Stacey Trombley

I had seen so many positive things about this book on Book Tok and I loved the premises, but the female lead frustrated me beyond measure.

Our FMC, Candice, has wanted nothing to do with the supernatural world but this changes when her sister is murdered by someone. Candice makes the decision to go to the school her sister was applying for and hopefully find who was behind her murder. The only problem is that she meets her former friend, Jarrod (our MLC), and the two begin a fake dating scheme to give Candace a chance to gain access to the Elite and find the culprit who may have been the downfall of her sister.

But what happens when fake dating and feelings become entangled in this relationship?

Due to a few things, I am on the fence about this book. While I enjoyed the Harry Potter-themed storyline, I was not that thrilled by the feel of Twilight being part of it. Twilight has never been a favorite book of mine and I felt that Candace felt a bit like Bella. I was not thrilled at how she sort of treated Jarrod as if he were her main suspect. She didn't bother really communicating with him and preferred really to treat him as her main suspect. I get it. To her, he is a monster and she cannot see past this. Basically, she uses him for the power he has at this school.

But what I don't understand is why this little quote by a certain character was not the first thought of a suspect:

"I hope, in time, you'll learn that there are many ways to become powerful. If you come to trust me, I can help you achieve your true potential."

I mean, how could you not have figured that out? I suppose Candice was too laser-focused on proving that Jarrod was the murderer that it really did not sink into her head until the very last minute. Seriously, it was nearly the exact same thing written in her sister's diary.

And her "I'm weak" really aggravated me. She could have done a lot of things to make herself stronger. She has a lot of potential and yet all she does is whine about it.

I also felt deeply sorry for Jarrod because I believe he loved Candice since the very beginning. She had accepted things from their world when she was younger, but when he came into his own powers and turned into a demon prince she turned and ran. If I had been Jarrod when I saw her again, I would have turned my back on her.

If this is a series, I am willing to see what the next book brings. I just hope Candice grows up just a little bit better in the next one.… (más)

I had seen so many positive things about this book on Book Tok and I loved the premises, but the female lead frustrated me beyond measure.

Our FMC, Candice, has wanted nothing to do with the supernatural world but this changes when her sister is murdered by someone. Candice makes the decision to go to the school her sister was applying for and hopefully find who was behind her murder. The only problem is that she meets her former friend, Jarrod (our MLC), and the two begin a fake dating scheme to give Candace a chance to gain access to the Elite and find the culprit who may have been the downfall of her sister.

But what happens when fake dating and feelings become entangled in this relationship?

Due to a few things, I am on the fence about this book. While I enjoyed the Harry Potter-themed storyline, I was not that thrilled by the feel of Twilight being part of it. Twilight has never been a favorite book of mine and I felt that Candace felt a bit like Bella. I was not thrilled at how she sort of treated Jarrod as if he were her main suspect. She didn't bother really communicating with him and preferred really to treat him as her main suspect. I get it. To her, he is a monster and she cannot see past this. Basically, she uses him for the power he has at this school.

But what I don't understand is why this little quote by a certain character was not the first thought of a suspect:

"I hope, in time, you'll learn that there are many ways to become powerful. If you come to trust me, I can help you achieve your true potential."

I mean, how could you not have figured that out? I suppose Candice was too laser-focused on proving that Jarrod was the murderer that it really did not sink into her head until the very last minute. Seriously, it was nearly the exact same thing written in her sister's diary.

And her "I'm weak" really aggravated me. She could have done a lot of things to make herself stronger. She has a lot of potential and yet all she does is whine about it.

I also felt deeply sorry for Jarrod because I believe he loved Candice since the very beginning. She had accepted things from their world when she was younger, but when he came into his own powers and turned into a demon prince she turned and ran. If I had been Jarrod when I saw her again, I would have turned my back on her.

If this is a series, I am willing to see what the next book brings. I just hope Candice grows up just a little bit better in the next one.… (más)

4.5 stars.

Naked by Stacey Trombley is an emotional and poignant novel of redemption. This young adult story about a teenage runaway who is reunited with her family is heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting. A riveting read that I highly recommend to readers of ALL ages.

After living in New York for three years, sixteen year old runaway Anna Rodriguez is reunited with her parents. Her homecoming is fraught with tension as her parents tiptoe around her life as a teenage prostitute. Her hopes are high that her controlling father will finally allow her the freedom to stretch her wings but his disgust is palpable and he still tries to exert control over her. Her parents insist she return to "normal" life as soon as possible which means she means she is forced to begin school immediately. At school, Anna is subjected to the stares of her classmates whose whispered insults just add to the self-loathing she feels about her past. The high point of Anna's day is art class which provides her with an escape from her everyday life as she immerses herself in drawing. Another bright spot in her day is the time she spends with Jackson Griffin, a fellow student (and next door neighbor) who befriends her and defends her when their peers continue to spread gossip and innuendo about her.

Anna is a very sympathetic and likable protagonist. While running away was not the best decision, she had good reason to escape from her family. Her father is very strict and controlling in addition to being physically and emotionally abusive. Her once close relationship with her mother grew strained when she grew tired of her mother's inability to stand up to her husband and protect Anna. Anna's rebellion went unnoticed by her parents and they had no idea their daughter was sneaking out of the house to meet boys and party. While by no means innocent, Anna's naiveté was no match for what awaited her in New York and she quickly fell victim to Luis, whom she viewed as her boyfriend and protector, while in reality, he was her pimp.

Some of Anna's fears about her return to her parents do come to fruition. Her father has not changed but there are positive improvements with her relationship with her mom. Although her father works long hours, he continues to try to restrict her activities, but Anna stands up for herself and her mom often backs her up. The tense situation continues to escalate but will her mom find the strength to come between father and daughter?

In spite of the rumors that are circulating about her, Anna tries to keep her past hidden and her struggle to overcome her shame and loathing is absolutely heart wrenching. Her inability to see the truth about Luis is SO frustrating but it is easy to understand her reasons for believing he acted in good faith. This part of the storyline is very realistic and provides incredible insight into her past. Anna continues to grow and evolve throughout the novel and it is very inspiring to watch her offer assistance to others despite how badly she has been treated by them.

Despite the difficult subject matter, Naked is a remarkably upbeat and positive novel about overcoming adversity and not letting the past define the present or future. Stacey Trombley presents a compassionate and realistic portrayal of teenage prostitution in a thought-provoking and forthright manner. A bittersweet and cautionary novel of healing that I highly recommend to readers of all ages.

… (más)