Also, Manny & Graciela. I had almost forgotten about them, probably because they disappear 1/4 into the novel and we never hear from them again. Seriously, what was their purpose? Were they there for Blue to learn a lesson or something? They deserved better. Or they just shouldn’t have been included.

So, do I recommend? Sure. I say this all the time, but just because it wasn’t for me, it doesn’t mean it won’t be a good book for others. I enjoyed it. It entertained me. It was well written. And it is possible that what bothered me, will be what others love. So, yes, I recommend. Just make sure you know what you are getting into.

**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**

{A Different Blue by Amy Hermon was originally published on March 29, 2013. A new edition will be published by Spencer Hill Press on May 30, 2017}

A Different Blue is a standalone book. It originally came out in 2013 but is being re-released in 2017 with bonus content.

The prologue takes place in 1993. Then chapter one moves forward to 2010.

The narrator is Blue Echohawk (first person POV). She lives in Boulder City, Nevada.

I'm having a difficult time deciding what genre I think the book is. In 2010 Blue is a senior in high school. So the book could be labelled as YA as some of the book takes place while she is in high school. However she is 19. So in a way the book seems more like NA. The book does feature some romance. But it is not the main part of the story. So it could be labelled as contemporary romance. It is contemporary romance, but it's also not the typical contemporary romance formula.

Blue was abandoned when she was 2. She was taken in by Jimmy Echohawk. This is a key part of the story.

I didn't love the first part of the book. It was enjoyable. Blue was definitely unusual. But at 1/3 of the way through I just stopped reading for 3 days (this rarely happens). When I started reading again I was hopeful that something would grab my attention. And it did.

At 44% the story shifted for me and I started enjoying the book a lot more. The book actually took a turn that I was not expecting at all. But the story became very intriguing and I could not put the book down.

I definitely wish that romance had played a bigger part in this story. I'm not entirely sure why it didn't. I don't need romance to be the key focus of a story. But I guess I was expecting it to be in this book right from the start.

My favorite thing about this book was how real everything felt. Sometimes books have perfect characters with few flaws. But in A Different Blue we have Blue who doesn't really know who she is. She isn't sweet and charming. But rather she is sassy and tough. And I loved that about her. I really enjoyed her art. I loved the Native American stuff. And I loved the journey Blue took in this book.

There were some interesting twists towards the end that I enjoyed immensely.

The bonus content is an epilogue, followed by an earlier part of the story told by her teacher Wilson's POV.

I really enjoyed her British teacher Wilson. And I absolutely loved his sister Tiffa. Overall the book was original and different. I just wish that the story had grabbed me more from the start.

“I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us—don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know!”


A Shade of Blue:
At the age of 19, with piercing blue eyes and raven black hair, Blue Echohawk is struggling with her inner identity. Having been abandoned at the tender age of two by her mother and left in the hands of a “stranger”, Jimmy, Blue finds herself back to square one as she is (unintentionally) abandoned yet again. But this fierce wolf isn’t just searching for the missing pieces of her past, she is searching for her soul and the person she wants to become.

Unfortunately for Blue, she can't catch a break or escape the consequences of her actions. Blue is determined to become the opposite of her mother; however, she is forced to make a pretty difficult yet similar decision her mother once had to make. Either way this decision will change her life forever.

William Faulkner said it best: "The past is never dead. It's not even past.”

Oh The Feels:
One word: SAWOON. Oh, how I admired the relationship between Blue and Darcy Wilson so much. He was not only Blue’s pillar throughout most of this book, but he supported her and loved her unconditionally. The transition of Wilson's role from teacher, to friend, to lover was tastefully done as well.

My Final Thoughts:
This book is an unforgettable read, an emotional roller coaster, full of redemption, love and so much more. I promise you this: every soul will take something away from this book. So do yourself a favour and read this book.

Never judge a book by its cover, never doubt someone else's worth, and most importantly, never deprive YOURSELF of your own love.
“Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody's business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.”― Thomas Merton

Some good tunes:
The Civil Wars - If I Didn't Know Better
Willie Nelson – Always On My mind
Amazing Grace (on cello) – Melanie Dawn Jones
Bob Dylan – Make You Feel My Love
The Beatles – Blackbird

I really enjoyed reading this book! Blue Echohawk is a girl that doesn't know where she comes from, in fact she hardly knows anything about herself. When Mr Wilson challenges her to write a story about her history, she realises how lost she is. The story is wonderful journey of self discovery, falling in love and bumps along the way.

The beginning was very slow, and it did drag a little, but when you actually get into the story it is beautiful. I thought this was going to be a very predictable book, yet I didn't quite expect the story to flourish the way it did.

I think Blue developed as character throughout, with difficult situations, she managed to find out who she really is. I also loved Wilson, I think he was an absolute delight, and only wished there were guys like him around.

Highly recommend!

I liked it, but it kind of fell short of my expectations.

The beginning of this book has a very slow start up. I don't know if that was just me or not, but I had a really hard time staying focused. Honestly, I was a little bored for the first 35% of the book.
After that the story did start to pick up & change and I did become intrigued.

This book does have a love story of Blue and Wilson, but please understand that it is not a "love at first sight" kind of thing. Their relationship is interesting to say the least, and it really doesn't even begin to develop until well into the second part of the book.
The X factor is none existent in this book, there are a few hot kisses, but that's about as X rated as this book gets.
I would say this book is more about the self discovery of Blue. It's a book about a girl just trying to find her way in this big old world.

Also, I really wanted more of an ending. In my opinion everything just kind of ended leaving me with a few questions as to the other members of the cast.

Format: ebook
Tissue warning: yes
HEA: Yes
Triggers: slight discussion on abortion (none takes place), school shooting (no one gets shot), bi-curious character (no physical affections described), child abandonment
Narrative: First person (follows Blue)
My reviewer rating: 3.5 out of 5
Recommend read: yes, because it's Amy Harmon
Published: originally e-released: March 29, 2013. Paperback release: June 27, 2017

The coming of age story for Blue is very well put together in the end. Ms. Harmon thoughtfully progresses Blue's personality and responsibilities. We begin with this immature and hateful girl who rapidly transforms before our eyes into a thoughtful woman. A woman who was there beneath the surface the entire time but so guarded that we got stuck with the bitch for a while.

This story is a slow-burn romance with drama and angst. Everything I love. What would have been even better is if it weren't based on such young'uns. I prefer my characters in the upper 20's up to the mid-thirties. I'm getting old . . .

I would have rated this story a solid 4, but I was ready to give up on it before it really even started. I feared a cliche forbidden love, the flip-flops in time during the chapters would mess with my head, the history lessons were excessive, and Blue was just a basic biotch. Thankfully, at just under the halfway point, I got into it and didn't want to stop till I was done. Everything gets resolved and comes together full circle. Very well written.

Entering her senior year of high school, Blue Echohawk is the same lost girl she has always been, but now she hides that behind a veil of tight jeans, stiletto boots, and dark eye makeup. Her history teacher Mr. Wilson is one of the only people who can see the potential Blue has. Over the course of the school year, Blue continues her questionable choices in hopes of silencing her loss and shame and Mr. Wilson continues to try to help her find her footing. After graduating, Blue becomes Mr. Wilson, who is now just Wilson, tenant and their friendship begins to have greater complexity. All the while, Wilson provides consistency for Blue, who begins to recognize her worth and value.

As a former teacher, I was nearly certain I was not going to like the relationship between Blue and Wilson. But Amy Harmon has a gift for crafting stories and I found myself not bothered that they were at one time teacher and student. The character of Blue was crafted in such a way that her troubled decision making was not viewed as appalling but as it really was, an attempt to soothe tremendous loss and pain. Wilson's warmth and encouragement were endearing and how can you not love his nerdy side. I was pleased to see that Tiffa's friendship with Blue did not change as a result of the arrival of Melody. It painted a picture of how adoption can be beautiful and inclusive.

The two epilogue chapters didn't work for me, though. The story felt complete without the inclusion of those chapters, which honestly left me feeling as they were an after though.

This book was so much more than I anticipated.

I had assumed this would be a simple romance. Cute, light, fun. I was so wrong. This book was beautiful and moving, and the writing was so incredibly well-done. I fell completely for the characters and their stories, and for Harmon's incredible prose. This book left me in awe, and perhaps stole a little piece of my heart.

I cannot recommend this book enough.