Echoes Between Us Review

Author: Katie McGarry

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it on Amazon or B&N

Number of Pages: 384

Publisher: Tor Teen

First Thoughts:

I quite honestly thought this book was going to go a different way by just reading the summary. But boy was I wrong. What looked to start as a typical ghost story turned into something much more Psychological. It was a deep down psychological and emotional story. it had parts that really grabbed me and parts that set me with unease. I saw that a lot of readers thought this was a great story but it didn't hit me right. 

Summary:

Veronica is trying best to keep the secret that she has a brain tumor. As innocent as she portrays the tumor to be, she thinks it would turn her world upside down if anyone besides her dad, a few friends and doctors knew about it. She especially doesn't want the boy that just moved into the apartment under her house to know. 

Enter Sawyer, the picture perfect all star swimmer. But Sawyer has a secret of his own. One that is slowly consuming him, one that only he knows about. But Sawyer is one of the popular kids at small town high school. Secrets are bound to be told.

Veronica and Sawyer start on a journey of self-discovery, where they are bound by a school project and the ghosts that Veronica is determined to prove are real. But will their two secrets be revealed and if they are will Veronica and Sawyer be ready to own up to them?

Plot:

I thought this book would be more syfy and less emotional roller-coaster. It started in a typical manner, an opening scene of a breakfast between father and daughter. And Veronica has an obsession to prove, one she tells herself has to be real because if it wasn't meant something much worse. There's constantly a pull of emotions as characters come in and out throughout the story. It adds more dramatic pieces and slowly the plot thickens and causes the reader to want to want to read more; to stop only until the book ends. I mean the plot was good, took a turn I didn't anticipate but for an average reader, I think they'd like this book. My opinion is that it started off rocky but snowballed into something better by the end. I still have mix emotions about the story line. There was some dark scenes in this book, scenes that could cause a reader to want to put the book down. (at least that's what it did to me at parts.) Overall I can see how attractive the plot would be to most readers but like I mentioned above it didn't settle well with me.

Romance:

The relationship between Veronica and Sawyer was unexpected in the way that they would fit together. To me they had personalities that would clash and yes it did at times. It kind of seemed too easy to pair the two, like it was predictable in that way. But in the end it was okay, not the shining aspect of the story.

Characters:

Veronica was hard to connect with to me. She had a whole a lot of barriers up that made it hard for the reader to connect with. But as I got to know exactly what Veronica's life was like and how hard it was for her to deal with life's problems made it more connectable. But Veronica was a complex character, she had all of these beliefs that she thought were real and had such a tender heart. When I did connect with her, I became a fan of her. She was weak at times and others the bravest of souls.

Sawyer was a more rough kind of character. His personality had sharp edges that made it hard to understand. But as information was released throughout the story it was easier to understand him.

The rest of the secondary characters were introduced well and gave a good spectrum of personalities. Like Veronica's dad, he is not one of my favorite characters but then you get someone like Veronica, whose whole life is like balancing on a tight rope above a tank of piranhas. Definitely an interesting piece of the story.

Transformation of the Character:

Veronica definitely transformed as the reader was able to understand her. She had so much against her but those obstacles just pushed her over the edge. She had to break out of her "cocoon" because the alternative was way too dark for her. Sawyer did his own kind of transforming, I felt you didn't get his whole transformation by the end of the book but you were able to see some transformation. 

Description:

The scenery was well crafted to allow the reader to imagine each part, allowing the imagery to be pasted to our minds. There were some intense moments and the reader was able to really imagine the scene as it played out. One of the best scenes was the where Veronica and Sawyer first went out looking for ghosts by the bridge. That scene really made the reading experience terrifying and fun. The emotional part of this book was well described, I found myself on the verge of tears at parts. It really grabbed the reader and allowed them to understand what the character was feeling and thinking in some serious situations.

Style:

This was written in first person, it allowed the reader to understand what was going on in the character's mind. The emotional connection was better suited for first person. This was meant to be a deep and emotional book and it wouldn't have made such an impact if it was in 2nd or third person. This was also written in two point of views; Veronica's and Sawyers. I loved that it was two different point of views, it allowed a wider range of emotional connection. As for the writer's writing it was well written and enjoyable. As much as I have bashed this book, the writing itself isn't one of the reasons I had a hard time of connecting with the story. The author has a way with words that causes the reader to want to continue reading even though it doesn't connect with the reader.

Quote of the Book:

" "What's important is that you're comfortable with your body and how you decide to use it. If you want to kiss the boy and he wants to kiss you, you kiss. If you don't want to kiss the boy, you don't. Kissing is magical, but it's not magical enough to make your wounds heal. Only time can do that.""

Last Thoughts:

Even though I had parts of the book I didn't like doesn't mean I hated the book. It had it's moments. I think I really started to connect with the story when the characters became more serious; more realistic. I enjoy this author's writing and will continue to read other stories by her. I really; truly hope you will enjoy this book, maybe it's me; maybe I'm the reason it wasn't my favorite. Worth a try, happy reading!

Rating:

3 Blooms!

The Burning Shadow(Origin #2) Review

Date Published: October 8, 2019

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it on Amazon or B&N

Number of pages: 432

Publisher: Tor Teen

First Thoughts:

Eeekkk! I love this series! It's not often a series takes me by surprise like this one does! I remember reading the first book "The darkest Star." I had no experience with this series's world. I wasn't expecting much from it but after reading "The Darkest Star" I was pretty hyped up. What caught me by surprise was, I had forgotten that another book in the series had come out last October. It wasn't until I stepped in Barnes and Noble's for the first time in months, that I had remembered. (Last year was a hard reading year for me.) And just like with the first book, I devoured this one too.

Summary:

Evelyn nicknamed "Evie" thought her life was going to finally get back on track, if only she didn't have gaps in her memory. Add in Luc, an Orgin and her life just becomes even more tangled. 

To make things worse, a mysterious illness/deaths are rising. And guess whose at the wrong end of the stick? Yep, the Luxen. But is it really them that is causing this "flu" like illness? Or is it something much more sinister?

Evie must try and figure out the missing pieces in her memory before the past tries to catch up to her. And things are happening to Evie, things she rather push to the furthest place in her mind. Things no "human" can do. 

Will Evie solve her memory problems? and will the mysterious Luc finally reveal some secrets of his own? 

Plot:

There were some predictable areas in this book and then some surprises! But the ending was a mixture of them both. Not going to spoil it for you but it definitely had a plot twist at the end. I loved that there were moments of comic relief because this book packed a lot of emotions! And not to spoil too much we did have to say goodbye to a few characters...it made me almost cry. But besides the intense emotions there was also some funny moments. Without them I don't think I could've finished this book as fast as I did or finished it period. This book was packed with action so it doesn't bore the reader. And there was some mystery to this book in the form of unexpected occurrences. Like I mentioned above, I could predict what would happen if not exactly then pretty similar. But there's nothing like a surprise. I love being surprised in a book and this book had a few. 

Romance:

There definitely were some heated scenes. Especially from Evie and Luc. I know, I know, anyone could've predicted there would be something between the two of them. It was quite predictable, it was fated in my opinion that they would end up together. Quite honestly I thought they were together in the first book (like an actual couple) but apparently they weren't. Anyways if you don't like some "heavy" breathing romance scenes (no sex), then I would caution you to read this series.

Other than Evie and Luc's budding relationship there were other couples and I enjoyed reading about them. Nothing like seeing young love!

Characters:

Evie is a fun but at times frustrating character to read about. She has this great personality but also at the same time blocks herself from achieving things. But she's still fun to read along with and Luc, honestly can be worse than her. But Evie is a complex character. She sometimes puts roadblocks in front of her when there shouldn't have been any to start with. She definitely tries hard, she honestly doesn't want to harm anyone(well any innocent people or otherwise). But I also think were not seeing all there is to know about Evie. Which I know makes a book so good. (who wants to read a book where we know everything about the main character in the first half of it?!)  

Luc is definitely a firecracker. He likes to rile people up for situations he can't control. He has this dedication to protecting others especially Evie. He thinks he's in control of things when in reality he shouldn't have that control to begin with. But he is definitely fun to read along with as with the other secondary characters.

Transformation of the Character:

Evie is still evolving in this book and I quite honestly believe she will continue to evolve until the end of time. She's complex like I mentioned above and with that comes details we may never find. She still has this problem of facing her problems. She can't seem to push past them, she likes to let it fester like a thorn under the skin. She rather push it to the very back of her mind until she explodes. So she does has some growing up to do.

As for Luc and the others they evolved some, Luc more than the others but he definitely has awhile to go also.

Description:

The detail is very much one of my favorite things about this book. The way a Luxen looks when in it's true form is very well described. And the emotions?! Phew, I sometimes had to step back for a bit because it was so well described that it was powerful. The scenery was well described also, they way she described the characters and surroundings allowed the reader to get a pretty good idea on how the characters interacted with it. Best part by far, is the way she describes things that pipes the readers interest. It's all about the way to draw the reader in, to catch their attention. This is what the author did and excelled at.

Style:

This was written in first person, which allowed the reader to get a better grasp on what was happening and to understand the story line better. This was also written in only Evie's point of view so really, the main focus of the book was on her and the ever-changing things infecting her life.The author's writing is also a big "wow". This author has a way with words that invite the reader in and allow them to be snared, making it hard to put the book down. She is by far one of my favorite authors because of her excellent writing.

Quote of the Book:

""You never struck me as the type to ever be afraid," I said, being honest.

"Usually I'm not, but when it comes to you..." He trailed off, looking away. A muscle flexed along his jaw. He inhaled deeply.

"We'll figure this out.""

Last Thoughts:

Loved this book and hopefully come October I'll remember this time to pick up the next book in this series called, "The Brightest Night." I would totally recommend this book to YA readers, and if you still haven't checked this series out, you so should!!! Thank you's to the author for creating such a creative and thrilling world, till next time....

Rating:

4 Blooms!

The Vanishing Season(book 4 of The Collector Series)

Date Published: May 21, 2019

Author: Dot Hutchison

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it on Amazon or B&N

Number of pages: 317

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Warning! Book 4 of this series! Should read books 1-3 first to truly enjoy this book.

First Thoughts:

Sad to see an end to this series. Though in all honesty it ran it's necessary course and ended just right. I will miss the sparky and real characters. I will miss these amazing thought-out cases. It all started in a butterfly garden, where girls had tattoo butterfly wings on their backs, the very first case in this series. And it ended in a very emotional and very heart-pounding case. If you like the other books you will definitely love the characters in this journey. If you haven't read any of the other books, can I suggest you read them?! Anyways, let me wipe my eyes, blow my nose and start this review!

Summary: 

FBI agent Eliza Sterling is on a case that she has to solve before another girl's fate ends badly. With the help of her fellow group of agents this should be easy right? Well it's not easy solving a case that might involve Agent Eddison's missing sister. Eddison is doing his best to contain his emotions as this case rapidly increases as it becomes apparent that the abducted girl isn't the only one involved in this case. They have to rush to find Brooklyn before it's too late.

Eddison's temper and emotions are spiraling out of control but can Eliza bring Eddison back from this darkness in time to help solve the case or will he be more of a liability? With the help of her fellow agents theys rush to solve this case of both abducted Brooklyn and the missing girls that formed over years. Will these girls cases finally get solved or will Eddison drag all the agents down with him.

Plot:

Just like with the other three books, the case is a tough one to solve and read. It still surprises me that something like this book has probably in one form or another come to past in reality. 

I love books that are like this. The good guys trying to make a imprint in this world. The plot really becomes deep in parts and makes the reader want to comfort the agents who are battling the bad guy(s). It deals a lot with the agents trying to solve this case that actually evolves to more. It becomes a man-hunt to solve who could've taken Brooklyn and why. And why is it when Eliza gets closer to touch deeper in the case she's pushed 3 steps back? Eliza is determined to solve this case and others, so that she may one day see a happy ending. 

This plot was up and down and dealt with a lot of emotions. Though it necessarily didn't make me cry it still was an emotional roller-coaster. And the cases were thoroughly picked apart by Eliza and her fellow FBI agents. Definitely a good plot that had only a few dry spells. And by dry I mean slow and kinda boring. But overall it was a pretty good plot.

Romance:

Eliza and Eddison are dating and their relationship was definitely tested in this book. With Eddison's little sister's case possibly being connected to Brooklyn's his anger slowly builds. And with anger comes things you wouldn't normally do. Eddison's anger towards the world comes to come against Eliza. I have mixed feelings about their relationship. With what Eliza dealt with, I'm not sure I could've stayed. With my past especially. Overall this wasn't the best part of the book.

Characters:

Eliza was such a strong character. She had so much thrown at her. When we met her in the previous books she was kind of a "just there" character. She supported her fellow agents but you couldn't see her true colors until this book. We got to see her step up. See her finally get rid of that wedding dress from her first almost wedding to a previous guy. But man I literally cheered when she did that. I think I might of yelled when it came across that part. In this book she was the lead on this case. She took it by the reins. but by no means was able to solve it by herself.

Eddison another primary character was an emotional character. He was kinda a weak character in this particular book. But I guess you would be weak when your missing little sister became a possible connection with the new case. 

The other agents were good in their own parts. The visiting "butterflies" were fun to see and it allowed the reader to be okay with the series ending.

Transformation of the Character:

Eliza blossomed in this book as I mentioned above. She really shone in this book and it made me excited to see just how much she did bloom. I thought she was weak in the other books but when it came time to help put relief to Eddison's torment she really grew up. 

Eddison on the other hand transformed in a different way. He had a different kind of hurdle. When a case hits close to home you're bound to have a harder time with the case as than the other agents. He had to come to terms that his little sister may have been a part of this case. He gets super emotional and moody. He doesn't really try to get better in my opinion until the case comes to a conclusion. Not going to spoil it but he definitely wasn't that transformed like Eliza.

Description: 

There was definitely good descriptions in this book. The findings of bones and how they were found and described was phenomenal. The author really did her research. It seemed so legit that I doubt it was made up! And how she described Eddison's emotions really got to me. It was like I was right there with him. Even though I mentioned I thought Eddison was a weak character doesn't mean I didn't like him. I honestly can't blame him for how he felt because I would feel the same way. But the author really got the reader to engage with the book and it's description. It was like I was actually there! One roller-coaster of a book ride!The scenery was well polished and pulled at the reader. Really liked this part of the book.

Style:

This was written in multiple P.O.V.s but mainly Eliza's. I liked the way the author chose to choose when necessary to add in the other point of view. Eliza's point of view was definitely important but it was definitely in the best interest of the book to add in other point of views. Especially when it came to understanding exactly what was going on. Also this book was written in first person. It allowed the reader to connect with Eliza. There's only so much you can get out of third person or even second person. But as this story being a FBI book, you needed to get in the head of the person really into the case.

The author's writing itself was beautiful. Really caught the readers attention. Not rocky but at times sharp. Definitely would recommend her writing. 

Quote of the Book:

""Faith? You're not out here all alone, are you?"

She stopped on the sidewalk and looked up. "umm...that depends," she hedged. "Are you going to tell my mama?"

The man smiled. "No, I won't tell her anything.""

Last Thoughts:

Man, I miss this series already. Though I'm trying to take a break on FBI books. I need something more light. A "happy" book if there really is any. I would totally recommend this book to anyone who likes pyschological thrillers or FBI based stories. Of course, if you liked any of the first three books then you would definitely be down for this book. Be ready for your life to be changed!

Rating:

4 Blooms!