Review: The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James  
Release Date: March 20, 2018 
Publisher: Berkley 
Genre: Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction 
Source: ARC provided by the publisher via First to Read in exchange for an honest review 

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The “clever and wonderfully chilling” (Fiona Barton) suspense novel from the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare, now in trade paperback!

Vermont, 1950. There’s a place for the girls whom no one wants–the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It’s called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it’s located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming–until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . .
Vermont, 2014. As much as she’s tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister’s death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can’t shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past–and a voice that won’t be silenced. . . .

Review:

I'm always in the mood for a new thriller/mystery read. Therefore, as soon as I saw the intriguing summary and haunting yet gorgeous cover for The Broken Girls by Simone St. James, I was sold. I couldn't want to learn more about Idlewild Hall and how the two mysteries - years apart! - connected. 

The Result? The Broken Girls was EXCELLENT! Combining two nail-bitting mysteries and a touch of the paranormal, The Broken Girls successfully intrigues, compels, and thrills. 

The Broken Girls beautifully blends together two timelines - Vermont, 1950 and Vermont, 2014. I thought Simone did a wonderful job of developing both times, and I especially enjoyed seeing Idlewild Hall at its prime as well as at its ruin. Learning about the private school and the bad as well as good it brought the girls firsthand truly added to the quality of the novel - it was nice to put faces to specific stories. I also enjoyed the additional mystery Vermont, 2014 had to offer. 

Idlewild Hall and the small town provided such a haunting setting. I read The Broken Girls at night, and some parts of me regretted that decision. From the decaying buildings to the intimidating ghosts to the dead bodies yet to be discovered, even the bravest of readers will surely find something to be frightened by. 

The Broken Girls features five POVs - the four Idlewild roommates (Katie, CeCe, Sonia, and Roberta) and Fiona Sheridan. To be honest the five POVs worried me at first, especially since those of the four Idlewild roommates blended together in the beginning. As the story continued however, each POV started to stand on its own, and by the end, I can truly say I got to know each girl on a personal level. Even with decades between the four roommates and Fiona Sheridan, all five women are incredibly similar - they're lost and flailing through life, hoping one day they'll find their peace. The four Idlewild roommates truly struck a cord in me. Their stories were so terrible yet they still managed to try their hardest to move on and make the best of the scary Idlewild Hall. Additionally, I enjoyed how Simone incorporated parts of history within their narratives - some parts of history that even I didn't know much about. 

In all, The Broken Girls is an incredibly strong thriller, and while it does plenty of chilling and thrilling, it also gives a story and face to some of the worst past and present history has to offer. 

5 stars!!

Blog Tour: The Big Bad Wolf by Jus Accardo (Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway!)

The Big Bad Wolf by Jus Accardo 
Release Date: March 5, 2018
Publisher: Entangled Crave
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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Kensey Deaton comes from an elite werewolf lineage, but just because her family is royalty, doesn't mean she'll fall in line like some perfect little princess. She has plans and they don't include an arranged marriage!

Slade McAlister has his own family drama. His Alpha father happens to be the most reviled wolf on the eastern seaboard, and it's a stigma he can't escape. So when his neighbor Kensey--the girl of his dreams and his nightmares--proposes a solution to solve *both* of their problems, he sees an opportunity he can’t ignore.

Kensey and Slade aren't only from opposite sides of the tracks, they're from opposite sides of the war. But if they can sell their 'relationship', they might just make it out of this with their freedom.

You know, as long as all that fake PDA doesn't turn into more...

Review: 

I've been on a mission to read more werewolf books this year so when I heard about Jus Accardo's The Big Bad Wolf I needed it and pronto. I mean, elite werewolf lineage, a fake relationship, and a broody, hot next door neighbor? It sounded like things were about to get interesting and dramatic. 

The result? The Big Bad Wolf is suspenseful, charming, and romantic. If you love a good enemies-to-lovers romance as much as I do, you're sure to enjoy it! 

The Big Bad Wolf introduces Kensey and Slade, former best friends turned enemies. While Kensey comes from an elite family, she's never left their prim and proper ways stop her from speaking her mind. Kensey is gutsy, fierce, and true to her word, but she also possess a tiny bit of vulnerability, especially when it comes to teens her own age. She's never had a close group of friends. The vulnerability made her more relatable, in my opinion, and I enjoyed seeing her let loose over time, fully embracing Slade and his friends. Slade, on the other hand, is best described as a bad boy. He has a big reputation, but at the end of the day, all he wants is a simple life, specifically one far away from his father. I loved Slade's cockiness. He was full of himself for sure and he knew exactly how to push Kensey's buttons. It was just so much fun to read about it. The banter between these two always had me laughing and smiling. 

Now for the plot. Jus has a lot going on here. There's Kensey and Slade's enemies-to-lovers romance/fake relationship, tension between the packs, and family drama. I found the romance to be satisfying. There was plenty of chemistry and swoon. The tension between the packs also made things the perfect amount of dramatic, but I wish there had been more development/background given. We received a very small glimpse into their world, and I didn't always follow how everything worked. I wanted more about the different packs...How was the power divided? What powers did each pack posses? What was the rest of the werwolf community like? Why didn't anyone address the unhappiness of the women in the community? I had a lot of question, but little answers unfortunately. I also would've liked more background on the families. For instance, I liked Slade's sister a lot but she was barely around, and Kensey's siblings were almost nonexistent. 

If you can overlook the lack of development and focus on the main characters instead, I think you'll find The Big Bad Wolf an enjoyable read. 

3 stars!! 

About the Author:

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and twelve angry chickens. 

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Excerpt: 

He took a sip of water and nodded. He eyed the new plate as the girl set it down in front of him. “Raw fish? You’re buying me a burger as soon as we’re done here.”
            “It’s Japanese,” I whispered. “Odori don. When you pour—”

The maid leaned across him and poured soy sauce over his plate. The squid in the center twitched once, then started to squirm with spastic enthusiasm. 

“What the—” Slade flinched and jumped back, falling out of his chair and taking the maid—and the soy sauce—with him. She let out a squeak as the gravy bowl flew from her hands and hit the wall behind us. The ceramic shattered, splintering into a thousand tiny pieces as salty brown liquid splattered in all directions.

I managed to extract myself from my chair as Slade was helping the maid to her feet. Once she was up, she scurried into the kitchen, mumbling something about towels, and he turned back to the table. “My apologies,” he said with a bow toward our out of town guests. “I wasn’t expecting my dinner to dance.”

My father stood, the look on his face anything but forgiving, but I didn’t stick around. I grabbed Slade by the wrist and led him up the stairs to my bathroom to clean up.

“Haven’t been in here in years,” he said as we passed through my room. “Your décor hasn’t gotten any better.”

I rolled my eyes and shoved him through the bathroom door. Once inside, I clasped his shoulder and pushed him on to the edge of the tub. “Neither have your manners.”

“How was I supposed to know the damn thing was still alive?”

“It wasn’t.” I ran a towel under the water, then rang it out. “It was dead.”

“Beg to differ. It moved. It fucking started moshing on my plate.”

I knelt in front of him then paused. This wasn’t going to work while he was still wearing the shirt. “It was the salt in the soy sauce. The muscles in the squid were reacting to it. Take your shirt off.”

            He waggled his brows. “Finally.”

            I sighed and grabbed the back of his collar then gave a hard yank. The material caught on his chin for a second before coming over his head. “Says the guy who insisted I was a horrible kisser.”

            He snorted. “That was years ago.Like I said, you’ve gotten a little bit better.” 

He leaned back and I didn’t miss the way he flexed, the hard planes of his chest moving in an almost mesmerizing way. I also didn’t—couldn’t—miss the scattered assortment of marks and scars.

“They’re not pretty, are they?” His voice was low calm, but the look in his eyes was anything but. 

“Gavin?” The scars were a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and left very little skin unmarred.

“For the most part.” He shifted, almost like he was uncomfortable with my scrutiny. 

I cleared my throat and turned away. “Ya know, scars are a sign of honor in the wolf community.”

“Yeah?” There was a twinge of amusement in his voice and I was glad. “Then pick one. I’ll let you honor it with a kiss.”

Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw & A Kiss in the Dark by Gloria Ciocca

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw 

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: Simon Pulse 

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Witches 

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

Review:

Love is an enchantress - devious and wild. 

It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat. - page 177, eARC

Hocus Pocus, Pratical Magic, and the Salem Witch trials?! I was sold before I even finished the first sentence of the synopsis. As the glowing reviews poured in and the gorgeous cover was revealed, my anticipation and excitement reached record levels, making The Wicked Deep one of most anticipated debuts of 2018.

So did it live up to the hype? Darn right it did! The anticipation, the excitement, the giddiness over being approved for an eARC? So. worth. it. Because The Wicked Deep is an UNFORGETTABLE debut! It's gorgeously written as well as beautifully crafted, and if you can read this book in more than one sitting, I give you major props - I couldn't even begin to have that kind of control.

One of the aspects I loved the most about The Wicked Deep was the setting. I love small, close-knit towns, especially towns that are hiding secrets as deadly as Sparrow's. Shea did such a fantastic job of developing the atmosphere here - it was lush as well as idyllic, but it had a hint of imperfection, a hint of something being terribly wrong. I also like that the town included Penny's family's island. The island was the same as Sparrow, and I appreciated the level of detail Shea put into it. It was easy to picture the main house, the light house, the guest houses, and the orchards, and I loved that it added even more of a mysterious vibe to the novel. 

The plot was also incredibly rich and unique. I enjoyed the way Shea brought together the sister's past, the Sparrow folklore involving them, and current times. The past scenes involving the Sparrow sisters were some of my favorites, and while the end game was obvious, it was still incredibly interesting to see what lead up to their execution. It wasn't at all what I had expected to say the least, and it blew my mind to see how confusion over the unknown could lead to so much hate. The sisters were something different; however, they didn't deserve what they were given by a long shot. The scenes involving current times provided an air of suspense, mystery, and romance. There's so much at at play. Boys are drowning at a record speed, the witches seem to be throwing their rules to the wayside, and Penny - sensible, independent Penny - is finding herself enamored with a boy she barely knows. I loved it all, and the twist towards the end? Didn't see it coming one bit! It blew my mind, and had me re-thinking everything I thought I knew.

Last but not least: the characters. I liked Penny the minute she was introduced. She was quiet and wise, focusing on her mother as well as keeping their island intact; however, there was something fiery about Penny brewing below the surface. It was interesting to see how Penny developed as the novel progressed, and it was interesting to see just how essential she was to the entirety of the plot - both past as well as present. The witches, on the other hand, were enchanting, scandalous, and, most surprisingly, lovable. Some were more spitfire than the others; however, I loved what each brought to the table. I can't even say that they were evil, because in some ways, they had every right to give Sparrow back the pain it gave them. 

I could go on about The Wicked Deep all day, but I'll stop here and leave you with the following: If you love witches and curses and stories of love as well as loss, you're going to adore The Wicked Deep!

5 stars! 

A Kiss in the Dark by Gloria Ciocca 

Release Date: March 6, 2018 

Publisher: Simon Pulse 

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance 

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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After being kissed by a mystery guy when the lights go out during a football game, Macy is determined to figure out which of three possible boys is the culprit in this funny, poignant, and achingly romantic novel from the author of Last Year’s Mistake.

When the lights go out at a Georgia high school football game, senior Macy Atwood finds herself in the arms of a boy who kisses her senseless—but he’s gone by the time the lights come back on. All she knows is that there was something special—and oddly familiar—about her mystery kisser.

Noah Granger, Ridgedale’s resident bad boy and newest transfer student, has no problem taking credit for the kiss, but Macy can’t shake the feeling that he’s lying. Especially since a photograph of Macy and former star football player Joel Hargrove resurfaced online moments before the blackout, a not-so-random reminder of how hard she fell for Joel last year. And how doing so ultimately sent her lifelong friendships with Meredith Kopala and Ben Collins up in literal smoke.

Soon last year’s wounds begin to reopen as Macy realizes the events that unfolded during junior year are somehow tied to her mystery kisser.

But the closer Macy gets to figuring it all out, the more she starts to worry that the boy who kissed her in the dark and the boy who is stealing her heart might be two very different people.

Review:

A Kiss in the Dark is fast paced as well as fun, and Gina even packs in a surprising twist at the end! 

It took A Kiss in the Dark a while to find its footing. I had a hard time at first keeping Macy's friends and potential love interests - there were THREE, which seemed nutty at the time but Gina brought it together quite nicely by the end - straight. Once I got a handle on everything, though, I found it easy to settle in for the long haul! 

A Kiss in the Dark introduces two time periods - Junior Year (a.k.a the year Macy's life turned into trash) and Senior Year (a.k.a. the year of picking up the pieces). I found the big reveal what happened junior year to be interesting as well as slightly suspenseful. I had my theories as to what had happened, but it was still fun to see everything unfold! I also liked the new revelations that Senior year brought with it. 

Macy isn't the most likable character at first. There was something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way; however, as the book progressed, I began to like her more and more. I loved seeing her take charge of her life again as well as go all Veronica Mars when it came to finding that mysterious kisser. I also loved that she had a hobby in the form of photography/yearbook. I found the three potential love interests to be likable and interesting as well. Ben, however, had my heart from the start. He was so stinkin' cute. Plus the ways he would go out of this way to help Macy during their junior year? I was SWOONING! 

Despite a slow start, A Kiss in the Dark is yet another enjoyable YA contemporary, and while it may be a bit premature to say this considering it's only February, I'll say it anyway: it would be a perfect beach/pool side read.

3.5 stars!!  

Review: Haven by Mary Lindsey

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere. He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in, and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart.

Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls, though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth living for. Worth dying for.

Review: 

For the past few months I've been hearing non-stop good things about Mary Lindsey's Haven, and even though I had a copy I was hesitant to start it. I was worried that I wouldn't like it as much as everyone else.

As it turns out, I shouldn't have had a worry in the world, because Haven is AMAZING! Seriously, I should've listened to the everyone and read it sooner! 

Haven is told through Rain's POV. I tend to have a love-hate relationship with male POVs; however, in this situation I really enjoyed it. I thought Mary did a fantastic job of capturing the voice of a teenage boy. It seemed realistic as well as authentic. 

It also didn't hurt that I loved Rain from the moment he was introduced. Rain is confident as well as tough and maybe just a tad bit arrogant. He's never had the easiest life; however, with Aunt Ruby he's been given a second chance, one he hopes he won't screw up. His relationship with Aunt Ruby warmed my heart. They had such a natural, easy-going aunt-nephew relationship, and I loved seeing them form their own makeshift family. Additionally, I loved Rain but I think I loved Freddie even more. Freddie is 100% her own person - she does want she wants, says what she wants, and doesn't worry about the consequences. Her sarcastic tone won me over. I especially loved how FINALLY we have the girl calling the boy a ridiculous nickname. In this case, she called Rain "sprinkles" and it made me laugh every single time. I liked the variety of other side characters introduced as well. Also just throwing this out there: I would do almost anything for a book about Petra. I feel like she has a lot of good stories to tell. 

Haven contains one of my favorite things: a mysterious small town. Mary did such a great job of setting the scene. I found it easy to picture New Wurzburg. I also liked how it was a town with a lot of secrets. Everyone seemed like they had something to hide. Additionally, the town itself gave a creepy feel. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, dying to know what was lurking in the shadows. 

The plot in Haven is fast-paced and twisty. I especially enjoyed the supernatural edge to it. I won't say what supernatural beings are involved; however, I will say that their world is incredibly well developed. Additionally, I liked how nicely everything came together. There were so many times at which I chalked up a weird event to be nothing, but later on I realized it was essential to what was happening. It blew my mind time and time again and kept me coming back for more. There were so many times at which Mary completely threw me for a loop. 

Last but not least: the romance. Freddie and Rain had such great chemistry. I loved how they pushed and pulled at each other's buttons, especially at the beginning. Rain was determined to win Freddie over. There was also no insta-love feel to it, which is always a major win in my opinion. 

Reminiscent of Beautiful Creatures, Mary Lindsay's Haven weaves together an enthralling supernatural mystery. I can't wait to see what Havoc (book #2) brings! 

4.5 stars!!

Haven is now out!

Source: Hardcover provided by publisher for review - thanks EntangledTeen!

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Review: Lions and Tigers and Boys by Tawny Stokes

Synopsis/Cover Image from Amazon:

The last thing a girl as awkward as Dani Gale should be doing is trying to learn the high wire. Yet that’s exactly where Dani ends up—at OZ, the Oswald Zinzendorf School of Circus Arts. Trying to overcome her shyness is near impossible when her new partner—the hottest guy she’s ever laid eyes on, and whose touch seems to give her poise she thought impossible—also seems to be sabotaging her progress.

The last thing Cai Coppersmith needs is a distraction, especially in the form of the new, cute shy girl. He needs to focus on trying not to shape-shift into a tiger on school grounds, and completing his mission to keep Dani from winning the school’s high-wire competition. In fact, the entire safety of OZ is relying on Dani not succeeding. But there’s something about the girl that draws him in. She has magic, he can feel it. So he’ll do what he can to protect her, even if it means pushing her away.

Review: 

As soon as I saw where this book takes place - the Oswald Zinzendorf School of Circus Arts - I was intrigued. I don't think I've ever read a YA book taking place at a circus arts school before; however, I was sure it would provide an interesting and potentially drama inducing backdrop. As it turns out I was one hundred percent corrected. 

Blending together paranormal abilities, swoony romance, and a potentially life-threating, save-the-day mission, Lions and Tigers and Boys is an exciting addition to the YA paranormal world. 

Lions and Tigers and Boys introduces Dani Gale and Cai Coppersmith, high wire partners who are slowly turning into something more. 

There's something just so utterly likable about Dani. She's best described as the girl-next-door. She's sweet and slightly awkward and she has the tendency to put her foot in her mouth more often than not. Over the course of Lions and Tigers and Boys Dani deals with the typical teenage problems - mean girls, a boy who may or may not like her, and stress from school. I thought Dani did a great job of dealing with everything, and while sometimes she did jump to rash conclusions, she always had good intentions in mind. I especially liked seeing her develop a friendship with her roommate Anna. 

Cai Coppersmith, on the other hand, is the typical YA paranormal male lead. His parents are dead; he has a group of bad guys after him - a group that even contains deadly flying monkeys; and he's been tasked with a big mission. One that might jeopardize everything he has at Oz. To put it simply, girls and relationships should be off limits, but he finds something so utterly irresistible about Dani. In some ways, I feel like Cai is very similar to Dani. He's struggling to find success at school, and he's always been the nice guy - be it standing up for the new girl or against the mean girl. There's also some great swoon-worthy qualities to him! 

Lions and Tigers and Boys is the first book in the series so it spends a decent amount of time setting up the scene but I was never once bored. For one, I loved the setting. It was so incredibly easy to picture the school, and I loved the different classes the students took - high wire, dance, magic. Also, there's some pretty adorable tigers and lions in this book! They kept me "awing!" nearly as much as the romance did. 

There was plenty of action, romance, and thrill to keep me hooked. Throughout I had so many questions swirling in my mind. Who was the wizard? Was it someone at the school? What's so important about Dani's past that they don't want her in the show? Some were answered and some weren't, but it gave me a good enough taste that I'll definitely be coming back for seconds. 

Now for the part I didn't like: the ending. It provided somewhat of a conclusion, but I thought it could've been wrapped up a bit better. 

Overall, Lions and Tigers and Boys managed to wow and daze me the whole way through. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's certainly a great way to spend an afternoon. I can't wait to see what book #2 brings! 

4 stars!! 

Lions and Tigers and Boys will be released on January 8, 2018! 

Source: eARC provided by publisher for review 

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Blog Tour: Never Apart by Romily Bernard (Review & Giveaway!!)

FOLLOW THE TOUR HERE. 

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

What if you had to relive the same five days over and over?

And what if at the end of it, your boyfriend is killed…

And you have to watch. Every time.

You don’t know why you’re stuck in this nightmare.

But you do know that these are the rules you now live by:

Wake Up.

Run.

Die.

Repeat.

Now, the only way to escape this loop is to attempt something crazy. Something dangerous. Something completely unexpected. This time…you’re not going to run.

Combining heart-pounding romance and a thrilling mystery Never Apart is a stunning story you won’t soon forget.

Review:

"It's one of the first things you learn here: the best parties are by the river, you can only get beer at the gas station out of town, and Ander Hale and Grace Freeman are the resident Romeo and Juliet - minus the warring families." - hardcover copy, pg. 153

Romily Bernard's Never Apart was one of my most anticipated releases of the fall. Not only does it have a GORGEOUS cover but also an attention grabbing tagline. So to say I was just excited when I received an ARC of it would be a serious understatement - I was jumping up and down ecstatic.

The Result? Romantic, mysterious, and emotional, Never Apart poses the question - how far would you go to save your first love...  

Never Apart features two timelines - then and now. Then divulges into the start of the summer, back when Grace, Ander, Jem, and Finn were best friends, spending their days doing everything and nothing at all. Now focus on the Groundhog Day-like disaster Grace's life has began, one that involves Grace spending her days attempting to save Ander and herself from Finn's deadly hands.  

Books involving two timelines can either be a hit or miss, in my opinion, but in the case of Never Apart it was a hit. I thought Romily did a great job of building suspense as well as development through the alternating timelines. Both offered up interesting looks into Grace's life, and without the "then" portion, I don't think this book would've been nearly as strong, as it offered up the perfect amount of backstory to get a full picture look into what was happening in the "now." 

Grace is a character you can't help but love but the start. Her character is for every teenage who's felt that their small town is suffocating as well as silencing and that there's more out there to life then knowing the same people from the day you're born to the day you die. 

Over the course of the book, Grace struggles with her dislike off her small-town. She hates how silent and timid it makes her; however, at the same time, she can't imagine leaving the ones she loves - Jem, Ander, her parents, and even Finn - behind. Worst yet, her family and friends are just as divided as she herself is one the issue. As the book progresses, Grace comes to head with the decision to stay or leave, and her journey is one that I felt was not only pitch perfect but also realistic, even considering the Groundhog feels to the plot. 

More importantly, I enjoyed that Romily Bernard showed that first love can be messy and troubled. From the moment Ander was introduced I couldn't stand him. He had so many issues of his own; however, he only ever focussed on calling Grace out on her short comings. It was hard for me to see what Grace saw in him; however, I appreciated the progress she made regarding the situation as the book progressed. Finn, on the other hand, was the real standout guy - he was intelligent and sweet. I loved how he always tried to get Grace to come out of her shell. No matter how negatively he was portrayed in the "now" portions, I forever held-out hope he was the good guy at the end. 

The only aspect of this book that didn't "wow" me was the pacing. It wasn't always even, and sometimes (especially in the middle) it was hard to trudge through. 

Regardless, Never Apart is perfect for fans of romantic suspense, and with the dark, mysterious undertones it contains, I must say it's perfect reading material for chilly October evenings. 

Grade: B 

Never Apart is now out!

Source: eARC provide by publisher - thanks EntangledTeen!

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About the Author: 

Romily Bernard graduated from Georgia State University with a literature degree. Since then, she's worked as a riding instructor, cell-phone salesperson, personal assistant, horse groomer and exercise rider, accounting assistant, and, during a very dark time, customer service representative. . . . She's also, of course, now a YA novelist. So don't let anyone tell you a BA degree will keep you unemployed. Romily currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Her debut novel, Find Me, won the Golden Heart Award for YA Romance from the Romance Writers of America in 2012.

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