Review of The Last Echo

Description From Goodreads

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. 

When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye….

My Review

“In the end, all that's left is an echo.”

Creepy. That pretty much sums up The Last Echo, the third book in The Body Finder series. Kimberly Derting strikes again!

I enjoyed The Last Echo tremendously. It focused much more on character development and a little less on Violet and Jays relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading about those two but I’m really good Derting decided to dive into other aspects of the story as well. Throughout the book, you can’t help but cheer Violet on as she begins to accept her ability more and more and become more comfortable with herself.

I also liked the fact that we learned a lot more about Sara, Rafe and the rest of the team. They are a very interesting group and Derting threw in some surprises that I definitely wasn’t expecting!

I know that many people are probably not happy with the addition of Rafe to the story since almost every young adult series does the whole love triangle thing. I am usually the first to throw a fit when the love triangle begings to develop but in this case, I am ok with it (surprising, I know!). The way I see it is that Violet and Jay have been best friends forever and now they are dating. They have a strong relationship and a very deep connection. Another guy coming into the picture shouldn’t change anything at all, if their relationship is as strong as they think. I welcome this ‘challenge’ to their relationship to test just how strong they are.

Then there is Nua… shudders. I actually had to set my Kindle down while I was reading about him. That is just how creepy this guy is. I love that her descriptions of him can get to me like that. I could actually picture what this creep looked like in my head. I could go on and on about this aspect of the book, but you are just going to have to read it and find out for yourself!

Speaking of creepy, lets discuss the serial killer that is brought into this book. They refer to him as the ‘girlfriend collector’. This had to be the best killer Derting has written about so far. When you learn more about him, you actually feel a little sorry for him. The description of his life that led to this killing obsession is extremely depressing. It is crazy to think that some people in real life can be pushed to this point. Oh and lilac nail polish… enough said.

I highly suggest starting this series or if you are already reading it, to continue. You won’t be sorry!

Review of Desires of the Dead

Description from Goodreads

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found. Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally, she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

My Review

“She fell asleep like that, wrapped in warmth.

Wrapped in Jay.”

Desires of the Dead, the second novel in The Body Finder series, continues on with the story of Violet, the girl who can sense dead people. Much of the novel focuses on her relationship with her best friend and boyfriend, Jay. There is a lot of that romance stuff so if you aren’t a fan of make out sessions and whispered promises, this book will most likely annoy the heck out of you. However, if you are interested in seeing where Violets ability is going to take her next, I highly suggest picking up this little gem!

Personally, I love seeing relationships develop so I adore Violet and Jay. Things become extremely difficult during this novel and their strong relationship is tested. Watching them grow together (and separately) was very enjoyable.

I had mixed feelings about Violet this time around. She actually drove me insane for a good portion of this book. She just became very whiny and clingy instead of the strong and independent character I know she has the potential to be. On the other hand, she had many things going on and was unsure of everything so I can also understand why she behaved the way she did. I just wish she would have trusted her loved ones more to back her up instead of retreating into herself.

I am quite excited about the introduction of Rafe and Sara into the plot. I really hope we are going to learn more about these two characters in the next book and also see how they fit into Violets life. The next book could go in many different directions because of these two characters and Violets new outlook on her ability.

While I loved Desires of the Dead, I feel that I loved The Body Finder just a little bit more. I think this is due to the way The Body Finder was written. I enjoyed getting insight into the mind of a killer and the creep factor that came along with knowing his thoughts. Even though we got insight into another characters mind during Desires of the Dead, it just wasn’t the same. It was still interesting to get into the mind of another character but it just wasn’t as engaging. I really loved how the first book kept me on the edge of my seat and I sometimes had no idea what was going to happen next. Desires of the Dead just felt quite predictable to me but I still had fun learning more about all of the characters and watching them grow.

Review of The Body Finder

Description from Goodreads

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

My Review

“I think he thinks the sirens are for him too”

Kimberly Derting has a way of writing where you are worried about the characters but she still is able to make you laugh at the same time. She has an incredible talent when it comes to developing her characters. You find yourself nodding along as you read about how they feel because you understand where they are coming from. The plot of the story blew me away as well. Its very unique and I enjoyed learning more about Violets ability and how it affected her own life and her loved ones lives as well.

So, what can I say about The Body Finder? This is actually the second time I’ve read it. I was finally able to get all of the books in the series so I decided to reread it to make sure I remembered everything that I needed to. I’m so glad that I did! The fact that I had already read The Body Finder did not change how I reacted this time around. I was still gasping at the same intense situations and laughing at the same jokes. Reading a book for a second time can sometimes be boring but not with The Body Finder!

Most of the story is dominated by the relationship between Violet and Jay. You learn that they are childhood friends and basically grew up together. Even though the angle of high school romance has been exhausted in this genre, Violet and Jay just struck me as having a relationship that was on a whole different level. Their feelings are so raw and the tension throughout the story is almost palpable.

I love every single character in The Body Finder, which is very rare for me. I usually find at least one character that I somewhat dislike or downright loathe. I love how Violet is very independent and yet she allows herself to lean on Jay when she needs to. She is aware of how she feels and does not try to be something she is not. Jay is a very strong character and yet he also allows himself to connect with his emotions on a deeper level. The love between Violet and Jay can be easily seen and felt by the reader. Chels, Jules and Claire are a great mix of friends for Violet. They each provide something to the story, whether it’s pure innocence, honesty or a unique perspective. Violets parents are fantastic as well. They are supportive and they care deeply for their daughter. Her uncle Stephen is the same as her parents. He is not just an uncle to Violet. He is a rock for her to lean on when the situation becomes difficult.

The way Kimberly Derting structured her novel is fantastic. I love how there are chapters written in two different perspectives. It’s interesting to know what the main character is thinking but learning the thoughts of another character is very fulfilling as well.

Lastly, Violets ability is very unique. When I first read the summary, I was curious about how her ability would be worked into the story. Derting somehow wove this ability seamlessly into the plot and made the reader just accept the fact that this is a part of who Violet is. I did not once question how this ability could even be possible; I just accepted it for what it is When a story flows that easily, you know its written very well.

If you are trying to figure out your next book to read, pick up The Body Finder. You won't be disappointed! 

Its Been Awhile...

Hello fellow book bloggers! I did not realize how long it has been since I've posted but life became crazy and other events demanded my attention.
My mom, who was in perfect health as far as we knew, experienced a brain aneurysm out of the blue. It was very sudden, with no warnings at all. I will spare you the details, but she passed away a week later.
My mom was my best friend. I told her everything and she was always there to listen and encourage me. She is very special to me and I think about her every single day.
Now its just my dad and I to keep the household going. We both work full-time and have a dog and cat to take care of. These past few months have really opened my eyes to how fast life can change and how even though something terrible has happened to you, life just keeps on going and you have to keep up.
I have always wanted to write a young adult novel, I just never felt confident enough to do so. I felt that my writing wasn't very good and I didn't have what it takes to succeed. However, with all of these strong emotions I am feeling, I finally think that I can write a decent novel.
I would love any words of advice, encouragement or even just a friendly word as I go on this new journey and dive back into the world of writing.
In the meantime, I will be reading and finally posting reviews again. I have missed reading dearly and it feels good to throw myself into the lives of fictional characters again.

Currently Reading...

Have you read this before and have an opinion you want to share?
Feel free to leave a comment! :)

Review of Doomed

Description from Goodreads

Beat the game. Save the world.

Pandora’s an average teen, glued to her cell phone and laptop, until the day her long-lost father sends her a link to a mysterious site featuring photos of her as a child. Curious, Pandora enters the site, unwittingly unleashing a global computer virus that plunges the whole world into panic: suddenly, there’s no Internet. No cell phones. No traffic lights, hospitals or law enforcement. Only Pandora’s Box, a virtual-reality game created by Pandora’s father, remains up and running. Together with her neighbors, gorgeous stepbrothers Eli and Theo, Pandora must follow the photographs from her childhood in an attempt to beat the game and track down her father—and rescue the world. Part The Matrix, part retelling of the Pandora myth, Doomed has something for gaming fans, dystopian fans, and romance fans alike.

My Review

“Moving forward is the only way to survive”.

This quote describes Doomed perfectly. Pandora, the main character and her two friends, Eli and Theo, seem to never stop. They always seem to be faced with a task to solve or a problem to get out of. This makes for a real page-turner and I found myself reading for hours without stopping. I couldn’t wait to see what these three characters would encounter next! I also enjoyed how the author utilized the Pandora’s Box game and incorporated it seamlessly into the real life action. The character development was also amazing. Watching each of them grow as the story progressed really made me realize how much an event of that magnitude can change a person.

Pandora is one of the better main characters that I have encountered lately. She grew up without her mom or dad being around so she tends to be a pretty strong person. However, I feel that she didn’t always reach her full potential. She tended to break down a lot and had to be rescued by the guys. However, she did prove herself a few times so she was a very likeable character overall.

When I first encountered Eli and Theo, I was not impressed. Eli seemed like the typical flirt and Theo had that whole ‘mysterious and dark’ side that I am getting sick of reading about. However, as I learned more about them, I began to understand how they got to be the way that they were. . They are both very complex characters that have different pasts that have shaped them differently.  They both grew on me and I enjoyed watching them both develop as the book progressed. I almost enjoyed them more then Pandora.

Speaking of complicated, then we have Pandora’s father. As the reader, you pretty much hate him because of how Pandora feels about him. I personally could not stand him but some people may enjoy him. If you would like to discuss this topic, let me know and I would be happy to explain my feelings towards him.

Even though I found this book to very enjoyable overall, I did have a few issues with it. I feel that certain issues could have been explored more to add some depth to the story. For example, I personally would have liked to learn more about Pandora’s parent’s relationship. I also felt that some of the action scenes were described in a confusing manner. I sometimes found it difficult to know what was really happening. Lastly, I found the ending to be extremely disappointing. It felt very rushed and lacked detail. This book could have easily been split into two, which may have been helpful in providing more details and depth to the plot.

Overall, I found this book to be an enjoyable read. It was interesting to read about how people would react in the face of a crisis. It really made me think about what I would do if I were faced with the situation that Pandora was.

Currently Reading...

I plan to have the review done for this book by the end of the week!