Review ~ Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Synopsis:

If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. 

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

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Review:

Every Last Word spoke to me in a way that no one can understand. I'm truly surprised that this book has left a big impact on me after reading it because I didn't expect that it would leave such an impression. Normally, I'd comment on the author's writing style, the characters' developments, etc., but I simply have no words for this one.

All I know is that Every Last Word did something to me that I can't explain, but in a good way. My emotions are all over the place right now because I took this book on a personal level. I didn't relate with the characters, but something about the story and its message hit me somewhere I'm most vulnerable.

I'll certainly recommend this book, but I won't guarantee that it will have the same impact to other readers. I just hope that you'd like it as much as I did.


~ Zee

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Review ~ Get Dirty (Don't Get Mad #2) by Gretchen McNeil

Synopsis:

The members of Don’t Get Mad aren’t just mad anymore . . . they’re afraid. And with Margot in a coma and Bree stuck in juvie, it’s up to Olivia and Kitty to try to catch their deadly tormentor. But just as the girls are about to go on the offensive, Ed the Head reveals a shocking secret that turns all their theories upside down. The killer could be anyone, and this time he—or she—is out for more than just revenge.

The girls desperately try to discover the killer’s identity as their personal lives are falling apart: Donté is pulling away from Kitty and seems to be hiding a secret of his own, Bree is under house arrest, and Olivia’s mother is on an emotional downward spiral. The killer is closing in, the threats are becoming more personal, and when the police refuse to listen, the girls have no choice but to confront their anonymous friend . . . or die trying.

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Review:

The dirty bits.

When I first picked up Get Even (the first book in this two-part series), I was expecting it to be a little more on the chic lit side than McNeil's other books. DGM or Don't Get Mad is a group of girls from different, shall we say, social peers. Kitty is a volleyball player, Bree is the rebel daughter of a senator (kinda cliche, that one), Olivia is the wannabe-actress who swims at the popular kids' pool, and Margot is the loner, smart one who doesn't seem to have any close friends due to her strict parents. These characters have only one thing in common: they are the avengers of those who bully, taunt, and discriminate other kids in their high school. However, a recent turn of events have made them the targets.

I've been a connoisseur of mysteries, riddle-laden books, and the likes since I read The Study in Scarlet by Conan Doyle all those years ago. This series really filled my craving because of the different twist and turns in the books. Be forewarned, however, if you are one of the impatient kind or you just can't stand riddles, because this book may be hard for you to follow as it really has plenty of those.

One of the best parts I loved is how the mixed personalities of each girls complements what they have to do in DGM. Like how Olivia as an actress is the contact person who does the investigative job using her acting skills, and how Bree is the one doing the odd jobs like, err, breaking and entering.

The only thing I have to say about this is the ending has a pretty weak reasoning by my standards. I also hated the fact that they seem to 'trust' other people besides themselves rather quickly in this book, which seems to be out of character for a shadowy group bent on punishing high school bullies.


~ Djan

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Review ~ Savor (Vicious Feast #1) by Kate Evangelista

Synopsis:

Mature and explicit content. Not recommended for readers below 18-years-old. Yup, you've got to be that old to read my story. Consider yourself warned.

I’m Dakota Collins, a tough talking, eye patch wearing, workaholic photography student. Why am I important? Well, maybe because I get to spend an entire month with Vicious, only the sickest indie rock band out there.

You see, I needed a subject for my Spring Showcase introspective in order to graduate. During a chance encounter at a club I’d been sent to cover for the Daily Gossip, our ironically named college paper, the features writer I usually teamed up with introduced me to the band—by accident, I might add. It involved a run in with a scary, bald bodyguard. Anyway, long story short, I signed a contract to take pictures of Vicious.

I should have known their handsome, yet way too serious for his own good bassist, Luka Visraya, wouldn't be able to keep his hands to himself. He’s gorgeous and all, but the way he smiles spells trouble with a capital L. I’m in for a long month with him around.

Crazy shit happens and then some. So, if you want the skinny on Vicious and the events revolving around my stay at Lunar Manor, read my story.

Again, refer to the warning above.

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Review:

If you do not have enough time to read my review, I can summarize it for you in six words: You. Have. To. Read. This. Book.

Savor is amazing and very addictive. I kid you not when I say it’s difficult to suck me in a book completely these days, but this one did just that. It may be the author’s awesome writing, or the interesting concept of the book, or the badass heroine, or just simply all of the above.

I find Dakota Collins a badass character. It’s the way she sounds in the book. It’s very easy to get lost in it. She’s very sassy, too, which I liked very much.

I liked the way the author executed this book. I like it that Savor did not focus on just Dakota and Luka’s chemistry, but also on the Dakota’s project, which is photography. The descriptive way Kate Evangelista wrote the photo shoots and all of Dakota’s ideas are very vivid, which made it easy to visualize. It felt like I was the one looking through the camera’s lens. It felt like I was looking at the picture itself, not merely reading words describing it.

I also liked the all characters’ interaction with each other. Their friendship had a very natural feel to it and it made me think of my own friends.

What dampened my enthusiasm in this book is Luka, the lack of back-stories, and not enough conversations/moments to build the intense chemistry between Dakota and Luka.

Okay, so Luka is your typical rock star who oozes sex appeal. He’s hot, he can be intense, and he . . . can be very unreasonably violent, too. There was a time when I really hated him because he came across as childish and deranged. He had his moments, though, and there was also a time when he was really sweet and I can see why the readers would fall in love with him. Still, I think his violent side overshadows the sweet one—or at least for me, anyway.

I understand that Savor is mostly about Dakota’s photography project, but there was no back-story to make me know the characters a little more, be it Dakota’s or the band’s. This is something that raises a red flag for me.

I hate it that the chemistry between Luka and Dakota is there just because the book says it’s there. There’s no build up of whatsoever. There wasn’t a getting-to-know you conversation and no back-stories were mentioned. The only thing they have is sexual chemistry, but when it comes to the romantic department, they have none. The only thing there is attraction, but no emotions.

Also, during the whole book there was no mention of anything paranormal except in the epilogue, which made me a little confused. It’s a very interesting build up for the sequel, but it’s just a little weird to me, reading something paranormal so suddenly after seeing none during Dakota’s time in Lunar Manor. The disclaimer is readers do not have to read Taste before Savor (and I didn’t), but if these two are closely related and the other is paranormal, I think there should have been a mention of something unusual in this book, even just a little (and I mean not just in the epilogue).

If you’re looking for an awesome read and a good writing style, I recommend this book and author to you.

~ Zee

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Review ~ Get even (Don't Get Mad #1) by Gretchen McNeil

Synopsis:

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil’s witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process.

Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.

When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose.

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Review:

*Possible spoilers ahead

Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.

When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose...

Revenge is a dish best serve cold. But not as cold as a dead body. Get Even, the first of the Don't Get Mad series is a very exciting book where both male and female readers can be hooked and clamoring for more.

The characters in Get Even are so alive and the distinction between their personalities and how they interact with the group makes it even more thrilling as they try to find out who is out to get them.

It was fun how each personality and skill set helps them out in in each DGM missions, from Margo's techy skills, Kitty's leadership, Bree's bravery and Olivia's awesome acting skills.

Each twist, each new clue that's supposed to light up the path opened up more roads. As an experience thriller/detective story enthusiast, I usually solve the whole thing or even have an inkling on what's going to happen next. But with Get Even, I wasn't able to rely on my 'detective skills' which I consider a very good thing! It enabled me to follow the flow thoroughly and made me even more excited on what would happen next.

~ Djan

Tell us what you think in the comments! :)

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Review ~ 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Synopsis:

Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo.

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.

By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

From master of suspense Gretchen McNeil comes a riveting and deliciously eerie story about the lives we wish we had – and how they just might kill you.

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Review:

I have been fascinated by alternate universes, particularly because I believe that somewhere out there is a buff, sporty version of myself wreaking havoc but that's another story.

In 3:59, that alternate universe is a scary and dark place. Josie is the reflection of people’s hidden desire to go somewhere where they are loved, popular and rich. But even that supposed paradise had a hidden dark side.

I love Josie's character because you don't see geeks as heroines these days. But, despite being a supposed genius, she was still trick in by her other self, Jo, into switching places with her. I mean come on, a popular, rich girl who seems to have it made would switch with your mediocre self? Kind of a red flag right there.

The science behind the way the alternate universe and the passage are quite sound and well researched. Although, I think the mirror bit should be a little more explained. I mean, how did that particular mirror become the only passageway to that dimension? What about other mirrors?

Plus, that explanation on where objects disappeared without explanation was switched around between worlds was enlightening. So that's where my old books went. I hope my alternate world self reads it. Or maybe not, seeing as I'm the smart, nerdy, homebuddy version.

~ Djan

What are your thoughts in this book/review? Tell us in the comments! :)

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Review ~ Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard

Synopsis:

Mare Barrow’s world is divided by blood—those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army, she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own—an ability she didn’t know she had.

Except . . . her blood is Red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard—the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince and Mare against her own heart.

From debut author Victoria Aveyard comes a lush, vivid fantasy series where loyalty and desire can tear you apart and the only certainty is betrayal.

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Review:

Graceling meets The Selection? More like Red Rising in the world of Graceling, and some of the characters are from a lot of different YA books.

There is no The Selection bit in this novel, except the royalties and the choosing for the next queen. However, where the prince in The Selection is allowed to take his own decisions into consideration, that is not the case in Red Queen, not at all. The next queen is already chosen the crown prince, even before the Queenstrial has begun. There really is more Red Rising in here than The Selection. I normally don’t compare books by their similarities, but I just can’t help it with this one.

I didn’t feel that invested in the characters, but Mare Barrow has an interesting mind. I like the way Victoria Aveyard wrote Mare, though when it came to the other characters, not so much. Mare’s “voice” has a poetic feel to it in the monologue. I enjoyed reading her thoughts, which gives off a dark vibe. I didn’t connect with the other characters, and most of them blurred into each other until I cannot see the differences in them at all.

The plot was appealing and intriguing, but I don’t know what to feel about it. I can say it’s good, but it lacks the action and intensity I am looking for. Let me tell you that this book did not make me smile even once, and the dark vibe in everything that’s happening built my anticipation for what’s coming next. But it just keeps building and the only action I saw—which is in the climax, about more or less ten pages—is not enough to do that anticipation justice. It felt like I was anticipating an exciting, adrenaline-filled hundred-foot drop but instead the drop was only five feet. That was the only disappointing thing in this book for me, but it feels like one too many.

The thing I hate the most about a book series is the questions it leaves me. I have so many, and I can’t complain that they’re unanswered because there are sequels that have yet to come and those answers might be in there. I hate it that I can’t rant in my reviews about the plot holes and confusing things—like that thing with Shade—because it might be deliberate and I might see why in the coming sequels. I hate it that I have to wait years before I can complain about what I think are plot holes.

The thing I liked best in here is the twists and turns of events, which totally deceived me. I love it that Aveyard switched the readers’ focus in other things so we cannot think much about the coming twists, which then made it unexpected. I love it that she wrote in the way that the readers will think what she wants us to think, so we will all be surprised when she drops the bomb. I love it that even though I felt like Red Queen is not too action-packed and intense for my taste, I still like it because the way Victoria Aveyard wrote it is beautiful and it didn’t give me a choice but to like it.

I would have liked to see more back-story about the Reds and Silvers and their abilities and the war—more than the more or less five pages of explanation we were given. This books is all about moving forward and thinking of the future, like the history matters very little. I also did not like that.

Red Queen felt like a mix of several different YA books, but it has its own charm that will hook you into the story and never let go even after you’ve turned the last page. It’s a novel where you will count every day left before the sequel comes out. It’s a book that demands to be read.

~ Zee

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Review ~ Half-Blood (Covenant #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals--well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

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Review:

Half-Blood is one of those books that will make you want to crawl inside the book and partake in the adventures of the characters. I found it very hard to put this book down because my attention is fixed on the story as if looking away for a moment will make me miss something good. It is highly intoxicating.

The Hematois are the Pure-bloods, children of demigods. They are the royal bloods of the covenants and assaulting them is simply forbidden. Half-bloods are the children of Hematois and mortals, and they are forever under the Pures’ thumbs. They are not given the choice to do as they please. For them, it is either become a Guard/Sentinel or fall in servitude for life. Either way, they are to serve the Pures and nothing else. Pures are not particular to Half-Bloods because 1) they are taught to be superior over Half-Bloods their whole lives and 2) Half-Bloods and Pure-Bloods are forbidden to be together because “it will taint a Pure’s blood”. Daimons are Pures who succumbed to aether. They hunt Pures to drain the aether in their bloods. They are the only danger the covenant faces, or so they thought.

The plot is carefully thought out and beautifully written. Everything has significance, and the events are very engaging. I like this Greek myth unique spin-off. It is adventurous, action-packed and romantic.

Alex’s character is very entertaining. She’s the badass character that I’m looking for in every read. She’s funny, sarcastic, smartass, and brave. I like the “tone” of the whole book because Alex’s snide comments are very entertaining. She’s also stupid, stubborn, and at times bad-tempered. She dives headfirst into dangerous territories, but that is part of her charm. She’s one of those badass characters whose stupid decisions might lead to World war III, but then she can also save the day. She is a very strong female lead.

Aiden is your typical good-boy hero. He’s hot, hot, and hot. (Have I mentioned hot?) He’s a natural leader and a very good strategist, which I guess comes from being a Sentinel. He’s one of the Pures who thinks Half-Bloods are their equals. This guy is the typical brainy, hot, and badass hero who doesn’t know how to smile. When you get to really meet him throughout the book, he is also sweet and funny.

I don’t feel Seth’s character. He’s like Alex in many ways—stubborn, sarcastic, bad-tempered—but there is just something about him that didn’t quite reach me. He’s the self-centered character every book has to have.  Being the Apollyon, though, I’d like to have his abilities.

Caleb is a very strong secondary character, and I have a bad feeling about this because strong secondary characters tend to die in books. I really hope I see him throughout the series.

I enjoyed Armentrout’s unique writing style. I like it that she put very distinctive differences in her characters. She’s one of those authors who can’t seem to write in a bad way even if she tried.

I super loved this book. I guess it’s a good thing this is a part of a series because I can’t get enough.

~ Zee

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Review ~ Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis:

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past. 

Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated. 

Promises get broken. 

Rules get shattered. 

Love gets ugly.

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Review:

*Please note that I DON'T REALLY HAVE A RATING FOR THIS BOOK and I only hit the star rating because it is REQUIRED. I’m not rating this book as 1 star or 5 star or whatever-star because I’m not sure there is an appropriate rating for it.*

So. My review.

Colleen Hoover is one of a kind. I don’t know where she gets her ideas for her books but every single one of them is fricking relatable, even if you haven’t been in the characters’ situation. She makes her characters realistic enough that will earn your sympathies at some point in the book. I’ve read all her books, and until now I’m still holding on to my statement that you can’t go wrong with Colleen Hoover. I’m not saying her books are flawless and perfect, because it is not, but is there really a perfect book, something that someone didn’t find a flaw on?

I am really torn about Ugly Love. Advance apologies for some parts that wouldn’t make sense as it is a product of the mixed feelings this book gave me. Oh, and this might be a weird review. Or not.

Ugly Love is a friends-with-benefits type of story. Now, I strongly believe that it is not about how common/unique a story is, but how the author executes it. I am a hopeless romantic, and it goes without saying that the first thing I wanted to see in this book is how they fell in love. It was not a pretty sight, which really makes the book stand up to its title.

I like the dual POV that gives the readers a look into the past and present. I liked the anticipation it gave me on where the past and present will meet in the book and how it will go. I like it that while Miles is a mystery in Tate’s POV, I got to see what made him so in his own (though I can’t quite get why his POV

Has

To be

Written

In this

Manner.

Am I

Missing

Something?)

Miles Archer is what made this book really interesting. His POV slowly unveiled the reason why he wasn’t particular in romantic relationships. He’s broken, and understandably so. As the story unfolded and the mystery kept the anticipation building, I also kept wishing that I could read faster and turn the pages even faster. Miles can be easily defined as the King of Mixed Signals, but since we only see him in Tate’s point of view, I wonder if Tate is the one who keeps getting the wrong signals. After all, it is not how the message is sent but how the recipient received it. I wonder if Miles really gave mixed signals or Tate just reads too much into it. Perhaps she’s just seeing what she wanted to see.

Elizabeth Tate Collins is very annoying (sorry, guys!) when she is around Miles, which most of the time. This character is the main reason I am so torn about this book. For every annoying thing that I saw in her, I also have a counterpart explanation, which is making me undecided what to feel.

For someone who supposedly doesn’t have time to fall in love, she sure fell for Miles a little fast. ~ but isn’t that just love? It happens without warnings whatsoever. Sometimes, when there is attraction, love is close behind. Tate was attracted to Miles even from the start, so it’s really no wonder she went around falling in love.

I hope to meet this lady and tell her, “Where is the self-respect, Tate? Where? What happened to backbone? I understand that you don’t want to lose him so you’ll get what he’ll give you, but please have mercy on yourself and know when to stop.” ~ The most annoying thing about Tate is that she let Miles walk all over her. She knows when to stop, but she doesn’t want to. In a way, I understand. She’s in love, and no matter how stupid that sounds it really overrides all logic. I know someone who is just like Tate because she’s in love, and I witnessed the stupid things she did and refused to do. When someone is truly, madly, deeply in love logic usually do not work. So no matter how annoying Tate acted, I guess it was understandable.

There is just one thing that I cannot accept: when Miles called her by his ex-girlfriend’s name and she didn’t walk away. That should be the last straw! That had to hurt in the worst possible way to the point of walking away. Why, Tate? Why?


All in all, I like the story, though some parts of it less so. It didn’t make me cry, but the characters got my sympathy. I’m sure some readers loved it so much, and some were disappointed. A few might be like me, undecided. But that’s just readers; everyone has different opinions.


~ Zee

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Review ~ Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. 

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Purchase Links:

Review:

This is the first Armentrout book I’ve read. I’ve heard so many good things about her books and how amazing of a writer she is but I’ve never realized just how good until I finally gave it a shot. For the sake of being a walking cliché, I don’t know why I waited this long before finally picking this book up. I’ve had it for a month before finally reading it.

Let me just say that I love that cover. I can imagine it being totally creepy when it’s animated.

Don’t Look Back centers around Samantha Franco who went missing for days with her best friend Cassie Winchester. Four days later Sam resurfaced, but she has no memories of who she was and everything about her life.

I like the concept and plot of the book and the way the author executed it. Yes, some parts are a little predictable but then something happens that makes you doubt and dismiss your suspicions altogether. Then you move on to your next suspect and the same thing happens. This book made me think real hard. I couldn’t put it down in my eagerness to know everything, my eyes sharp in each word, afraid to miss something. The sequence of events and how the mystery is slowly being unraveled is good.

I like the characters, especially Scott. His protective demeanor towards Sam is sweet and amusing at times. There are some characters, like Candy and Veronica, who I’m not fond of but I think they were portrayed well. There are teen agers who think like that, so it’s not exactly that fictional. One downside of it for me is that the emotions didn’t quite get to me. I didn’t feel that deep connection with the characters though the words used to describe their thoughts and emotions were precise and clear.

And then there’s the romance. I enjoy reading romance, and I’m so glad that this one isn’t overdone. It’s not the hovering/can’t-live-without-each-other type, which stripped the cheesiness. For me, anyway. Carson Ortiz is someone who has always liked Sam even when she treated him like trash, but he made a very good job hiding it in the past. His protectiveness rivals Scott’s, but less brotherly-like. It’s sweet. The romance between him and Sam met my liking in the highest scale.

Readers who like a good mystery with a healthy dose of romance will like this book. Maybe even love it.

~ Zee

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