Young Adult Review: OVERDUE by Richie Tankersley Cusick

OVERDUE

Author: Richie Tankersley Cusick

Standalone

Publication date: 

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Number of pages: 212

Date read: 2007

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Source: Bought

Format: Paperback

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(Description source: Goodreads)

BOOK DROP

It was after hours. Kathleen was preparing to close the library when somebody returned five grisly books about death. One was slashed. All were overdue. Then Kathleen found the bookmark with the deadly warning.

Now people close to her are falling victim to tragic accidents. Someone is out for blood. Is it Robin, silent, shy, withdrawn? Is it Alexander, the dark, handsome stranger who haunts the library stacks and says he wants to help? Kathleen can count on only one thing: the killer will strike again - her death is overdue...

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I originally read Overdue when I was eleven or twelve after my brother gave it to me, and I loved it, I reread it every few years and always enjoy it.

Kathleen hates working in her local library, the place is creepy and the librarian is grumpy.

However, she never expected that books would become warnings as teens in their town start to become victims in strange circumstances. Alexander is new to town and very mysterious, while Robin is the shy and withdrawn mute. 

Kathleen doesn't know who the killer is, but she is sure that there is one, and that there is one death overdue - hers!

Kathleen is a little bit of a damsel, but when you put yourself in her shoes as she goes through everything it is understandable. Kathleen puts the clues together quickly but struggles when she is doubted by everyone, as she is the only one 

Bran is Kathleen's childhood friend and is adorably sweet, while Alexander is confident and a little self-deprecating, and Robin is sweet and protective.

The setting is a creepy, damp, old library and each scene is perfectly set with detail that sets the mood. There is misdirection, mystery, suspense, foreshadowing and doubt.

I love the interactions between the characters, the sarcasm, joking, teasing and familiarity.

This story shows the intricacy of knowing people, as well as what it means to make assumptions, not be trusted and begin to not trust yourself and doubt everything you think you know.

I love, love, love the ending, it is perfectly suspenseful, followed by absolute sweetness that I could just read over and over. I will always enjoy reading this novel and am sure I will continue to read it throughout the years.

I rate Overdue Five out of Five!!!

Upper Young Adult Review: THE ROAD TO YOU by Marilyn Brant

THE ROAD TO YOU
Author: Marilyn Brant
Standalone
Publication date: October 3rd, 2013
Publisher: Twelfth Night Books
Number of pages: 300
Date read: 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery
Source: ARC from AToMR Tours on behalf of author
Format: Ebook
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(Description source: Goodreads)

Sometimes the only road to the truth...is one you’ve never taken.

Until I found Gideon’s journal in the tool shed — locked in the cedar box where I’d once hidden my old diary — I’d been led to believe my brother was dead. But the contents of his journal changed all that.

The Road to Discovery...
Two years ago, Aurora Gray’s world turned upside down when her big brother Gideon and his best friend Jeremy disappeared. Now, during the summer of her 18th birthday, she unexpectedly finds her brother’s journal and sees that it’s been written in again. Recently. By him. 

The Road to Danger...
There are secret messages coded within the journal’s pages. Aurora, who’s unusually perceptive and a natural puzzle solver, is hell bent on following where they lead, no matter what the cost. She confides in the only person she feels can help her interpret the clues: Donovan McCafferty, Jeremy’s older brother and a guy she’s always been drawn to — even against her better judgment. 

The Road to You...
Reluctantly, Donovan agrees to go with her and, together, they set out on a road trip of discovery and danger, hoping to find their lost brothers and the answers to questions they’ve never dared to ask aloud.

In that expectant space between silence and melody, our trip began...

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The Road to You sounded way too mysterious not to read, and I'm glad I picked it up!

Set in the 1970's Aurora Gray was just going about coping with day to day life, same as she had for the past two years since her brother Gideon had disappeared, until she came across Gideon's journal... and found that it had been written in recently.

Needing answers about what happened to her brother, Aurora uses whatever clue she can find in the journal to find a starting place to search for answers. Only one other person feels the same way she does - Donovan McCafferty. Donovan's brother Jeremy disappeared at the same time as Gideon, the two were best friends.

Donovan decides to come along on the road trip for answers...

Answers that may be nothing like they ever expected...

Aurora's character was interesting from the very beginning, she incredibly intuitive and extremely perceptive, her insight into the way people feel and think was continually intriguing. 

Donovan has a lot of anger, however he also really knows how to turn on he charm. The Road to You is told from Aurora's point of view, with her sometimes reminiscing, her memory's give us a sense of the other characters and lay out a history, which worked to show how and why things are the way they are in her present.

Donovan's character was really difficult to read, even with Aurora's insights, he was still a mystery. Donovan's and Aurora's differing approaches to pulling answers from people were fascinating to read.

As the two journeyed in search of answers, it was awesome to see how different aspects of the story lined up, while seeming to give some answers, more questions are opened p the more you read, leaving your eyes stuck to the page (or in my case, the computer screen) as you feel the need to know what happened. Some answers make you question the characters

The 1970's backdrop to the story was very well-written and easily believable, whilst immersive.


Nancy Drew? Screw him.

I rate The Road to You Four out of Five!

BREAKING GLASS by Lisa Amowitz

Publication date: July 9th, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Number of Pages: 232
Date read: July 5th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Fantasy, Thriller, Paranormal
Source: ARC from Spencer Hill Press
Format: Paperback





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(Description source: Goodreads)

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. 

When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. 

Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

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One tiny sip to beat back the rising waters that threaten to drown me.

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I pride myself on my steely self-control.

The way Breaking Glass is described makes it sound so incredibly mysterious and suspenseful and that really drew me in, I love a good mystery! The blurb of Breaking Glass only covers the very basics, so be prepared! This novel will surprise the hell out of you! But only in the very best of ways...

Breaking Glass begin with the main character, Jeremy Glass, stuck in an awkward situation that will lead up to his accident. The novel then goes on flipping between the present and Jeremy's memories. Jeremy reveals secrets throughout the story and deals with a lot of devastation, all the while trying to figure out exactly what happened to Susannah.

Breaking Glass is misleading in the best possible way, keeping you guessing as to what is going on and throwing you for a loop every time you think you may finally have guessed what will follow. Jeremy is an incredibly interesting character, he doesn't spend a whole lot of time dwelling in complete self-pity, rather focusing on the mystery of Susannah, and trying to untangle the many lies. There are reasons why he is the way he is and his reactions are authentic, he is strong, self-deprecating and still capable of being funny.

Jeremy is an amazing narrator, giving up more information bit by bit and keeping readers hanging, is he right? Has Susannah been murdered? Or is everything in his head?

Lisa Amowitz creates real characters who are flawed and completely 3 dimensional, with real problems and issues that have reasons explaining them and consequences for how they react. Each character will surprise you with how much they change in your opinion from the very first impression they give, some are the exact opposite from how they first seem and others shock you with how incredible they are. Ryan is my favourite character aside from Jeremy.

Lisa perfectly developed her antagonist, making this person twisted, manipulative, and sinister. The plot of Breaking Glass is tumultuous and such a rollercoaster with so much going on and so many emotions, this read is dark and haunting and so unexpected.

After reading Breaking Glass, I am of the firm belief that there is not a chapter that Lisa Amowitz can write, not matter what the subject matter is, that is not readable. This story will draw you in, captivate you and intrigue you, a dark, twisted and unforgettable read.

I begin to run at full tilt. I still have some distance to cover, but that’s no problem for me, even with the Absolut pumping heat through my veins. But my boot heel catches on a wet leaf then slides out from under me.

I’m flying, but I land softly.

I rate Breaking Glass Five out of Five!

ORIGINS: THE FIRE by Debra Driza

Prequel to the Mila 2.0 Trilogy
Publication date: January 8th, 2013
Publisher: 
Date read: April 9th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery, Suspence
Source: Bought
Ebook


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(Description source: Goodreads)

Heart-stopping and electric, MILA 2.0: Origins: The Fire contains a short prequel story and an excerpt to MILA 2.0, the first book in a riveting Bourne Identity–style trilogy by Debra Driza.

Mila can't remember anything before the fire that took her father's life. It's normal to have some memory loss after traumatic events, but Mila doesn't remember if she's ever learned to ride a bike, or if she's ever been in love. Nothing.

What she doesn't know is that she isn't supposed to remember—that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to forget. Because if she remembers, she might discover her true identity.

The question is: If she relived the fire, what would she see

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I decided to check out Origins: The Fire because I'd heard a lot of mention of MILA 2.0 and what better way to see if you like an authors writing style, than to read a short story by that very author, especially if it links in with the story you wish to read?!

Despite the fact that The Fire was incredibly short, it gave enough information and revealed enough about the main character Mila to make you want to read MILA 2.0 by showing a bit about her value and the kind of person she is, and the information given in this story is what kind of novel the first book in the series will be.

Origins: The Fire was chilling in its descriptiveness and mysterious in the abrupt ending. I definitely want to check out MILA 2.0 and I recommend anyone thing of doing the same to read this short story first, it only take a few minutes to read all of, plus there is an intriguing excerpt of MILA 2.0 that isdown right amazing. NEED BOOK NOW!!!
Oh, and I definitely want to find out more about Hunter, who is introduced in the excerpt...

Origins: The Fire is the prequel to MILA 2.0

(Description from Goodreads)
Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

NEW GIRL by Paige Harbison

Publication date: January 31st, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Number of pages: 320
Date read: March 10th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Retelling, Mystery
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback





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(Description source: Goodreads)

Welcome to Manderley Academy. I hadn't wanted to go, but my parents were so excited…. So here I am, the new girl at Manderley, a true fish out of water. But mine's not the name on everyone's lips. Oh, no.

It's Becca Normandy they can't stop talking about. Perfect, beautiful Becca. She went missing at the end of last year, leaving a spot open at Manderley—the spot that I got. And everyone acts like it's my fault that infallible, beloved Becca is gone and has been replaced by not perfect, completely fallible, unknown Me.

Then, there's the name on my lips—Max Holloway. Becca's ex. The one boy I should avoid, but can't. Thing is, it seems like he wants me, too. But the memory of Becca is always between us. And as much as I'm starting to like it at Manderley, I can't help but think she's out there, somewhere, watching me take her place.

Waiting to take it back.

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New Girl is an intriguing read, the cover and the description work so well in drawing your interest and pulling you in. I ended up impulse buying New Girl at a sale and just got stuck into it.

The novel starts out by giving us a background on the main character and how it came about that her parents were so excited to send her off to Manderley, she agrees to go to please them and because it is a new opportunity to branch out and learn new things, she thinks that things at Manderley won't be so bad...

But arriving at Manderley to find herself under the repressing label of New Girls isn't the worst part of her new school experience, why? Because she replaced the school's sweetheart, the one who went missing and it seems that no one is willing to give her a chance or believe that she isn't trying to take Becca's place.

Given a hard time from the outset, the main character is an interesting narrator who tells the story in such a way that she allows you, upon occasion, to really feel some sympathy for her. The real intrigue in this novel come from the second perspective given, Becca's. Becca's point of view is all flashback to the events following her own admission to Manderley and how she changed things up, as well as how things started to do drastically wrong. But is Becca really missing? What happened to her? And is she coming back? Back to take her rightful place?

Written in an easy to enjoy and highly suspenseful manner, this story will keep you wondering exactly what happened to Becca and if she really is just waiting to take back her place at Manderley. There is an overuse of sex in the plot, with some characters getting it on very quickly indeed. Some characters were quite difficult to figure out, one of them being Max, he is described as extremely good looking, but there is a mystery to him that has you wonder at his part in the novel.

The seeming connection between the main character and Becca added a thriller-like aspect to the narrative, and I loved the fact that there was a ploy the author employed that I did almost catch on to about half way through, but kind of wrote it off until it was revealed at the end. This novel is kind of gritty, full of a huge variety of characters, each with their own emotions and motive, as well as secrets, making this novel quite enjoyable.

“There was no up, there was no down."

I rate New Girl Three and a Half out of Five!