Review: What's Broken Between Us by Alexis Bass

Alexis Bass’s heartbreakingly beautiful second novel is a tale of love, loss, and learning to forgive.

Look to the left, look to the right. We’re all going to die. But someone has to do it first. So who’s it going to be?

Tragedy struck Amanda Tart’s town a year and a half ago when a sophomore girl was killed in a car accident on graduation night.
Amanda’s brother, Jonathan, was behind the wheel and too drunk to drive. He’s spent the past year in prison and has cut off all ties. But now Jonathan is coming home. Just as Amanda’s trying to figure out what that means for her family and herself, she’s paired up for a school project with Henry Crane—a former crush, and brother of Jonathan’s ex-girlfriend, who survived the crash with horrible injuries.

Everyone is still incredibly damaged by the events of that night. Can Amanda and Henry finally begin to heal what’s broken and find some peace?

Kindle Edition, 304 pages

Expected publication: December 29th 2015 by HarperTeen 

Genre: Young Adult

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

I don't even know where to start when it comes to discussing this book. First off, the synopsis caught me right away and I thought it had great potential. A story about a girl who's older brother went to prison after he was in an accident while drunk that caused a peers death. Sounds intriguing right? Often the people left behind struggle the most from the sins of those closest to them. What a great angle...the sister who has to walk in the footsteps that her convicted felon of a brother left behind. I was all in.

I did and didn't have a problem with some of the characters if that makes any sense. I hated everything about Jonathan. His actions and attitude when he was released from prison were horrendous. He seemed cold and remorseless yet entitled and untouchable. As much as I hated these things about him I was almost relieved at the same time. This allowed me to continue to hate him for the things that he did. It would have been more difficult for me if he miraculously turned into an upstanding citizen after the things he did and the extremely lenient sentence he received. In other words, I hated him but I was glad that the story went in the direction that made me hate him. It made Amanda's story much more complicated and interesting to the reader.

I liked Amanda but I want to make it clear that she wasn't perfect. She did things that weren't morally right and hurtful to others. I liked her for her situation and the struggles she was having. She was torn in so many directions. She was happy that her brother was getting out of prison but she couldn't voice that to anyone. She had to be a completely different person in front of her peers. After all, he killed one of them. She also had her secret crush that she couldn't act on because he was the younger brother of her brother's ex girlfriend who was also in the crash and seriously injured. She was dealing with a lot for a teenage girl.

Briefly I feel the need to mention the parents. As a parent of teenagers myself, I could not understand their parenting at all. What were they thinking? It wasn't Mumsy and Standard Dad but more like absentee Mom and Dad. I could not stop shaking my head. That's all I'm going to say about that. You'll have to read it to understand what I'm talking about.

This book was an easy book to read but it was a roller coaster of emotions. It was dark and lacked much happiness but it depicted a serious and relevant topic. I really think that young people will like it. I also think that it would make a great book club book as I can visualise many topics to discuss around it.

About the Author

Alexis Bass grew up in Washington, went to college in Arizona, and spent her early twenties in Seattle. She currently lives in Northern California with Dylan McKay, her gorgeous and rambunctious golden retriever. She loves good fashion and good TV as much as a good book, and is a huge advocate of the three C’s: coffee, chocolate, and cheese. LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES is her first novel.   

Connect with Alexis

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

 

Review: Caught by You by Jennifer Bernard

Months of alternately flirting and bickering with Kilby Catfish catcher Mike Solo just turned into the hottest kiss of Donna MacIntyre's life—and that's a major league complication. Any hint of scandal could keep her from getting her son back from her well-connected ex. Then Mike comes up with a game-changing idea: a marriage proposal that could help win her case—even as it jeopardizes her heart.

Mike hasn't been able to get the gorgeous, gutsy redhead out of his fantasies. The least he can do is fix the mess he helped create. Yet their engagement is quickly becoming about a lot more than doing the right thing. Because after swearing he'd never risk love again, Mike has found a passion that puts all his emotions in play, and a woman he'll go to bat for again and again.

ebook, 384 pages

Expected publication: December 29th 2015 by HarperCollins Publishers

 

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher HarperCollins via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is December 29th, 2015.

Bernard is not a new author to me.  I read one of her stories in another series quite some time ago and enjoyed it.  I thought it was time to read another one of her stories to see if I still felt the same.  This one focused around baseball players instead of firefighters.

This story is the second in the series however can be read as a stand alone.  I will warn that there are quite a few references to the first story so you may want to read in order.  That being said, it did not make this one hard to understand, more so made me curious about what happened in the first story.

What the Jeter?

This story was full of funny moments.  Not the least of which was the use of what the Jeter.  This sounded like something my friends and I would do and had me in stiches.  I also liked that Donna was spunky and a jokester.  The way she tried to curb her need to joke and have fun but simply couldn't stem that side of her personality.

Mike himself wasn't so bad.  All hot and dreamy and of course as is the case most of the time, the kind of guy every girl dreams off physically and emotionally.

As is also standard in these stories is the hot and heavy scenes between the two.  I almost started counting the number of closets the two got in to as it seemed to be a habit of theirs! 

Althogether this was a good read.  It delivered on the romance and steam all in one.  I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Random thought:  I noticed in this story that the characters had nicknames for each other.  He called her Red and she called him Solo.  I kept waiting for Cup to be introduced.  Anyone have the song in their head now?  You are welcome!

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennifer Bernard is the USA Today bestselling author of the Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel series and the upcoming Love Between the Bases series. She's a graduate of Harvard and a former news promo producer. The child of academics, she confounded her family by preferring romance novels to any other books. She left big city life for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She’s no stranger to book success, as she also writes erotic novellas under a naughty secret name not to be mentioned at family gatherings.

Besides reading, writing and living romance, another passion is Ashtanga yoga. She practices daily, and has traveled to Thailand, India and Hawaii to learn from the best teachers on the planet. Other than that, she loves hiking, meditating, hazelnut chocolate, and the children she is graced to have in her life.

Website
Twitter

Review: Can't Hold Back by Serena Bell

In this tender military romance from the bestselling author of Hold on Tight—perfect for fans of of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery—a war-shattered veteran gets a second chance at love with the one that got away.

No girl can resist a man in uniform—especially if that man is Nate Riordan. But after an injury in the line of duty leaves Nate broken, body and soul, the soldier finds himself addicted to his pain meds, with no place to call home. Desperate for an escape, Nate reluctantly accepts a friend’s invitation to a new veterans’ retreat. Expecting a little R&R, Nate is shocked when the sight of his physical therapist opens up another old wound: heartbreak.

Years ago, Alia Drake fell hard for Nate, but never made her move. Instead, she set up her sister with the sexy, confident military man, a foolish decision that continues to haunt all three of them. Now, with Nate as her patient, she can make things right—even if it means getting too close for comfort. A healing touch and a little honesty work wonders, fueling a physical intimacy that crosses professional boundaries. This time, with desire in the air once more, Alia won’t hold anything back.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: December 15th 2015 by Loveswept 

Series: Returning Home #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received an advanced readers copy from Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

Can't Hold Back is the second book in the Returning Home series but can be read as a stand alone. I was fortunate enough to read Hold on Tight, the first book, and although it is not necessary to read it to follow along I highly recommend it only because it was a really great book.

Serena Bell writes contemporary romance really, really well. Her characters and plot are messy, complicated, full of angst and issues, difficult and somehow way easier to relate to because of it. Can't Hold Back is not a long book but it is packed full of relevant and serious issues that will hold as much interest as the romance aspect of it.

Alia had always been more of a mother to her younger sister than her mother ever was. Becca had many insecurities stemming from a learning disabilty which kept Alia on her toes. She wanted her to be happy. That is why she set her up with Nate even though she had felt an imediate connection with him. When he went overseas she had no idea how much her help would ruin everything.

Nate suffered a serious injury in the line of duty that left him in pain and dealing with an overwhelming case of survivors guilt and an addiction to prescription pills. To fullfil his unspoken promise to his dead partner he headed to a veterans retreat (owned by Jake from the 1st book) for help with his pain and addiction. Old wounds are opened again when Alia is the one in charge of his pain management.

It wasn't long before there were even more complications such as broken promises, ethics, possible job opportunites and heartbreak to add to the mix.

I devoured this book just like I did the first one. There is just something about Bell's writing that draws you in and keeps you there. I'm not sure if it how she manages to pen someone who is completely broken yet is still sexy has hell or if it is the depth and seriousness of the issues she gives them. Whatever it is, it manages to get to me every time. I was in Alia and Nate's corner the entire time and hoping with each turn of the page for a favourable outcome. Their chemistry was off the charts and the sexy time was enough to make me blush.

I am absolutely loving this series and can't wait for the next instalment!

Check out my review for Hold on Tight (the 1st book) here.

About the Author

Serena Bell writes stories about how sex messes with your head, why smart people do stupid things sometimes, and how love can make it all better.

Serena wrote her first steamy romance before she was old enough to understand what all the words meant and has been perfecting the art of hiding pages and screens from curious eyes ever since—a skill that’s particularly useful now that she’s the mother of two school-aged children.

When she’s not scribbling stories or getting her butt kicked at Scrabble by a seven-year-old, she’s practicing modern dance improv in the kitchen, swimming laps, needlepointing, hiking, or reading on one of her large collection of electronic devices.  

Connect with Serena

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads 

Print Exclusive Release Blast & Giveaway: Hot and Nerdy by Shannyn Schroeder

Enter to Win an Ebook Copy of 

His Work of Art, His New Jam, or His Dream Role or

Print Copy of the New Hot And Nerdy Anthology

HOT @ND NERDY Anthology

HER BEST SHOT, HER PERFECT GAME, HER WINNING FORMULA

Shannyn Schroeder

Releasing in Print December 15th

Exclusively at Books-a-Million

Her Best Shot
With college graduation looming, three childhood friends vow to make spring break their last blast of pure fun. But at least one of them didn’t count on such incredible heat…

Layla Sharpe is definitely more math ninja than bikini babe, and her future has been calculated with razor precision. Convinced to let loose over spring break, Layla is finally ready to party—until her car breaks down halfway to her destination, leaving her stranded in Georgia with a mouthwateringly hot pool shark. She knows more than enough about angles to learn the game, but this week she wants him to appreciate her curves…

Phin Marks has never met a girl like Layla. She’s more Star Wars geek than seductress, and when he offers her a place to stay while her car is in the shop, he’s counting on the attraction between them to set the nights ablaze, no strings attached. But every moment he spends with Layla makes it harder to let her go. Can he persuade her to gamble in the most dangerous way possible…on forever?

Her Perfect Game
Spring break is supposed to be a week of fun in the sun for three childhood friends about to graduate from college. But one of them is ready to get her game on somewhere else…

Charlie Castle is an expert archer and a fierce warrior—in her favorite video game, anyway. But college life was a program she couldn’t quite master. To land a cybertech job without a degree, she’s entering a “hackfest” over spring break—where she also hopes to meet the sweet gamer who’s been flirting with her online. Instead, she runs into the hot guy who walked away years ago, and can’t fight the desire that comes rushing back.

Jonah Best has never gotten over Charlie, whose kisses were always as deliciously creative as her coding. But now that they’re face to face again, he doesn’t know how to admit that her online admirer is really him—or how to convince her that he’s offering her a job for her incredible skills, not her sex appeal. Can Jonah cut through their communication glitches and persuade Charlie that the next level up for them should be forever?

Her Winning Formula
Spring break was supposed to be a last blast of fun for three friends before the reality of adulthood set in. But for the trio’s science whiz, it’s an education in instant attraction…

Chemistry major Felicity Stone can tell you everything about the way chemicals interact, but when it comes to social interaction, she needs schooling. Abandoned by her friends, Felicity is faced with spending spring break alone—unless she accepts a gorgeous stranger’s invitation to pose as his girlfriend at a family wedding. Not one to turn down a research opportunity, Felicity never expected it to produce such breathtaking results…

Teacher and baseball coach Lucas Tanner is fascinated by Felicity’s potent mix of spirit and scientist, not to mention her delicious curves. When Felicity asks him to return the favor by teaching her how to pick up guys, he can’t refuse—but he’s not at all happy with the idea of her using a formula for flirting on anyone but him. Can he convince her that together they have the perfect chemistry?

                          Her Winning Formula Excerpt

The movie was filled with killing and explosions, but couldn’t hold his concentration. The mousy girl in the bed beside him kept grabbing his attention. And she wasn’t doing anything but reading silently. She didn’t even move her lips when she read, but her facial expressions changed. Her eyes would narrow or her forehead crinkled. Sometimes a sly smile snuck up on her. He didn’t know how he knew, but it was like it surprised her when it happened.

He couldn’t remember the last time he read anything for school that had him feeling any kind of emotion, much less what she was experiencing. He paused the movie. “What are you reading?”

She didn’t look up from the book, but answered, “Research.”
He tossed the remote on his bed and jumped onto her bed, jostling her in the process. “Come on. Research isn’t that fascinating. What are you really reading?”

Annoyance crossed her face with his intrusion. “It is research. I enjoy research.”

“Let me see.” He held out his hand for the reader.

“No.” She hugged it tight to her chest.

Now he had to know what it was. No one guarded research material. He crawled over to her, and she scooted farther back until she hit the headboard. “Let me see.”

“No. Now go away and watch your movie.”

 “This is more interesting than the movie.” He eyed the way she held it to figure out the best way to snatch the device.

She turned to get out of bed, presumably to get away from him, giving him his opening to grab the reader. He moved fast, and she stood looking in disbelief. Her mouth hung open and fear entered her eyes, but she covered it quickly with anger as she crossed her arms.

He hadn’t yet looked down at the screen. “I’m just playing. If you really don’t want me to see this, I’ll stop.”
“Whatever. Do what you want.” She knelt on the bed and then sat, pulling her knees up to her chest. She bit her thumbnail.

He glanced down at the screen and began reading. He smiled. Felicity was reading a naughty book. “You’re reading porn?”

“It’s not porn. It’s erotica or erotic romance.”

“Chick porn.”

“You’re such a guy.” She grabbed her reader back and turned away from him.

“Why did you call it research? Why not say you’re reading a novel?”

“I am doing research.”

“Sex research?”

She looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes.

“You don’t know…I mean….”

“Shut up, Lucas. I know how sex works. I’ve even had sex.”

“Then why research?”

She huffed and put the reader down on the bed. “These books aren’t just about the sex. They’re about human interaction, relationships. How people relate to each other and learn to understand each other.”

“That’s just part of life.”

“For people like you it is, not for me.”

“For people like me?”

“I’ve known you for less than a day, but I can tell that everyone likes you. You’re open and friendly, and you understand what people mean and what they need. I don’t. I don’t get any of that. I read these books because I get a picture of what normal people think when they see someone, how they interpret someone’s words or actions.”

He stared at her. He didn’t know what to say. During the course of speaking, she opened up. Her body language relaxed, and she was in the moment, not worrying about anything. She was honest and vulnerable. It was pretty fucking sexy. He lay down and rested on his elbow. “Does it turn you on?”

She rolled her eyes again. “Such a guy.”

She turned over on her stomach and went back to reading. He mimicked her pose and bumped his shoulder into hers. “You didn’t answer the question.”

“Sometimes,” she whispered.

Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo | GooglePlay 

Exclusive in Print: BAM

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shannyn Schroeder is the author of the O’Leary series, contemporary romances centered around a large Irish-American family in Chicago and the new Hot & Nerdy series about 3 nerdy friends and their last spring break. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing, she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: The Visitors by Simon Sylvester

For fans of Neil Gaiman and Iain Banks, a teenaged girl’s coming-of-age story sees a myth come to life on a lush Scottish Island

On the remote, windswept Scottish island Bancree, men are disappearing without a trace, and to two teenaged girls, it looks like the work of the mythical selkies—-women that turn into seals.

Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication: December 29th 2015 by Melville House

 

Terri's Thoughts

**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Melville House via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is December 29th, 2015**

I will be upfront and say that I gambled on this story.  It seemed a little like it was outside of my comfort zone however in my quest to expand my horizons I decided to take the plunge.  Additional doubts arrived when I read the synopsis on Goodreads.  A lot less detailed than the one I read when I decided to request it and in reality not a great synopsis to capture attention.

I was pleasantly surprised.  Sylvester told the story by keeping it mostly surrounded in reality and telling the tail of the Selkies through stories told as Scottish folklore.  While you knew there was something not realistic at play, it was understated and not overwhelming.  When the time came for fantasy to meet reality it was not overwhelming and it made sense to the story.

The character of Flo was likeable in the sense that she was a little bit of a loner and awkward however everyone can identify with the need to move on to something better.

If I had to offer a little bit of constructive criticism, I will say that towards the end I had trouble visualizing the description of what was going on with the Selkies.  I'm not sure if it is because my imagination is rooted in reality or if the pace of the story sped up to a pace I couldn't keep up with.

At the end of the day I am glad I opened my mind to this story as I enjoyed it.  It goes to show that you should step outside of your comfort zone every once in a while.

 

 

About the Author

 

imon Sylvester a writer, teacher and occasional filmmaker. He was born in 1980 and grew up in Scotland, England, Germany and Northern Ireland. He studied English Literature at Lancaster University and Film Production at the University of Bristol.

After years working as a camera assistant and then a magazine journalist, he started writing fiction in 2006. His short stories have been published in a host of journals, anthologies and magazines including Dark Mountain, Gutter, Valve, [PANK], Fractured West, Fire Crane, Southpaw and Smoke: a London Peculiar. He won the Flashtag short short story slam in 2014, and has written more than a thousand very short stories on Twitter.

His debut novel, The Visitors, is published by Quercus Books. It was reviewed by The List as 'intoxicating' and 'enchanting'. He is now working on his second novel, which is called The Hollows.

Simon lives in Cumbria with the painter Monica Metsers and their daughter Isadora.
Website
Twitter

 

Release Blast & Giveaway: Mistletoe & Murder in Las Vegas by Colleen Collins

Enter to Win a 

$50.00 Amazon eGift Card

MISTLETOE AND MURDER IN LAS VEGAS

Affairs to Remember Book One

Colleen Collins

Releasing December 14th, 2015

All 31-year-old, Las Vegas criminal lawyer Joanne Galvin wants for Christmas is a few clients so she can make ends meet. Instead she’s roped into defending the notorious, alleged Timepiece Arsonist; tracked by a hunky special agent and his arson dog; and chased by a serial killer. Just when her life is starting to feel like the Nightmare Before Christmas, she receives an unexpected gift that offers hope for this Christmas to possibly be the most wonderful time of the year...maybe even for years to come.

A story about a down-on-her-luck lawyer, a jinxed special agent, and an arson dog named Maggie who join forces in this heartfelt, humorous romantic-mystery.

Excerpt

Now, at 10:00 a.m., Joanne stood in the well of the courtroom, eye-locked with the judge who frowned so hard his bushy white eyebrows resembled a puffy storm cloud over his dark eyes.
 

She did her best to look dignified despite the tension and her feet, which were aching in a pair of new, insanely-high heels that she impulsively decided to wear thinking they added some noble height to her five-two.  Like that mattered now. 
 

 “Miss Galvin,” the judge finally said.  “That comment comes darn close to violating my ruling during a trial, which is direct contempt of court for which I could send you to jail.  Like this very instant.”  He snapped his fingers.
 

Her insides shriveled as the stocky courtroom deputy lumbered toward her, his rubber-soled shoes squeaking on the marble floor.
 

“Deputy, I did not order you to arrest her!”  The judge pointed to the spot where the deputy had previously stood.  As he squeaked back across the floor, the judge sighed heavily and turned to the twelve wide-eyed jurors.  “I direct the members of the jury to disregard the defense’s statement….” 
 

Joanne glanced at her investigator and best friend, Gloria Falco, who sat at the defense table wearing an I-can’t-believe-this-crazy-shit expression.  They had been friends since their first day of work at the Clark County Public Defenders’ office, almost five years ago.  Joanne, then twenty-six, had recently passed the bar exam and was beginning her career as a lawyer.  Gloria, a year younger, had worked as a private investigator in Brooklyn for her dad, the legendary private eye Sal Falco.  Shortly after he died, she relocated to Vegas where her brother, a talent manager, lived.

For court Gloria always toned down her rock-n-roll, tough-chick look.  Today she’d feathered her short dark hair rather than spiked it, and ditched her usual tight jeans, form-fitting T-shirt  and badass boots for a powder-blue pantsuit and flats.
Next to Gloria sat Sebastian wearing a mauve shirt, black tie and gray suit his mother picked out for him at Goodwill.  Last June his life was unfolding—he’d celebrated his twenty-first birthday, landed a valet job at The Tropicana, and fell in love for the first time with a girl named Nina.  All that changed on July 3 when the police arrested him for attempted murder.  Sebastian matched eyewitnesses’ descriptions of the person who shot at a man in a grocery store parking lot.  Now, if found guilty, he faced spending the next twenty years of his life in prison.
With a small shake of his head, Sebastian mouthed F-M-L—Fuck My Life, street slang expressing his incomprehensible despair. 
 

His anguish broke her heart.  Joanne had not become an attorney because she had political aspirations like Sam Burnette or viewed lawyering as a get-rich career.  As corny as it sounded, she went to law school to effect justice.  Considering how freakishly difficult achieving that simple goal turned out to be, maybe Judge Fields had been right to ask if she’d lost her mind.

BUY NOW

Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Colleen Collins is a private investigator and award-winning author who has written over thirty books for Harlequin and Dorchester, including two indie romantic-mysteries and four indie nonfiction books. Her recent romantic-mystery, THE UNGRATEFUL DEAD, won the 2015 Aspen Gold Readers’ Choice Award, short story category. Colleen is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.

When not sleuthing or writing, Colleen loves spending time with her husband, two Rottweilers (named Jack Nicholson and Aretha Franklin), and three cats.

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Review: Half in Love with Death by Emily Ross

It's the era of peace and love in the 1960s, but nothing is peaceful in Caroline's life. Since her beautiful older sister disappeared, fifteen-year-old Caroline might as well have disappeared too. She's invisible to her parents, who can't stop blaming each other. The police keep following up on leads even Caroline knows are foolish. The only one who seems to care about her is Tony, her sister's older boyfriend, who soothes Caroline's desperate heart every time he turns his magical blue eyes on her. Tony is convinced that the answer to Jess's disappearance is in California, the land of endless summer, among the street culture of runaways and flower children. Come with me, Tony says to Caroline, and we'll find her together. Tony is so loving, and all he cares about is bringing Jess home. And so Caroline follows, and closes a door behind her that may never open again, in a heartfelt thriller that never lets up.

ebook, 224 pages

Expected Publication Date: December 16th 2015 by Merit Press 

Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

Half in Love with Death was a fast paced, easy to read story about a young girl (15 yrs) who's older sister sneaks out of the house never to be seen again. It tells of her struggles and guilt over the disappearance and her uncontrollable draw to that same sister's boyfriend. At the same time that Caroline was trying to find her sister she was dealing with growing up and the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl. In essence it was also her journey of self discovery.

I enjoyed the pace of this book and that I was able to finish it in one day but I did find it really predictable. There were no shockers or twists that I didn't see coming. I craved originality that was somewhat lacking in this story. It was easy to see how the entire story was going to play out from the very beginning.

I feel that this book will appeal mostly to the market that it is intended for. Younger readers will probably find more appeal in it than older readers of the YA genre. Partly I feel this way because the naivety of Caroline drove me crazy as a younger reader may not notice it. I understand that the book took place in the 60's and perhaps teens were a little more sheltered but Caroline was beyond naive for a fifteen year old. There were times that I wanted to reach into the book and snap some sense into her.

In the end, it was still an entertaining read that I was able to get lost in for a few hours. As much as it wasn't perfect it was inspired by the 1966 case of Charles Schmid, the Pied Piper of Tucson which stands to reason why the story couldn't go the way I would have liked it to.

 

About the Author

Emily Ross's YA mystery/thriller HALF IN LOVE WITH DEATH is forthcoming from Merit Press(12/2015). She received a 2014 MCC Artist Fellowship finalist award for fiction, and is a graduate of Grub Street's Novel Incubator program. When not writing she works as a web developer and is the mother of two millennials.

Connect with Emily

Website/Twitter/Goodreads