Shattered Ties (The Ties Series) Paperback – November 5, 2013

The two main characters had great chemistry! Emma and Jesse had a sweet connection that spanned many years. There are some hot love scenes and sweet dialog. I really liked how Jesse took the time to teach Emma how to surf and show her that good food can come from dive diners. This story reminded me of the movie "Pretty in Pink." It is that rich kid/poor kid romance.Emma's parents were polar opposites. Although her Dad loved her, it came across to me that he was more of a friend, rather than a parent. Her Mom was image obsessed, and expected Emma to put on a show, in order to sustain appearances. Jesse's Mom, on the other hand, was adorable and totally present as a parental figure and then as a friend second. I thought Jesse's Mom was better described and believable.I just had a hard time really feeling sorry for Emma or her home life. I didn't really feel like there was enough there to truly understand where her parents were coming from and what made up their actions toward parenting. It didn't add much to the story for me.Also, this is knit picking - but most private schools require uniforms. I thought this was odd that there wasn't a dress code. Also, it was odd that one of the teachers had a talk with Jesse assuming he was a trouble maker because of his tattoos. It was an awkward conversation that didn't seem believable. It would have been one thing if the teacher pointed them out because of school policy, but to label and be so prejudice was strange. Additionally, for the principal to "understand" Jesse but yet side or not even try to help - another uncomfortable moment. I really wanted more school scenes, so I could understand this "rich" world that Emma grew up in.I liked this book. I cannot say I loved it. It was a good, easy read. However, I only give 5 stars if I plan on reading the book again- even though I will read the second part of this series - this is a one-time read for me.

This was a really great story. This is the story of Emma and Jesse. Emma comes from money, her father is in a famous rock band and her mother is a former model but is always trying to climb the social ladder and only thinks people with money are worth anything. Her father is always off on tour or somewhere else so he's seldom around while her mother is always off to the next party or social event so she's pretty much been raised by nannies and somewhat herself. Jesse lives in a trailer park and has a single mother because his father left when he was a baby. Jesse has been told time and time again that he is trash and he will never amount to anything. He gets a scholarship to go to the rich school in the Santa Monica but he only goes because he wants his mother to be proud of him. That is where he meets Emma. They are both drawn to one another.This book questions if love is enough when so many things are stacked against you. I am really looking forward to the next book and the continuation of their story. Emma has a good heart and can see beyond money and prestige but she is scared of her mother trying to control her and stop her from being with Jesse. She begs Jesse to hide their relationship until she turns 18. Jesse has a hard shell because he has had people treating him bad his whole life but he loves Emma and he shows it so much. He also has sweet and sensitive insides so he tries to get beyond things but he worries that Emma is ashamed of their relationship and all.Definitely worth a read!!

The couple are in high school Emma is from a wealthy family. Her father is in a big name rock band and her mother is a retired super model. Jesse is from a trailer park poor area of town that has only a mother who works as a waitress to survive. Jesse has won a scholarship to attend the Prestige Private School for the rich. He hates it and forms an opinion on all rich people. Emma's mother is that snobby bit$h that will not have her daughter associating with poor people. Emma has her own mind and a very loving, giving, and caring girl. She falls for Jesse and she would do anything for him but tell her mother. One day it all comes to a head. When her mother rants on about where her daughter status should be with the rich. While Jesse stood hiding in the closet listening to the craziness. After he leaves and goes off in this head and gets drunk. Well, red flags and accusations are thrown around. Everyone gets hurt nothing is solved and 2 years pass so that you can buy the next book to see what will happen. So, this is about a teenage love story one is rich and one is poor. Do they let that bother them to a path of happiness? My opinion of the story, Jesse is supposed to be this big strong tattoo guy from the trailer park that is apparently book smart. He categorize everyone to a certain status of poor but humble or rich and snobby. He even places Emma in that box even though she as proved to him time and time again she is not that person. Was the book likeable? I dislike teenagers acting like little kids but then again that is what they are. 17 going on 18 but sometimes acts like a 12 year old. This is a Young Adult book. Storyline: 2.5 Heat: 3 Overall: 3 Recommend: only if you like YA books or high school drama.

Shattered Ties by KA Robinson4 stars!!"All I wanted was a princess castle."I loved Shattered Ties, whilst it may seem that it has a similar premise to other books you may have read KA Robinson makes it different and puts her own little twists in there. Yes it is a case of rich girl falls in love with the boy from the poor side of town, but they have their own very unique story.Maybe it was fate and destiny that Jesse and Emma met at school aged 17, Jesse winning a scholarship to go to the very prestigious school that Emma attended. Remembered by Jesse, but forgotten by Emma, their paths had already crossed when they were only 6 years old, in a sand box, in the "posh" park. Emma had been far from polite after being brain washed by her "social climber" of a mother, but this little altercation had a profound effect on Jesse and never would he be labelled as "trash" again. Thinking that Emma was the same as she was 11 years previous, Jesse was extremely wary but he soon found out that Emma was not the same little girl, in fact far from it."Don't you want to play with me?""I'm not supposed to play with you. My mommy said so.""Why not?""Because you don't belong here, and you're trash." - Emma Bellokavich Preston - aged 6Emma's parents were divorced, and to be honest if I was her father, I would be too. Her mother is Andria Bellokavich, she used to be a super model, but all she cares about is money, social standing and appearances in her affluent area of Santa Monica where they reside. She does not fraternize with anyone outside of her social class and looks down her nose at anyone that she deems is not worthy to be graced with her attention. She tries her hardest to push these traits onto Emma, but Emma is not like her one bit, she has her morals and despises her mother's attitude. Not that you can really call her a mother, between her blackberry and her social commitments she is never around, but that suits Emma just fine. Her father is Alexander Preston, he is a well-known member of a rock band called Seducing Seductresses, he is more on Emma's wave length, but his constant touring keeps them apart more than both of them would like. However, he is attentive, always calls and loves Emma to pieces as she does him. She just cannot wait till she is eighteen so that she can escape from her mother.Jesse is adorable, you cannot help but feel for this guy. It is just him and his mum, in a trailer park, both working all the hours they can to make ends meet. His mum wants him to better himself, so she forces him to apply for one of three scholarships at the private school. This is the first time the scholarships have been offered and Jesse is surprised to find that he won one, however he is intelligent and it is deserved. He would have been content at the regular high school as all he aspires to be is a tattoo artist and really wants to just be left to do his apprenticeship when he finishes high school."Instead, I found out that you are one of the kindest people I've known. I love you, Emma, even if I shouldn't. I've battled with myself over this time and time again, but I can't deny it any longer."Emma and Jesse meet on the first day of school and it soon becomes apparent that there is a connection there. She makes the effort to be friends and the more they hang out the more "friendly" they get. It soon becomes clear that their feelings run far deeper than either are willing to admit in the beginning. They are both scared as this a first for both of them. However, we all know what schools are like and there are some small minded kids in this school. The scholarship kids are never going to fit in and we all know how mean kids can be."My breath caught as I stared at him. Whatever was happening between us, I didn't want it to stop. I knew what we were doing was wrong, but I'd never felt anything so right in my life."Emma needs to keep their relationship a secret, at least until she is eighteen, when her mother loses her control over her. This is always going to be a struggle and leaves both of them with a lot of soul searching to do and insecurities soon re-surface, but will they make them or break them?I love forbidden romances, although the only person doing the forbidding is Emma's loathsome mother. I really enjoyed this story, there are a lot of serious undertones throughout the book that leave you thinking but I am so glad that Emma was her own person and had not become the spoilt little rich kid that her mother so desperately wanted her to be. She knew that there was more to life than money and all she wanted was a proper happy little family, whether she was rich or poor it didn't matter.Without trying to give too much away, the ending had me reeling but the epilogue gave me hope but I am so not happy. I need to know what happens going forward and yes I want to know now!! It is an open ending, but not a cliff hanger, but it leaves you wanting more. You do connect to the characters and you just want to know what happens, well I did!Side characters, loved them all except Ally, I could never connect with her and at the end I absolutely despised her, she has some real issues!Overall, a great romantic read, I would say a YA/NA mix and I can't wait to see where KA Robinson takes Emma and Jesse next.

This is a typical first love story between two 17 year olds. The girl is rich the guy is poor.Unfortunately the theme of prejudice about money - either having lots of it or none of it - was treated with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Each character was either good or bad, depending on whether they treated someone as they found them or had hang ups about their immense wealth/poverty. I got it the first time it was mentioned really, I didn't need for the point to be repeated so many times.The sex scenes were good but it was a little insta-love for me.Oh and it ends on a cliffhanger.

Loved this book. Great characters and a great storyline, a complete page turner. This author is now one of my favourites, her stories are always emotive and guarantee a rollercoaster ride. It takes a special person to make the words on a page jump straight into your heart and hang on right to the very end of the story.

This book turned out to be so much better than I ever thought it would be. The plot moved quickly. It was very well written. Typical bad boy from wrong side of tracks meets rich good innocent girl. But it was still a very good read.

I bought this as I have read a couple of other books that K.A wrote & this didn't disappoint, I am so looking forward to the next instalment, I loved the characters especially Jesse (he's hot) would recommend to anyone.