Denise JadenReseñas
Autor de Losing Faith
Reseñas
A huge thank you to the author for letting me help refine the book, through AuthorsXP. The very cosy mystery story features extremely likeable characters and visual storytelling.
The background story and the main character coming into her magic is still slow but strides were made in this installment.
A huge thank you to the author for letting me help refine the book, through AuthorsXP. The very cosy mystery story features extremely likeable characters and visual storytelling.
Of all the mystery subgenres, cozy is my favorite. Homey, delightful, and with nothing terribly disturbing or graphic, they're just my kind of tea. When I learned Murder at Mile Marker 18 was also a culinary mystery, passing on it simply wasn't an option. I love cozy. I love culinary. Give me a culinary cozy mystery and I'm in heaven! This one did not disappoint, and now I have more recipes to try because this books comes with some.
The Plot: A Perfect Cozy
Mallory Beck just lost her husband and has been finding it difficult to emerge from her relatively new home in a delightful large town in West Virginia. But she manages to, barely, drag herself to church, only to find out another woman lost her husband in a car accident. Surprising herself, she volunteers to deliver a casserole to the grieving family.
Only, she discovers one scarily put-together widow, an all together too sexy maid and her lazy son, a surly teenage boy, and a teenage girl with a hunch. And let's not forget a room full of dubious mourners. It doesn't take too much for the fifteen-year-old Amber to convince Mallory something doesn't add up in her dad's death. And even less time for Mallory to find herself starring in a mystery novel alongside a spunky teen girl and a very handsome cop Mallory knew briefly when she was a kid.
Overall, Murder at Mile Marker 18 wasn't a terribly complex mystery, but absolutely was fun with its share of twists and turns befitting a cozy. It was a fun push and pull between a dogged teenager and a cautious widow who is definitely not one of her late husband's detective characters.
It was a bit easy to figure out who likely did it since the cast is relatively small. Characters were introduced, but the ones of no interest were quickly placed out of the limelight. But it was fun to read about all of them and learn about their motivations. I was so charmed by Mallory, Amber, and Alex the handsome cop that I didn't even care it was a bit too easy.
I did enjoy the danger they got themselves into, and the tension was spot on in just the right places. There was a perfectly playing accordion of when to tighten and when to loosen the story, making it an almost unputdownable read. The pacing was perfect, the twists excellently well-timed, and the reveal breathtaking.
The Characters: Wonderfully Complimentary
My favorite part of Murder at Mile Marker 18, other than the delicious recipes I'm itching to try, would be the characters. They were so much fun and so interesting. I loved their unique personalities, and, of course, adored the cat. Mallory and Amber were perfect compliments who really drove the story and kept it interesting.
Mallory Beck is new widow in her late twenties who is taking the death of her husband hard. She loves to cook, and it's the perfect device to get this story going and make it believable. Amber is a spunky teenager who reminds me of a somewhat younger Nancy Drew. A little more reckless, and a bit desperate, she latches on to Mallory's listening ear and seems to be running the show. But she and Mallory are perfect compliments. Where one is ready to jump headlong into danger, the other is the cautious voice of reason. They feed off of each other, though, to create a perfect partnership balancing action and caution. Alex sometimes felt like a bit of a third wheel, almost like he was the obligatory law enforcing character. But he quickly shows his worth and serves as a solid rock for Mallory and Amber. Together, they make an amazing trio and I can't wait to read all the cases they'll solve together.
And then there's the cat. I love cats, so the inclusion of one in this book made reading and reviewing it a no-brainer. I especially liked the description of an antagonistic cat. Hunch was Mallory's husband's cat, and he and Mallory were far from best friends. Now, though, they're stuck with each other, and Hunch knows he's going to need Mallory from time to time. But I adored him! He just stole every scene he was in for me. An incredibly smart and incredibly stubborn cat, he made me think of a mystery writer in cat form. He has so much personality, feeling like both a cat and a human.
The Setting: Just Big Enough, Just Small Enough
Most of the cozies I've enjoyed have taken place in less densely populated areas. Murder at Mile Marker 18 is one such. Set in a small large town in West Virginia, it was small enough that it didn't feel like a crazy city and large enough that there were plenty of people who didn't know each other. It felt like it had the best of both worlds, making it easy to travel around and easy to remain out of sight when necessary. Overall, it felt like the perfect location for this story and I look forward to exploring more of it in future books.
Overall: Note Perfect
As a cozy mystery, Murder at Mile Marker 18 does not disappoint. While I wish it had been a bit more complex and left me wondering until the end, I did enjoy the twists and turns. I especially loved the relationships between the main characters. They really drove the story and I felt like I was making revelations with them instead of pages or chapters before them. The mystery and the overall story unfolded perfectly and absolutely gave me that cozy mystery feel.
Thank you to the author, Denise Jaden, for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I adored the first book in this series, Murder at Mile Marker 18, so was thrilled when Denise Jaden immediately offered the second book for me to review. I love a good cozy, and, seriously, extra points for culinary cozies that also provide recipes. The first book was so much fun, the characters so great together, and the grumpy cat so cute that I couldn't jump on this one fast enough. For as short as these mysteries seem to be (or maybe I just devour them so fast they seem short), there's really a ton packed on, and, boy, do they deliver!
The Plot: A Great Follow-Up to the First Book
Murder at the Church Picnic picks up right where Murder at Mile Marker 18 left off. At the end of the first book, Amber had invited Mallory to attend a church picnic with her, along with a casserole. Of course, Mallory is still mourning her husband's death, so going out is a little nerve wracking for her, so it's a good thing Amber has enough spunk for the both of them.
But things quickly get out of hand when it turns out a wedding was scheduled for the same time and place as the picnic. The pastor tries his best to soothe the angry bride, but she's young, wealthy, and spoiled, so demands things go her way. Which also leaves open a huge opportunity for an angry someone to carry out a seemingly perfect murder with everyone watching.
As the faithful and loving widow of a popular mystery writer, Mallory can't seem but get herself involved, especially since her teenage friend Amber, her cop (and childhood crush) friend Alex, and her late husband's stubborn and hostile cat Hunch all seem ready to pull her in.
There's nothing I didn't love about this next installment in the series. Well, okay, I wish it had been longer and I wish Alex had been given more page time, but, other than that, the story, the mystery, was perfect. The thing about this series is that it seems to happen very quickly. Mallory unexpectedly finds herself falling into a crime and her cat makes her solve it (really, he does, and it's so much fun to read about his exchanges with Mallory) and then the case spirals from there like a whirlpool. Absolutely no scene is superfluous and neither does the story seem to slow down and take a deep breath. A shallow breather is given now and then so Mallory, and the reader, can process everything with the cat and sometimes a human, and then it's a headlong dive back into it. It makes this a very quick read, but also leaves me feeling quite satisfied that I got a full mystery with plenty of red herrings and just enough leads.
In this second installment of the series, Mallory is mostly on her own while Amber starts school and Alex is working hard on making detective. I liked how it incorporated the things she would know as the widow of a mystery writer to help her solve it and made her rely more on herself and her knowledge. The case was a lot of fun with a lot of threads tied around it tugging in so many different directions. Like with the first book, I never felt like I was a step ahead of Mallory and loved coming to realizations alongside her, which was probably due in part to the quick pace. Similar to the first book, it was relatively easy to figure out who did it, but there was just enough, if not a little more, danger to keep things interesting.
The Characters: More Focused on Mallory
With Amber starting school and Alex busy trying to make detective, Mallory is mostly on her own, so it was nice to spend more time with her. Though she's still grieving her husband's death, she's trying harder to get out more, mostly thanks to Amber, but also because she seems cautiously nosy and has a hard time stopping it. I got the feeling she genuinely wanted to be helpful and to have a task to keep her going, but she did have a lot of good questions and a need to know what really happened.
I did miss Amber and Alex in Murder at the Church Picnic, though I was delighted they were still just as charming and Amber was still very much a take charge kind of personality. With them off page most of the time, it gave Hunch the cat more to do. I adored all of Mallory's conversations with the cat. There's a cute, albeit begrudging, affection between the two, but only when Hunch gets a whiff of a mystery. He's definitely aptly named and the perfect sidekick for Mallory, especially in this novel.
The Setting: Expanded the Town Just Enough
As in the first book, Murder at the Church Picnic is set in the same town in West Virginia and I really felt like the town opened up a little more. Mallory spent more time out and about trying to solve the mystery and so found herself in rather interesting parts of town. There were all the usual kinds of places, the church, the park, even a community college. But a more rural area was also introduced where a family high on Mallory's suspect list lives very simply. It was fun to read about all the different parts of the town and get to know it a little better. It was also nice to see Mallory getting out more and going further afield without Amber.
Overall: A Delightful Cozy with Just Enough Danger
Murder at the Church Picnic was just as much fun as the first book. I especially loved that the danger was really front and center, making it feel a little more dangerous than the first book where the murder had already taken place. I loved getting to know Mallory better, though I wish there had been more food, but Hunch's scenes are not to be missed and kept me happy. This was a fun, quick cozy read with a mystery that had just enough threads to keep things interesting without tipping over into unmanageable. Overall, it's artfully done and I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for Mallory, Amber, and Alex.
Thank you to Denise Jaden for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Overall
Murder at the Town Hall is the third book in the Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Caper series. It features a fast-paced murder mystery and a cast of fun characters, including a cat that's probably a better detective than all of them. I really liked that this book hinted at darker things under the surface of the town, but something felt off between Mallory and Amber, which was hopefully intentional, but somewhat distracting. Overall, though, the characters were perfectly consistent, the mystery quick yet offering a deeper look beneath the surface, and a town that isn't quite as idyllic as it first appeared.
Extended Thoughts
Almost a year ago, Mallory Beck's husband tragically died, but, thanks to a teen girl and an attractive police officer, she's started expanding her circle beyond herself and her cat. In this third installment of the Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Caper series, Mallory is attending a town hall meeting alongside a teacher who once taught her regarding the possible closure of the local library. But murder has a way of following her.
When a man falls from the top of the town hall, Mallory isn't so sure it was an accident or suicide. With her grumpy cat detective Hunch and her teen friend Amber, Mallory is intent on helping her cop friend, Alex, who was recently promoted to detective, shine in the eyes of his chief, who has it out for Alex. In the process, though, they uncover something far deeper going on in town.
I love the Mallory Beck books for so many reasons, and Murder at the Town Hall just keeps the mysteries going the way I love them. It's fast-paced and a quick read, but it's full of details further sharpening the small West Virginia town in my mind. It also has plenty of food, a cat who chooses to tolerate Mallory (he was her late husband's cat), and a slowly developing romance.
I love books with food and cats, so this series is always a winner in my eyes. Mallory used to work in the food industry and is now teaching her young friend Amber to cook, so she never goes anywhere without a food offering and there's plenty of other food scenes to make me hungry. I kind of wish there had been more food in this particular book, but it takes place over just two days, so it was fast and there wasn't much time to cook. But there was plenty of Hunch. I adore Mallory's cat. He's practically a detective on his own, nosing around and finding unlikely clues. He was such a big part of solving this mystery and I really love how he's developing his own human-like personality. The way he communicates with the humans around him is so much fun.
Despite the story being really fast and the murder solved in almost no time, it was surprisingly layered. It hints at deeper problems under the surface, painting Honeysuckle Grove with a darker light. It was actually great to see it as less than idyllic and I enjoyed being introduced to problems that lie deep in the fabric of the town. That said, while I enjoyed how quickly the story went, it did also feel a little unrealistically fast. Mallory and Amber really packed in a lot in one day, but I was disappointed Amber wasn't putting the same time into her school studies. It felt irresponsible to me, but I'm also hoping something really positive comes out of it for Amber one day.
I think the only thing that really felt off about Murder at the Town Hall was the way Mallory and Amber interacted. It was noticeably different, though I still liked Amber's take charge approach and her fast thinking. She's quick on her feet and Mallory is just stuck racing to catch up. Sometimes Mallory felt little more than a chaperone, but she's also an integral part of the series as something of a conduit between the professionals and the readers, explaining processes and theories without having to take the reader out to dumb it down. I just wish Mallory and Amber's interactions had felt as friendly and warm as they did in the first two books, but I also think Jaden is hinting at something to come and I'm intrigued by what it will all mean for Mallory, Amber, and Alex.
There's a very slowly blooming romance in this series. Mallory, understandably, isn't ready to date. I really liked how Jaden handled her grief and her process. It's present without being overwhelming and still leaves a door open for something between Mallory and Alex. Seriously, there's a scene at the end between them that I absolutely swooned over!
Lastly, I wanted to mention the Christian aspect of this series. Mallory is part of a church and God is mentioned several times, but I never felt religion was pushed on the reader. Christianity is clearly a big part of the characters' lives. But it's handled very delicately and, as a non-religious individual, I found it never distracted or bothered me. It was just there. I really appreciated how it was presented.
Murder at the Town Hall was a fun cozy mystery that hints at something darker going on in Honeysuckle Grove. The characters were all just as I love them and the story fast-paced. There was something about Amber that bothered me throughout the whole book, but I'm hoping it was intentional. Overall, a great third book in the series that still manages to hit all the right notes.
Thank you to Denise Jaden for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Overall
Murder in the Vineyard is the fourth book in the Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Caper series and does not disappoint. If anything, it’s great for cat lovers as Hunch gets a bigger role, and there’s a bit more danger than expected. While I wish there had been more of Mallory and Alex, I do really love the way Mallory, Amber, and Hunch worked together in this one. They’re a lot of fun and work really well together. The mystery is twisty and fast-paced and I really enjoyed how I didn’t figure things out before Mallory, Amber, and Hunch. The ending had me on the edge of my figurative seat. Overall, a really solid installment in the series that was just as much fun as the previous books and, as always, was an extremely pleasurably smooth reading experience.
Extended Thoughts
A vineyard seems like a strange place to hold a bible study, but Mallory goes with Alex anyways. As expected, not everyone is thrilled about the location, and the evening ends prematurely after a confrontation with a member of the group who is also a spokesperson for MADD, who winds up dead.
With her trusty sidekicks, teenage Amber and cat Hunch, Mallory sniffs around when Alex is essentially pulled from the case. Things get twisty quickly, but it might all be traced back to the past of the victim, and Mallory, Amber, and Hunch will do everything in their power to protect innocent lives.
Murder in the Vineyard is the fourth in the Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Caper series, and is just as fun and fast-paced as the first three. While I keep wishing for more of Mallory and Alex, I adore the trio of Mallory, Amber, and Hunch, and I was so happy to see Hunch with a bigger role in this installment. The mystery is just as much fun, the pace is just as fast, and the relationships between the characters are all wonderful. With the smallest hint of romance, this book really has everything I love about the series, with a bit more danger than the previous books.
I went into this one hoping for more of Mallory and her crush Alex, a detective on the local police force whose boss has it in for him. The romance between them is molasses slow, but, since Mallory is a recent widow, it’s understandable and still really enjoyable. But Mallory, Amber, and Hunch work so well together that, by the end, I was really glad with the way the story went.
Amber reminds me of a younger Nancy Drew with how whip smart and gutsy she is and Hunch must be a genius cat or something. But, without Mallory to round things out, they’d definitely be missing something. I love the way they bounce off of each other and work together to piece things together. I love how insistent Hunch is, and he really had some moments to shine in this book. He almost seems human sometimes, but still manages to shine as a feline. I love how the three of them can easily take the lead and lean on each other, and I really felt Mallory was starting to come into her own a little more since Amber always seemed to drive the solving the mystery part a little more than Mallory.
Just like the previous mysteries, Murder in the Vineyard presents a fast-paced, twisty mystery with plenty of red herrings. Everything about it was extremely smoothly done and I liked that I didn’t easily guess who did it, instead figuring it out with the characters. There was more at play and I really liked how it pulled in the history of the victim more than previous books have. I also really liked how there was a bit more danger in this one, especially at the end. It had me on the edge of my figurative seat and completely pulled me in.
One of my favorite things about this series is how each books widens the setting a little more. Some of them focus a little closer to home and some of them offer locations a bit further afield. This one did both, and even brought in a location well away from Honeysuckle Grove, one that might have future implications for Mallory and Alex. I really like how Honeysuckle Grove manages to feel both small and a bit larger. It’s always a huge pleasure to travel around with Mallory, Amber, and Hunch, and doing so with this book was no exception.
Murder in the Vineyard is a wonderful installment in the Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Caper series with everything I love about the series, and then some. Each book seems to offer a little more, keeping me hooked. But the characters can also truly hold their own. As much as I wish for more of Mallory and Alex, I really love when Mallory is working with Amber and Hunch. They’re a unique trio and are just so much fun to read. Overall, another fun and captivating cozy mystery, and I’m really glad Hunch got a bigger role in this one.
Thank you to Denise Jaden for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
As with Track 1 and 2, I have enjoyed getting to know Kass and Eli. This time, however, I’m afraid their physical separation may be detrimental. Fear of exposing one’s soul and fear of expressing one’s weaknesses can only lead to misunderstandings.
Poor Eli is falling apart, which is understandable because his entire world is falling apart. I just want to give him a big hug and tell him everything will be alright. He wants his life to be alright. He makes decisions based on what appears to look right, but something feels off. Maybe his first crush can help him navigate his new world.
As for Kass, I only see her wayward commitment to Hope causing nothing but problems. She may be family, but dark clouds envelop this half-sister of hers. However, this “dark underworld” she’s found herself in may not be as dark as one would think.
Is there a neutral area when it comes to prescription drugs purchased illegally with helpful intentions? Personally, I don’t believe this is a black or white topic. Kids know when something isn’t right. Self-medicating is a natural reaction. Parents don’t always understand. Doctors are slowly becoming aware of the infinite varieties of mental health. Then there’s always the chance of kids faking symptoms with the goal of being prescribed medications. It’s not as if an x-ray would be able to confirm a diagnosis.
I will continue loving on Kass and Eli with hopes for a positive future.
Eli knows where he wants to be. He knows who he wants to be with, but self-doubt leads him to a different cog. He talks himself into believing this new life is the one he is supposed to be living. Personally, I wanted to knock some sense into his teenage head, but I just had to sit back and hope he’d figure things out.
Kass knows who she wants to be with, but she needs to finish dealing with the consequences of her previous foolish decision. She’s reached out to him, but their worlds aren’t ready to mesh yet. When she’s finally able to search for him, circumstances bring about another round of self-doubt.
Again, I am truly loving this saga. The “will they” or “won’t they” has been driving me crazy. I simply cannot wait to get my hands on Track Five!!
Our leading lady Kerril has an unusual gift (curse?). She has lucid dreams. Curious what that is? According to Google and Wikipedia, it is defined as "any dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming". In Kerril's case, it means she can also manipulate them to her whim and explore things her subconscious picked up while her conscious mind was wandering away. Pretty cool, right? Umm, I'll take a pass on them if it's all the same to you. Where this "talent" comes into play here is not exactly a pleasant experience, for it seems to lock our girl into reliving her families less-than-finer-moments, i.e. Christmas time three years ago. The tragedy and upset left Kerril despising the season and stepping right into the role of a modern teen Scrooge-ette. In our modern times, we have the right to express ourselves our love or lack thereof of the holidays how we see fit...she would rather they pass and leave her alone. Or does she? So much is happening and she's about to be put centerstage to it all...literally, and whether she likes it or not.
Kerril, Kerril, our little Christmas Kerril. You and I had a love/hate relationship throughout the story. Your Scrooge-y side was in full swing about haldway through, so much so that I almost smacked you upside the head through the pages. I appreciated your candor when it was allowed breathing room (page 151, the quote about Christmas in retail....DEAD ON!), but your wishy-washy decision making skills need a rest. It's your choice, your LIFE, and you have to live with whatever consequences you set into motion. After all was said and done though, I'd still call you friend. Now Adam I found truly mesmerizing. He's not a character that usually gets the spotlight as more than a sidekick or passing fancy. Here, he gets a pretty big starring role both in the story and the play. I loved the way he was depicted, the challenges he faced and how it was handled. His stutter wasn't danced around, but faced head on....for better and worse. Were kids mean to him? You bet. Were the parents less than helpful in building his confidence? Definitely....and as harsh and evil as that all sounds, it felt real. Again, a sad point for sure....we should be beyond things like that in today's world, but not everyone is and the way Kerril (and friends) interacted with him, helping, and guiding, was refreshing.
In conclusion, Kerril is definitely no George Bailey, especially with her face plant in the snow, but she comes through like a true Christmas angel who just scored her wings (*rings bell*). The road was tough, littered with wrong choices, regrets, and worries, but with a little help from past, present, and future (and a pretty cute dream-guy), she just might see the beauty of the season and wish YOU a merry holiday. Recommended read for teens through adults.
**review copy received in exchange for my honest review, full post can be seen on my site**
Esta reseña ha sido escrita para Sorteo de miembros LibraryThing.
I regret waiting so long to read this book, but once I did, I was quickly hooked into the thrills and mystery of the situation. The author exceeds at developing strong, relatable characters, while carefully revealing to us the details of their story, just the right amount at the right time. Outcast is a quick, exciting read.
Ms. Jaden first defines the elements that create a SPARK; Seek, Passion, Allies, Resonance and Kinetic Energy.
I’ll be honest, the next section of the book is my favorite, the “Generating Sparks” she has a list of games to help your mind not simply wander (though, ahem, some of us can’t help that) but focus it to generate- names or loglines or themes. And if you’re really stuck, she has an appendix with lists including not just name, but settings and themes.
She even takes a chapter to help you select one of those crazy off the wall ideas that you came up with during your fun and games section. It is interesting to note that Ms. Jaden mentions that while writing itself is solitary, the process of being creative doesn’t have to be. In fact, after reading that I found it to be true, I do have select people that I “bounce” ideas off of, just to make sure I’m not going off the rails.
One of her main themes is once you’ve started creating ideas, DON’T stop—make this part of your daily/weekly life, “Keeping that Spark” alive.
[I received a review copy for an honest review- which this is!]
Eli knows where he wants to be. He knows who he wants to be with, but self-doubt leads him to a different cog. He talks himself into believing this new life is the one he is supposed to be living. Personally, I wanted to knock some sense into his teenage head, but I just had to sit back and hope he’d figure things out.
Kass knows who she wants to be with, but she needs to finish dealing with the consequences of her previous foolish decision. She’s reached out to him, but their worlds aren’t ready to mesh yet. When she’s finally able to search for him, circumstances bring about another round of self-doubt.
Again, I am truly loving this saga. The “will they” or “won’t they” has been driving me crazy. I simply cannot wait to get my hands on Track Five!!
As with Track 1 and 2, I have enjoyed getting to know Kass and Eli. This time, however, I’m afraid their physical separation may be detrimental. Fear of exposing one’s soul and fear of expressing one’s weaknesses can only lead to misunderstandings.
Poor Eli is falling apart, which is understandable because his entire world is falling apart. I just want to give him a big hug and tell him everything will be alright. He wants his life to be alright. He makes decisions based on what appears to look right, but something feels off. Maybe his first crush can help him navigate his new world.
As for Kass, I only see her wayward commitment to Hope causing nothing but problems. She may be family, but dark clouds envelop this half-sister of hers. However, this “dark underworld” she’s found herself in may not be as dark as one would think.
Is there a neutral area when it comes to prescription drugs purchased illegally with helpful intentions? Personally, I don’t believe this is a black or white topic. Kids know when something isn’t right. Self-medicating is a natural reaction. Parents don’t always understand. Doctors are slowly becoming aware of the infinite varieties of mental health. Then there’s always the chance of kids faking symptoms with the goal of being prescribed medications. It’s not as if an x-ray would be able to confirm a diagnosis.
I will continue loving on Kass and Eli with hopes for a positive future.
Esta reseña ha sido escrita para Sorteo de miembros LibraryThing.
After several decades of archaic testing and treatments for the “mentally insane”, the world of health care has increased the importance of understanding mental health and its associated disorders. Doctors are becoming better educated in detecting illnesses such as clinical depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Pharmaceutical companies have invested billions of dollars in research to aid the growing number of diagnosed patients.It wouldn’t take much of a leap in imagination to think of unscrupulous doctors creating their own methods of testing procedures. Are the disorders genetic? Is there a way to suppress any potential disorder before it manifests? What better way to find out than to actually find out?
I find it would be wrong to complete this review without mentioning the budding relationship between two socially inept teenagers. Their challenging family life is not all they have in common. I look forward to reading the Bonus Track to learn more about them.
Kass is still stumbling through her emotionally challenged world. Her dad is finally able to get the professional help he needs. No experimental non-doctors this time. Unwilling to remain alone at home, arrangements have been made for her to temporarily live at her mom’s house with her family.
Ever the helpful step-sister, Hope has other plans. I am a bit curious to learn what makes her tick. She’s living with an abundance of love from both of her parents. She appears to be intelligent, determined, and resourceful. Is she a rebel or mentally unstable like most everyone else in her family?
Then there’s the band. We’ve become friends with Eli and Sebastian. We knew of the other two members, Jeff and Steve, but not much else. The quickest way to get to know people? Road trip! After having traveled with the band for a few days, I wish I knew less about Steve. He is so not my favorite character.
Kass and Eli are still Kass. And. Eli. Watching their interaction has been my favorite part of the series. Kass is extremely careful about who she lets into her life. Actually, Eli is the only non-family member in her circle. Eli is the most patient boy I’ve ever met. He is exactly the type of person she needs. His feelings for Kass grow more each day. She is his outlet just as he is hers.
This review is based on an advanced reader copy of the book.
Kass is still stumbling through her emotionally challenged world. Her dad is finally able to get the professional help he needs. No experimental non-doctors this time. Unwilling to remain alone at home, arrangements have been made for her to temporarily live at her mom’s house with her family.
Ever the helpful step-sister, Hope has other plans. I am a bit curious to learn what makes her tick. She’s living with an abundance of love from both of her parents. She appears to be intelligent, determined, and resourceful. Is she a rebel or mentally unstable like most everyone else in her family?
Then there’s the band. We’ve become friends with Eli and Sebastian. We knew of the other two members, Jeff and Steve, but not much else. The quickest way to get to know people? Road trip! After having traveled with the band for a few days, I wish I knew less about Steve. He is so not my favorite character.
Kass and Eli are still Kass. And. Eli. Watching their interaction has been my favorite part of the series. Kass is extremely careful about who she lets into her life. Actually, Eli is the only non-family member in her circle. Eli is the most patient boy I’ve ever met. He is exactly the type of person she needs. His feelings for Kass grow more each day. She is his outlet just as he is hers.
Starting at the beginning, Kass, our supposedly spunky protagonist but not really, wakes up and finds herself strapped to a wheelchair. The reader is constantly reminded that she is strapped to a wheelchair because Jaden’s redundant writing style emphasizes this fact way too often. It seemed she had an obsession with this phrase, “strapped to a wheelchair,” If you think I am using the phrase, “strapped to wheelchair” way too much, then this is how I felt just reading the first chapter. In the first few pages, Jaden imbeds this phrase in almost every paragraph. Her repetition had to be one of my biggest gripes with the book, and I had numerous issues with the book.
The book is told through two points of views, one of which is completely unnecessary. Eli’s characterization serves no other function other than a “sexy” plot device who is there to either drive Kas around or describe her attractive indifference. Jaden soley uses his point of view to tell, not show, Kass’s personality or lack thereof from an outsider’s view point. His perspective never moves forward the plot, and it seems as though the voices of the two protagonists overlap more often than not. There is a lack of distinction between the two voices, and Jaden could have written the whole book just from one character’s eyes.
In addition to the writing style, the narrative plot makes absolutely no sense. The word “no” does not exist in any of the character’s vocabulary. For example, Kass is able to persuade a worker from the psychiatric hospital to free her from the binds of the wheelchair. The worker, Patrick, is well aware that he should not release anyone from the confines of the chair, but Kass is able to convince him to let her go and explaire. I would like to give some additional details that Patrick mentions in this conversation. There are other people that are tied in wheelchairs, he would face consequences from his boss should he release anyone, and yet Kass is able to to sway him to do so. This is not a singular incident. When Kass is facing expulsion from her principal in a flashback, Eli manages to convince the principal not to. The principal states he is done with Kass’s rude behavior since it has been an ongoing issue and has been wanting to to expel Kass for quite some time now, yet Eli, using his cancerous mother as a pivot advises the principal not to do so.
Jaden also forgets to let the audience know key details such as Kass having smoke bombs in her backpack or a lighter in her pocket. I do not want to give anything away from the book, but it feels like a wannabe deus ex machina. There is no mention of the lighter and the smoke bomb throughout the whole book, and suddenly, they are there and crucial to the book. It seemed like Kass by extension Jaden were pulling objects out of nowhere at the time she needed them.
Lastly, I was left with many questions at the end. While leaving the reader with the question is valid to set up the sequel, Jaden’s book feels unfinished and unconcluded. The questions I had developed questions throughout the book, and I expected some of them to be answered. Nothing was answered. In the end, I just had more questions in addition to my previous ones beforehand.
I did not enjoy this book at all, and while I applaud Jaden for finishing novel length work, I could not get over the convoluted plot, the unlikable characters, and the dull writing style.
Teenagers are predictably unpredictable. Most want to be unique while fitting in. Others prefer laying low while trying to remain invisible. All just hope to reach the finish line unscathed.
After several decades of archaic testing and treatments for the “mentally insane”, the world of health care has increased the importance of understanding mental health and its associated disorders. Doctors are becoming better educated in detecting illnesses such as clinical depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Pharmaceutical companies have invested billions of dollars in research to aid the growing number of diagnosed patients.
It wouldn’t take much of a leap in imagination to think of unscrupulous doctors creating their own methods of testing procedures. Are the disorders genetic? Is there a way to suppress any potential disorder before it manifests? What better way to find out than to actually find out?
I find it would be wrong to complete this review without mentioning the budding relationship between two socially inept teenagers. Their challenging family life is not all they have in common. I look forward to reading the Bonus Track to learn more about them.
I am fascinated with the social issues highlighted in Track One. I cannot wait to see what answers are to be found in Track Two.
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A huge thank you to the author for letting me help refine the book, through AuthorsXP. The very cosy mystery story features extremely likeable characters and visual storytelling.