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Lightning #1
When Lightning Strikes
The island hides a mysterious secret…
Julie Marin has it all: supportive parents, incredible talent, and the almost-realized dream of becoming a professional dancer. When she's attacked leaving practice one night, her seeming perfection comes crashing down.
Without notice, her parents pack up the house and move Julie and her brother to a remote island. As she realizes her dreams may not come true after all, Julie starts to expect that everyone around her is hiding a secret. Meanwhile, she finds herself drawn to the disturbingly alluring Lucas and the arrogant but handsome Rory.
With her thoughts clouded by love and a strange island phenomenon, Julie learns that if she's going to have any chance at the life she wants, she'll need to solve the mystery before it's too late.
When Lightning Strikes is the first book in a series of suspenseful young adult fantasy novels with a touch of romance. If you like captivating stories, strong female characters, and mysterious paranormal twists, then you'll love Kathleen Rover's first book in a compelling series.
Julie Marin has it all: supportive parents, incredible talent, and the almost-realized dream of becoming a professional dancer. When she's attacked leaving practice one night, her seeming perfection comes crashing down.
Without notice, her parents pack up the house and move Julie and her brother to a remote island. As she realizes her dreams may not come true after all, Julie starts to expect that everyone around her is hiding a secret. Meanwhile, she finds herself drawn to the disturbingly alluring Lucas and the arrogant but handsome Rory.
With her thoughts clouded by love and a strange island phenomenon, Julie learns that if she's going to have any chance at the life she wants, she'll need to solve the mystery before it's too late.
When Lightning Strikes is the first book in a series of suspenseful young adult fantasy novels with a touch of romance. If you like captivating stories, strong female characters, and mysterious paranormal twists, then you'll love Kathleen Rover's first book in a compelling series.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2015
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Rovner
8 books16 followersI am a mother, a writer, and an avid reader. I write under a pen name due to another professional career. Everyone has a secret in their life, mine is writing.
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www.KathleenRovner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 24, 2016
*** 3 Cranky Stars ***
Julie is just a regular teen with extraordinary dancing abilities.
She has dreams, hopes and wishes but will she ever see them come true? Will she remember?
After two vicious attacks on Julie her family decides to move their family to the Island. Nothing is what it seems and zoning out and missing periods of time becomes the normal.
The storyline is pretty good and one that I haven't read before so definite props for this authors creativity. I did find it hard to follow in spots and found myself questioning more and more by the end.
I think with a little concentration on the flow of the story and clean up the grammatical errors, this book has the potential to be a 5 star read.
I look forward to reading book 2 as this one ends in a cliffhanger.
http://twistedbookcur.blogspot.ch/201...
June 15, 2015
***I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the the goodreads group Lovers of Paranormal, or LOP.***
I LOVED this book. I thought Julie was a great character. I can't go into the reasons too much without giving things away, but I loved how strong and determined she became as she fought against what was happening to her. It would have been so easy to give in to blissful ignorance. And that realization at the end about her lack of choice? Ooh I can't wait to see where this goes in the next book. I think she's going to be kicking ass and breaking hearts all over the place. Love it.
I LOVED this book. I thought Julie was a great character. I can't go into the reasons too much without giving things away, but I loved how strong and determined she became as she fought against what was happening to her. It would have been so easy to give in to blissful ignorance. And that realization at the end about her lack of choice? Ooh I can't wait to see where this goes in the next book. I think she's going to be kicking ass and breaking hearts all over the place. Love it.
June 17, 2015
When I started this book I thought it was dry and stiff, maybe disjointed. I was having a hard time getting into it, these people seemed weird and I wasn’t really following it. When I got into chapter 3 I was getting hooked. It was making sense and coming together. I really liked the characters and the mystery surrounding them. It was slowly building and I was enjoying every minute. I knew at 50% that there would have to be a series. This was too good to sum it up and end, I was seeing a longer ARC in this. Now I can’t wait for the next installment. It appears there is going to be a love triangle but I bet there is a lot more to it than that. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. If you enjoy YA and Fey paranormal this is a great book to read. A little better editing would help tremendously and my reason for 1 star deduction.
July 9, 2016
I was given a copy in return for an honest review
I truly enjoyed this book! I did have a hard time getting started reading through the first few chapters but once I got into it I could not put it down.
This was my first book by Kathleen Rover and I will most defiantly be reading more by her!
4 Stars
#AbFabJenee
Ab Fab Book Blog
I truly enjoyed this book! I did have a hard time getting started reading through the first few chapters but once I got into it I could not put it down.
This was my first book by Kathleen Rover and I will most defiantly be reading more by her!
4 Stars
#AbFabJenee
Ab Fab Book Blog
November 14, 2016
When Lightning Strikes is a Young Adult urban fantasy about a Julie, a high school student whose life is turned inside out and upside down after being assaulted after dance practice. This is a fun read, as Julie's surroundings & family become more and more confusing to her, she draws on her own strength and intuition to sort out life. I really enjoyed this story.
March 10, 2017
What a good story! Julie and Jamie are twins and they live in Atlanta. One night when Julie was leaving her dance studio she is attacked by a derelict. Just when she thinks she's going to pass out, she sees a flash of white and her attacker is dead. This is just the beginning of a string of strange things that happen and lead to her parents abruptly moving to a mysterious island. All of a sudden Julie can't remember anything and her brother and parents are acting wrong. Are they going crazy or is she...
The author really knows how to flesh characters out and give them personalities. You can feel the frustration and anger that Julie feels. You can feel her pain and the pain of those around her.
I would have given this book 5 stars but it was a cliffhanger. I HATE cliffhangers. Luckily, the next book is already out, so I bought it and I'm reading it now.
The author really knows how to flesh characters out and give them personalities. You can feel the frustration and anger that Julie feels. You can feel her pain and the pain of those around her.
I would have given this book 5 stars but it was a cliffhanger. I HATE cliffhangers. Luckily, the next book is already out, so I bought it and I'm reading it now.
May 7, 2016
Goes down as another off my 2016 Bookworm Bingo Challenge – A Paranormal book. You only find out at the end though so won’t tell you what they are. This one was a bit of a slow starter for me but once it gets going turns into a great read. Beware though it’s a cliff hanger alert for this one!
Julie has some seriously bad luck. In the space of a few weeks she is attacked twice. The first time on the way home from late night dance practice where a freak lightning bolt seems to save her. Then second when at her prom men try to kidnap her. This time though it’s her temporary teacher Luke that saves her. The connection is there right from the start; seemingly coming from nowhere when they touch, but he wants her to be safe so takes her memories of their encounter. She may have no conscious memory of him but a blue-eyed boy soon starts making appearances in her dreams.
After so much happening you can see why her family would want to up sticks and move away but the way it is done makes her flip out. They want to pack up and leave the next day. She has no time to say goodbye to her friends and ultimately thinks her dreams of being a dancer at the academy are over. Her father seems to have a way of calming her down though, her memories are becoming fuzzy and you start to think that everything is not as it seems.
Case in point when they get to the island. Everything seems a little too perfect and whenever she starts to think about asking too many questions she keeps getting distracted. She soon makes a new friend but even she is a bit spaced out. They will be going to a different school to her twin brother Jamie who lately she feels she doesn’t even know. The school is strange and the town is stranger. Everyone seems to look down on her and her mum and she doesn’t know why – yet!
It’s on her birthday that things start to change. One letter helps her unlock what’s been in front of her all along. The academy wants her to audition and being so excited she writes in her new diary about being accepted. Her father has other ideas though and soon the memory of the letter is gone from her mind but the diary remains. This part bugged me a bit as you finally thought she would figure it all out now, but no, she goes and knocks the diary off her bed in her sleep so its not till weeks later that she fines her message but can’t understand how it got there. This is the moment when she starts to question everything and figure out what triggers a memory loss. She can’t believe her whole family has been lying to her but is determined to figure out why, starting with going to places only kids from the other school go.
This brings her closer to Rory, who ends up being something else entirely. The connection is there from the moment they touch, well more like grab as Julie saves him from drowning – not that she gets a thank you! She is drawn to him as much as he is to her but doesn’t know why and it frightens her a bit that she can’t control it. He can’t tell her what’s going on with the island either but at least he admits to a point that something is off. She may now want to be with Rory but still finds herself dreaming of her blue-eyed boy. With forces beyond their control though nothing ever goes smoothly but in the process events happen that help wake something up in her that has stayed hidden for too long.
Now I find it hard to believe that her parents and brother didn’t know she was like them. I mean what are the odds that a bolt of lightning would strike down the man attacking her but leave her unharmed. Though in their defence if she had told them of her feeling that lightning had been following her they might have. The story now leads right into a love triangle with the return of Luke at the end. So Julie will have to struggle with what’s to come; two guys fighting for her attention, ability she doesn’t know how to control yet and men being after her. Though if she could give it all up and just become a dancer at the academy I think she would be set. An interesting read that will definitely have you wondering how it will all play out for her in the end.
I received this ARC from Words Turn Me On for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
Julie has some seriously bad luck. In the space of a few weeks she is attacked twice. The first time on the way home from late night dance practice where a freak lightning bolt seems to save her. Then second when at her prom men try to kidnap her. This time though it’s her temporary teacher Luke that saves her. The connection is there right from the start; seemingly coming from nowhere when they touch, but he wants her to be safe so takes her memories of their encounter. She may have no conscious memory of him but a blue-eyed boy soon starts making appearances in her dreams.
After so much happening you can see why her family would want to up sticks and move away but the way it is done makes her flip out. They want to pack up and leave the next day. She has no time to say goodbye to her friends and ultimately thinks her dreams of being a dancer at the academy are over. Her father seems to have a way of calming her down though, her memories are becoming fuzzy and you start to think that everything is not as it seems.
Case in point when they get to the island. Everything seems a little too perfect and whenever she starts to think about asking too many questions she keeps getting distracted. She soon makes a new friend but even she is a bit spaced out. They will be going to a different school to her twin brother Jamie who lately she feels she doesn’t even know. The school is strange and the town is stranger. Everyone seems to look down on her and her mum and she doesn’t know why – yet!
It’s on her birthday that things start to change. One letter helps her unlock what’s been in front of her all along. The academy wants her to audition and being so excited she writes in her new diary about being accepted. Her father has other ideas though and soon the memory of the letter is gone from her mind but the diary remains. This part bugged me a bit as you finally thought she would figure it all out now, but no, she goes and knocks the diary off her bed in her sleep so its not till weeks later that she fines her message but can’t understand how it got there. This is the moment when she starts to question everything and figure out what triggers a memory loss. She can’t believe her whole family has been lying to her but is determined to figure out why, starting with going to places only kids from the other school go.
This brings her closer to Rory, who ends up being something else entirely. The connection is there from the moment they touch, well more like grab as Julie saves him from drowning – not that she gets a thank you! She is drawn to him as much as he is to her but doesn’t know why and it frightens her a bit that she can’t control it. He can’t tell her what’s going on with the island either but at least he admits to a point that something is off. She may now want to be with Rory but still finds herself dreaming of her blue-eyed boy. With forces beyond their control though nothing ever goes smoothly but in the process events happen that help wake something up in her that has stayed hidden for too long.
Now I find it hard to believe that her parents and brother didn’t know she was like them. I mean what are the odds that a bolt of lightning would strike down the man attacking her but leave her unharmed. Though in their defence if she had told them of her feeling that lightning had been following her they might have. The story now leads right into a love triangle with the return of Luke at the end. So Julie will have to struggle with what’s to come; two guys fighting for her attention, ability she doesn’t know how to control yet and men being after her. Though if she could give it all up and just become a dancer at the academy I think she would be set. An interesting read that will definitely have you wondering how it will all play out for her in the end.
I received this ARC from Words Turn Me On for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
March 28, 2016
I absolutely loved this story! When Lightning Strikes is a well-written young adult paranormal read filled with magic, mystery and a healthy dose of teenage angst!
Julie Marin is a sixteen year old dance student that has dedicated all of her time and energy to one goal; becoming the best dancer that she can possibly be. Determined to secure a coveted spot at The Academy, a prestigious school for dance in NYC, she works tirelessly to achieve her goal foregoing dating (boys are just too distracting) and many other fun activities that most girls her age engage in. Leaving her dance studio late one night after practice, she is attacked during a thunderstorm. Fearing for her life, she takes a wrong turn down a dark alley. Just seconds away from being violated, she is saved by what she believes to be a freak act of nature.
Just two weeks later she is attacked again at a high school dance by two men in black suits. This time she is saved by the handsome new substitute teacher, Mr. Black, a man that she feels a magnetic pull toward no matter how unusual or inappropriate that feeling is.
Julie doesn't understand what's going on around her, she can't make sense of any of the conversations that she's overheard lately, she only cares about dancing. She doesn't even remember anything about the attack at the school so she is completely shocked when her parents inform her that they will be moving out of the city the very next day! Citing that the recent attacks have proven that it's just too dangerous to live in the city anymore, they whisk her off, along with her twin brother Jamie, to the island that her parents had grown up on. Devastated and angry, unable to even say a proper goodbye to her friends, Julie lashes out but when it comes time to leave she feels strangely lethargic. She doesn't understand why she's not putting up more of a fight or why her twin brother who has been her best friend since the day they were born has been pulling away from her or why everything on this island that she is now forced to call home is so unbelievably strange...
It's too bad that every time she starts to question the strangeness of her surroundings, or the strange behavior of her brother and their parents she gets so upset that she blanks out and later can't even remember what she was saying or even thinking about. She becomes convinced that she is losing her mind until she notices that she's not the only one...
The story really takes off from here as Julie's determination to uncover the truth and to get her life back on track has you rooting for her. I couldn't put my kindle down as I read page after page, as curious about what was really going on as Julie was. Honestly, the suspense was killing me but there was so much story here to keep me entertained as Julie steadily begins to unravel the mystery. All of the characters were well-developed and interesting in their own right and I could totally empathize with every emotion that Julie experienced, including her inexplicable attraction to Rory, the rude and snobbish boy that she didn't even like! Life and love can be complicated enough as it is but when there are magical forces involved things can get really crazy.
A highly recommended YA read although I will caution that the scene where Julie is attacked in the alley may be a trigger or upsetting for some more sensitive readers.
Julie Marin is a sixteen year old dance student that has dedicated all of her time and energy to one goal; becoming the best dancer that she can possibly be. Determined to secure a coveted spot at The Academy, a prestigious school for dance in NYC, she works tirelessly to achieve her goal foregoing dating (boys are just too distracting) and many other fun activities that most girls her age engage in. Leaving her dance studio late one night after practice, she is attacked during a thunderstorm. Fearing for her life, she takes a wrong turn down a dark alley. Just seconds away from being violated, she is saved by what she believes to be a freak act of nature.
Just two weeks later she is attacked again at a high school dance by two men in black suits. This time she is saved by the handsome new substitute teacher, Mr. Black, a man that she feels a magnetic pull toward no matter how unusual or inappropriate that feeling is.
Julie doesn't understand what's going on around her, she can't make sense of any of the conversations that she's overheard lately, she only cares about dancing. She doesn't even remember anything about the attack at the school so she is completely shocked when her parents inform her that they will be moving out of the city the very next day! Citing that the recent attacks have proven that it's just too dangerous to live in the city anymore, they whisk her off, along with her twin brother Jamie, to the island that her parents had grown up on. Devastated and angry, unable to even say a proper goodbye to her friends, Julie lashes out but when it comes time to leave she feels strangely lethargic. She doesn't understand why she's not putting up more of a fight or why her twin brother who has been her best friend since the day they were born has been pulling away from her or why everything on this island that she is now forced to call home is so unbelievably strange...
It's too bad that every time she starts to question the strangeness of her surroundings, or the strange behavior of her brother and their parents she gets so upset that she blanks out and later can't even remember what she was saying or even thinking about. She becomes convinced that she is losing her mind until she notices that she's not the only one...
The story really takes off from here as Julie's determination to uncover the truth and to get her life back on track has you rooting for her. I couldn't put my kindle down as I read page after page, as curious about what was really going on as Julie was. Honestly, the suspense was killing me but there was so much story here to keep me entertained as Julie steadily begins to unravel the mystery. All of the characters were well-developed and interesting in their own right and I could totally empathize with every emotion that Julie experienced, including her inexplicable attraction to Rory, the rude and snobbish boy that she didn't even like! Life and love can be complicated enough as it is but when there are magical forces involved things can get really crazy.
A highly recommended YA read although I will caution that the scene where Julie is attacked in the alley may be a trigger or upsetting for some more sensitive readers.
May 12, 2016
When Lightning Strikes ~ Kathleen Rovner
“Julie Marin has it all: supportive parents, incredible talent, and the almost-realized dream of becoming a professional dancer. When she's attacked leaving practice one night, her seeming perfection comes crashing down.
Without notice, her parents pack up the house and move Julie and her brother to a remote island. As she realizes her dreams may not come true after all, Julie starts to expect that everyone around her is hiding a secret.”
Julie is a girl on a mission to get into the dance academy of her dreams. She practices more than she does anything else, friends, boyfriends, they are nothing to her compared to dancing and making it to this academy. Until one night on her way home from practice she is brutally attacked, after that night things start to change.
“Julie Marin? Is there a Julie Marin here?”
Mandy poked her and grinned. Darcy whispered sharply, “Julie!”
Julie raised her hand. “Here.”
Mr. Black glanced up to look at her with a slight frown. The moment seemed to last forever. Her heart raced, and a flush crept over her face when their eyes me. She held her breath.”
Julie comes back to reality and back to school and suddenly things are changing. She has a new teacher, Mr. Black who seems to take her breath away, drawing her in like no one has before. Her family is acting odd, talking about things that are not adding up to Julie. One night she goes to a school dance and it is there that her world takes a crazy turn. Mr. Black has been watching Julie, at the dance, he rescues her from some strange men that have been following her and then he kisses her, rocking her world, then leaves her reeling and not remembering a thing that happened that night or him.
“Julie.”
She put her hand up to touch his face.
His eyes closed, and he sucked in a breath. “It’s Lucas, Luke.”
He let a fingertip stroke down her throat. Goose bumps broke out on her arms and legs. They both shuddered. The feeling of being near him was overwhelming.”
The next morning Julie’s parents tell her they are moving, leaving Atlanta and moving to the remote island they grew up on, within the week. Julie’s entire world is shattered and once they reach the island, things get even crazier and more confusing. Everyone seems to be keeping a huge secret from Julie and she is confused often. Until one day she gets a letter from the dance academy, Julie starts writing in a new diary and realizes that things are not what they seem. Will Julie figure out what is going on around the tiny island, will she ever see Luke Black again or even remember who he is?
I really recommend this book if you enjoy YA paranormal mysteries with a bit of romance mixed into them. I very much loved this book and I am hoping that there will be more coming out about Julie’s story. I give this book 5 cupcakes, it was well written and kept me turning the pages until the end.
~Melissa~
“Julie Marin has it all: supportive parents, incredible talent, and the almost-realized dream of becoming a professional dancer. When she's attacked leaving practice one night, her seeming perfection comes crashing down.
Without notice, her parents pack up the house and move Julie and her brother to a remote island. As she realizes her dreams may not come true after all, Julie starts to expect that everyone around her is hiding a secret.”
Julie is a girl on a mission to get into the dance academy of her dreams. She practices more than she does anything else, friends, boyfriends, they are nothing to her compared to dancing and making it to this academy. Until one night on her way home from practice she is brutally attacked, after that night things start to change.
“Julie Marin? Is there a Julie Marin here?”
Mandy poked her and grinned. Darcy whispered sharply, “Julie!”
Julie raised her hand. “Here.”
Mr. Black glanced up to look at her with a slight frown. The moment seemed to last forever. Her heart raced, and a flush crept over her face when their eyes me. She held her breath.”
Julie comes back to reality and back to school and suddenly things are changing. She has a new teacher, Mr. Black who seems to take her breath away, drawing her in like no one has before. Her family is acting odd, talking about things that are not adding up to Julie. One night she goes to a school dance and it is there that her world takes a crazy turn. Mr. Black has been watching Julie, at the dance, he rescues her from some strange men that have been following her and then he kisses her, rocking her world, then leaves her reeling and not remembering a thing that happened that night or him.
“Julie.”
She put her hand up to touch his face.
His eyes closed, and he sucked in a breath. “It’s Lucas, Luke.”
He let a fingertip stroke down her throat. Goose bumps broke out on her arms and legs. They both shuddered. The feeling of being near him was overwhelming.”
The next morning Julie’s parents tell her they are moving, leaving Atlanta and moving to the remote island they grew up on, within the week. Julie’s entire world is shattered and once they reach the island, things get even crazier and more confusing. Everyone seems to be keeping a huge secret from Julie and she is confused often. Until one day she gets a letter from the dance academy, Julie starts writing in a new diary and realizes that things are not what they seem. Will Julie figure out what is going on around the tiny island, will she ever see Luke Black again or even remember who he is?
I really recommend this book if you enjoy YA paranormal mysteries with a bit of romance mixed into them. I very much loved this book and I am hoping that there will be more coming out about Julie’s story. I give this book 5 cupcakes, it was well written and kept me turning the pages until the end.
~Melissa~
August 10, 2015
***I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the the goodreads group Lovers of Paranormal, or LOP.***
When lightning strikes features a very strong female lead character, whose life is - after a series of strange events and two terrible, but seemingly random, attacks - turned upside down by her family suddenly moving to an isolated Island, on which her parents grew up. For some strange reason her brother is totally okay with this. While Julie tries to understand why they have to move she suddenly seems okay with everything, after a conversation with her dad. From this moment on she starts to get distracted whenever she tries to piece some information together and zones out - forgetting about everything she's just found out.
Once on the Island this state doesn't leave up and she zones out more, as strange things occur. Like her mother who suddenly stays at home all day and cries all the time. Or her brother going to another school than her who's never aroudn anymore. There is only one other girl her age at her school and 3 boys and all of them seem so easily distracted and zone out a lot. Kids from the other school are keeping away and if not they are beeing terribly rude for no reason. Also she's having strange dreams about a strange man with blue eyes.
As the strangness piles up and Julie seems to take no notice, she remembers a diary her mom gave her and starts to write down the latest - still unforgotten - events. When she takes the book out the next time she is absolutely startled to find her entry and finally understanding dawns as she finds a way to fight off the forgetfulness. But everything she finds out and pieces together still doesn't make sense, until she saves a life and things get out of hand.
It is absolutely masterful how Kathleen Rovner managed to write a fantasy book, that doesn't easily give away the fantasy. At some points it is there of course, but other than a view glimpses you have to piece the puzzle together yourself - much like Julie has to. And still there is not a moment of boredom! On the contrary - it adds to the suspense and makes the reading experience so much better!
So I give standing ovations for this game of "Activity", of writing about something without naming it - it was grand and I kind of hated the moment of truth, because the game was so much fun!
There are actually only two things about this story, that I have to criticize: That so many characters just didn't have enough time to gain depth (but I'm sure they will in the next book, so that's okay) and that the end of the book
Other than that it was great! And I can't wait to read the next book!
When lightning strikes features a very strong female lead character, whose life is - after a series of strange events and two terrible, but seemingly random, attacks - turned upside down by her family suddenly moving to an isolated Island, on which her parents grew up. For some strange reason her brother is totally okay with this. While Julie tries to understand why they have to move she suddenly seems okay with everything, after a conversation with her dad. From this moment on she starts to get distracted whenever she tries to piece some information together and zones out - forgetting about everything she's just found out.
Once on the Island this state doesn't leave up and she zones out more, as strange things occur. Like her mother who suddenly stays at home all day and cries all the time. Or her brother going to another school than her who's never aroudn anymore. There is only one other girl her age at her school and 3 boys and all of them seem so easily distracted and zone out a lot. Kids from the other school are keeping away and if not they are beeing terribly rude for no reason. Also she's having strange dreams about a strange man with blue eyes.
As the strangness piles up and Julie seems to take no notice, she remembers a diary her mom gave her and starts to write down the latest - still unforgotten - events. When she takes the book out the next time she is absolutely startled to find her entry and finally understanding dawns as she finds a way to fight off the forgetfulness. But everything she finds out and pieces together still doesn't make sense, until she saves a life and things get out of hand.
It is absolutely masterful how Kathleen Rovner managed to write a fantasy book, that doesn't easily give away the fantasy. At some points it is there of course, but other than a view glimpses you have to piece the puzzle together yourself - much like Julie has to. And still there is not a moment of boredom! On the contrary - it adds to the suspense and makes the reading experience so much better!
So I give standing ovations for this game of "Activity", of writing about something without naming it - it was grand and I kind of hated the moment of truth, because the game was so much fun!
There are actually only two things about this story, that I have to criticize: That so many characters just didn't have enough time to gain depth (but I'm sure they will in the next book, so that's okay) and that the end of the book
Other than that it was great! And I can't wait to read the next book!
August 15, 2016
This was a wonderful book. This is a young adult book, I know that you're used to me reviewing romance books. But this book was suggested for me to read. And I am so glad I read it. The story was extremely engaging, Heartfelt, with a love story as well in it.
Julie is so confused her family is keeping secrets from her. Even her twin brother is keeping things from her. And he has never kept a secret from her before. Then Luke saves her from a gunman trying to kidnap her. All of a sudden she feels inexplicably drawn to him. But for some reason he makes her forget everything. Then her family up and leaves strange Island where she cannot leave. Somehow she keeps loosing pieces of time. As she time passes she learns to control her memory loss. She figured out what was triggering it. She also begins to figure out what is going on. While walking around the island, she tries to stay away from the other kids living on the island. She sees something in the water. It is a young boy drowning; she immediately jumps in to save him. But there is a small problem that arises, when this boy is drawn to her as much so as Luke was. Rory tells her he loves her and he wants to be with her. But he can't tell anyone else, and makes her promise to keep it secret as well. Her brother Jamie does not like Rory, and is trying to make him stay away from his sister. Then when something truly unforeseen happens, Julie has to stop Rory and Jamie from killing each other. As she is trying to stop them she ends up hurt. As soon as Luke find out something has happened to Julie he races to the Island. As she is his mate and when he touches her, it all floods back. He tells her he thought she would be safe here, but unfortunately now she's caught to between two men she has a connection too and that is when all hell breaks loose. I cannot wait to read the second book. To see what happens next.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book, please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it when you do; they value your opinions too.
Julie is so confused her family is keeping secrets from her. Even her twin brother is keeping things from her. And he has never kept a secret from her before. Then Luke saves her from a gunman trying to kidnap her. All of a sudden she feels inexplicably drawn to him. But for some reason he makes her forget everything. Then her family up and leaves strange Island where she cannot leave. Somehow she keeps loosing pieces of time. As she time passes she learns to control her memory loss. She figured out what was triggering it. She also begins to figure out what is going on. While walking around the island, she tries to stay away from the other kids living on the island. She sees something in the water. It is a young boy drowning; she immediately jumps in to save him. But there is a small problem that arises, when this boy is drawn to her as much so as Luke was. Rory tells her he loves her and he wants to be with her. But he can't tell anyone else, and makes her promise to keep it secret as well. Her brother Jamie does not like Rory, and is trying to make him stay away from his sister. Then when something truly unforeseen happens, Julie has to stop Rory and Jamie from killing each other. As she is trying to stop them she ends up hurt. As soon as Luke find out something has happened to Julie he races to the Island. As she is his mate and when he touches her, it all floods back. He tells her he thought she would be safe here, but unfortunately now she's caught to between two men she has a connection too and that is when all hell breaks loose. I cannot wait to read the second book. To see what happens next.
Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book, please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it when you do; they value your opinions too.
April 21, 2016
Young Adult scifi and supernatural novels are a huge thing right now. That's great for people like me who like to read them, but sometimes it's a bit tougher for authors to find fresh ideas to pitch at their audience. Every time I pick up a new supernatural book, I worry for a moment whether the author will have a new concept, and I did the same thing with this book. As it turned out, though, I had nothing to worry about this time! While it did start off rather slowly and the book took much longer to read than I expected from its length, the story line was fresh and a bit unexpected. I appreciate the author's take on things and the fact that this novel never felt too similar to anything else I'd read.
As much as I did appreciate elements of this book, there were parts that were a bit less appealing. As I mentioned before, it was sort of hard to get into. Not that the beginning wasn't gripping. It definitely was. The actual plotline took a while to develop, though, which made it hard for me to stay invested. The characters were reasonably well constructed, but the seemed a bit flat to me and I wasn't deeply attached to anyone or to their relationships from the start. This book really took quite a while to pull me in and I never really developed that sense of urgency where I was so busy reading that I forgot the rest of my life. It was a decent book, but probably not one I'm likely to read over and over again.
One of the very first scenes in the book is a fairly graphic description of an attempted sexual assault, which was completely unexpected. It's definitely essential to the story and really does get things rolling, but it's something readers ought to be adequately prepared for when they choose to read this book. Beyond that, though, there are exciting parts and the book is well written and creative. It's worth a read if you're into this genre for sure.
As much as I did appreciate elements of this book, there were parts that were a bit less appealing. As I mentioned before, it was sort of hard to get into. Not that the beginning wasn't gripping. It definitely was. The actual plotline took a while to develop, though, which made it hard for me to stay invested. The characters were reasonably well constructed, but the seemed a bit flat to me and I wasn't deeply attached to anyone or to their relationships from the start. This book really took quite a while to pull me in and I never really developed that sense of urgency where I was so busy reading that I forgot the rest of my life. It was a decent book, but probably not one I'm likely to read over and over again.
One of the very first scenes in the book is a fairly graphic description of an attempted sexual assault, which was completely unexpected. It's definitely essential to the story and really does get things rolling, but it's something readers ought to be adequately prepared for when they choose to read this book. Beyond that, though, there are exciting parts and the book is well written and creative. It's worth a read if you're into this genre for sure.
June 7, 2016
Julie Marin, student and dancer, lives in Atlanta, USA with her parents Andromeda and Lir, and her brother Jamie.
On her way home from dance class, she is attacked in an alleyway. However a freak lightning storm hits and strikes the man, saving Julie.
Just a few weeks later she is attacked again, this time at her school prom. Once again she is saved, this time by her substitute teacher Luke. Luke however may not be who he seems, as he erases her memory of the event.
Her parents decide to up and leave Atlanta and head back to where they came from, Seelie Isle, a mysterious place. But is everything as it seems on the island, and why is the place and everyone in it seem so quaint?
Julie is a loveable character, who is extremely unhappy about leaving her home, her friends and her dance classes, to head to a strange place she has never been to before, to live.
Her parents were very weird, secretive characters. You got to know her mum Andromeda more than her father, who didn’t feature as much. Andromeda seemed nice enough, but I really couldn’t take to a woman who was dictated to by her husband, and kept secrets from her daughter as he deemed it in Julie’s best interest.
Seelie Isle is a strange place where eyes are watching your every move. It made me feel a little uncomfortable, and although you know there is something not quite normal about the place, you are never fully told all of the details, and by the end of the book I still didn’t have a confirmed knowledge of what was going on.
The book is interesting, and if you like paranormal romance books then give this a read. Just be aware that you will need to read the sequel to understand what is happening, especially when it ends on a cliff-hanger.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
On her way home from dance class, she is attacked in an alleyway. However a freak lightning storm hits and strikes the man, saving Julie.
Just a few weeks later she is attacked again, this time at her school prom. Once again she is saved, this time by her substitute teacher Luke. Luke however may not be who he seems, as he erases her memory of the event.
Her parents decide to up and leave Atlanta and head back to where they came from, Seelie Isle, a mysterious place. But is everything as it seems on the island, and why is the place and everyone in it seem so quaint?
Julie is a loveable character, who is extremely unhappy about leaving her home, her friends and her dance classes, to head to a strange place she has never been to before, to live.
Her parents were very weird, secretive characters. You got to know her mum Andromeda more than her father, who didn’t feature as much. Andromeda seemed nice enough, but I really couldn’t take to a woman who was dictated to by her husband, and kept secrets from her daughter as he deemed it in Julie’s best interest.
Seelie Isle is a strange place where eyes are watching your every move. It made me feel a little uncomfortable, and although you know there is something not quite normal about the place, you are never fully told all of the details, and by the end of the book I still didn’t have a confirmed knowledge of what was going on.
The book is interesting, and if you like paranormal romance books then give this a read. Just be aware that you will need to read the sequel to understand what is happening, especially when it ends on a cliff-hanger.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
August 15, 2015
Pros: Great idea, great characters
Cons: got a little lost at times, some ideas didn't seem fully fleshed out
Overall rating: Good book
Impressions: Fasted paced from the get go, some spots were slow. Some things were lacking a "body" if you will.
Review:
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal)
So I had high hopes for this book. The idea was great and I liked most of the characters. Unfortunately some parts just felt rushed or lacking in information. The idea behind the story was a well thought out idea, and I can tell that the author wanted to make sure it was done well. Sadly I felt lost in some areas, like the idea was there but the words never made it to the page.
Julie was a good character, but I could not love her. I just didn't feel like I connected with her. I felt like she was annoying at times. I feel like her part of the story was actually the parts that were lacking something for me. I think she needed to be flashed out more. The parts of the book that I got the lost the most in involved her and her random trains of thought.
I think that with a little work this book could be a great one. With a little fleshing out of things it cold become one of those series that everyone loves. I just don't see that yet.
I loved the hanger at the end though. That little tidbit was enough to make me want to know what happens next. I am willing to give the next book in the series a try, with the hope that things get fleshed out better.
Cons: got a little lost at times, some ideas didn't seem fully fleshed out
Overall rating: Good book
Impressions: Fasted paced from the get go, some spots were slow. Some things were lacking a "body" if you will.
Review:
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal)
So I had high hopes for this book. The idea was great and I liked most of the characters. Unfortunately some parts just felt rushed or lacking in information. The idea behind the story was a well thought out idea, and I can tell that the author wanted to make sure it was done well. Sadly I felt lost in some areas, like the idea was there but the words never made it to the page.
Julie was a good character, but I could not love her. I just didn't feel like I connected with her. I felt like she was annoying at times. I feel like her part of the story was actually the parts that were lacking something for me. I think she needed to be flashed out more. The parts of the book that I got the lost the most in involved her and her random trains of thought.
I think that with a little work this book could be a great one. With a little fleshing out of things it cold become one of those series that everyone loves. I just don't see that yet.
I loved the hanger at the end though. That little tidbit was enough to make me want to know what happens next. I am willing to give the next book in the series a try, with the hope that things get fleshed out better.
November 2, 2016
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
Life for Julie has always been about dance, always about dance and nothing more than dance, and she is an amazing dancer. But after two attacks on Julie, her parents move the family overnight to a small island in the middle of nowhere, where nothing is what it seems. Now Julie is going to a high school with only five kids while her brother goes to a high school on the other side of the island, and she feels like she is forgetting things all the time. Her mom is acting strange and Julie is determined to figure out what is going on and what the big secret is with life on this island. When Lightning Strikes is a young adult, coming of age novel that embarks on a young girls discovery of the secrets that her parents are keeping from her. Author Kathleen Rovner writes a compelling and captivating story.
When Lightning Strikes is slated as the first book in a series, which is a good thing, because this book just ends abruptly and you are thinking wait, I need more. Also, the author Kathleen Rovner classifies the book as paranormal, but that is an underlying concept in the book until almost the end, so it is definitely something that you hope will be fleshed out more in the second book. That all being said, this was a great first book. It drew you into this world, helped explain the attitudes and why Julie's parents made some of their choices, without actually telling their complete story. You got to understand the values and traditions, and you could kinda see where things were moving. Its a unique coming of age story with a paranormal twist that is worth reading, and it is clean - no sex or language so I would recommend it for all ages.
Life for Julie has always been about dance, always about dance and nothing more than dance, and she is an amazing dancer. But after two attacks on Julie, her parents move the family overnight to a small island in the middle of nowhere, where nothing is what it seems. Now Julie is going to a high school with only five kids while her brother goes to a high school on the other side of the island, and she feels like she is forgetting things all the time. Her mom is acting strange and Julie is determined to figure out what is going on and what the big secret is with life on this island. When Lightning Strikes is a young adult, coming of age novel that embarks on a young girls discovery of the secrets that her parents are keeping from her. Author Kathleen Rovner writes a compelling and captivating story.
When Lightning Strikes is slated as the first book in a series, which is a good thing, because this book just ends abruptly and you are thinking wait, I need more. Also, the author Kathleen Rovner classifies the book as paranormal, but that is an underlying concept in the book until almost the end, so it is definitely something that you hope will be fleshed out more in the second book. That all being said, this was a great first book. It drew you into this world, helped explain the attitudes and why Julie's parents made some of their choices, without actually telling their complete story. You got to understand the values and traditions, and you could kinda see where things were moving. Its a unique coming of age story with a paranormal twist that is worth reading, and it is clean - no sex or language so I would recommend it for all ages.
April 19, 2016
4.5 stars from me ONLY because I am NOT a fan of cliffhangers that end in the middle of a scene. This book definitely does. Although I have to admit I knew it was coming.
I absolutely adore this story, and will definitely be a new life time fan of Kathleen Rovner. I love the way her characters are so naturally yet vividly developed. They are done in such a way that you, the reader, can absolutely picture them, yet not have every detail described so that you HAVE to see them the way the author does. I love when an author has that ability, and knows what the reader wants. Most avid readers do not want nor need the author to make the characters for us. We just need a push in the right direction and this story is spot on. Ms. Rovner does the same with the world in this book. I could easily picture the characters and their lives as naturally as if I was living it.
Julie is a great lead. I felt easily connected to her. Even though she is 16-17 through most the story it never felt like I was reading about a young girl. My only other slight issue was from how when something big happened (like she was attacked) the book then jumped kind of over that and into 2 weeks later. Its a little hard to swallow that those situations were jumped over, and that with lightning following her the way it does, her family didnt noticed she was like Jamie..... I liked the other characters as well. Jamie, Kara, the parents, etc. Even Roy for the part he's playing.
Overall I cannot wait to continue this story. I only wish authors would end with regular cliffs, and not huge gaping holes, right in the middle of a story.
I absolutely adore this story, and will definitely be a new life time fan of Kathleen Rovner. I love the way her characters are so naturally yet vividly developed. They are done in such a way that you, the reader, can absolutely picture them, yet not have every detail described so that you HAVE to see them the way the author does. I love when an author has that ability, and knows what the reader wants. Most avid readers do not want nor need the author to make the characters for us. We just need a push in the right direction and this story is spot on. Ms. Rovner does the same with the world in this book. I could easily picture the characters and their lives as naturally as if I was living it.
Julie is a great lead. I felt easily connected to her. Even though she is 16-17 through most the story it never felt like I was reading about a young girl. My only other slight issue was from how when something big happened (like she was attacked) the book then jumped kind of over that and into 2 weeks later. Its a little hard to swallow that those situations were jumped over, and that with lightning following her the way it does, her family didnt noticed she was like Jamie..... I liked the other characters as well. Jamie, Kara, the parents, etc. Even Roy for the part he's playing.
Overall I cannot wait to continue this story. I only wish authors would end with regular cliffs, and not huge gaping holes, right in the middle of a story.
July 11, 2015
~~ I received this book in exchange for an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal)~~
This was such a great book!! It started off a bit slow, but it quickly ramped up to a quick boil, then died down to a nice simmer that kept you wondering what was going on. I honestly wouldn't have guessed it was what it was. The plot had me thinking of all kinds of conspiracy theories.
The story as a whole was so well written. The relationships between Julie and her brother, her parents, and her friends were completely believable. So much so, that when things start to head south for her, you can't help but to feel her confusion and be outraged right along with her. Then when her environment starts to change her (read the book to see what I mean), you feel so much more confused and angry. Suffice it to say that this book sucked me right in, and did it in such a subtle way (sneaky book...), but I loved every bit of this ride. The romance was so sweet and tender, but at same time a bit troubling for me but only because she wasn't with who I wanted her to be with. It did make for one heck of an ending though, so it was well worth it!
When it ended I got so upset. Yes folks. It has a cliffhanger ending. Normally I don't mind them so much because I usually have the other books readily available, but this time I don't. (ANGRY FACE!!!) I'll just have to be patient in the meantime (le sigh...)
I highly recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind a cliffhanger ending, as it is definitely worth the read!
This was such a great book!! It started off a bit slow, but it quickly ramped up to a quick boil, then died down to a nice simmer that kept you wondering what was going on. I honestly wouldn't have guessed it was what it was. The plot had me thinking of all kinds of conspiracy theories.
The story as a whole was so well written. The relationships between Julie and her brother, her parents, and her friends were completely believable. So much so, that when things start to head south for her, you can't help but to feel her confusion and be outraged right along with her. Then when her environment starts to change her (read the book to see what I mean), you feel so much more confused and angry. Suffice it to say that this book sucked me right in, and did it in such a subtle way (sneaky book...), but I loved every bit of this ride. The romance was so sweet and tender, but at same time a bit troubling for me but only because she wasn't with who I wanted her to be with. It did make for one heck of an ending though, so it was well worth it!
When it ended I got so upset. Yes folks. It has a cliffhanger ending. Normally I don't mind them so much because I usually have the other books readily available, but this time I don't. (ANGRY FACE!!!) I'll just have to be patient in the meantime (le sigh...)
I highly recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind a cliffhanger ending, as it is definitely worth the read!
May 17, 2016
There is a scene where Julie is attacked so please know that ahead of time.
When Lightning Strikes it's a young adult paranormal book. Julie Marin is a 16 year old girl who has one goal in mind to be the best dancer she can be. She has dedicated all her time and energy to to secure a spot at the Academy. It's a prestigious school for dance in NYC. She works tirelessly to achieve her goal foregoing dating and many other fun activities that most girls her age. She is almost attacked leaving practice one day and then again 2 weeks later at a high school dance. But was saved again this time by a new teacher, Mr.Black, whom she feels a pull towards no matter the inappropriate nature.
Julie doesn't understand why her parents have decided to move move out of the city to a remote island. Citing that the recent attacks have proven that it's just too dangerous to live in the city anymore, her parents along with her twin brother Jamie are whisked to the island that her parents had grown up on. Devastated about not being able to even say a proper goodbye to her friends, Julie lashes out but when it comes time to leave. She doesn't understand why everything is so strange on this island, or why her twin brother James has been pulling away from her.
The storyline is so interesting and page turning you can't put it down. All of the characters were well-developed and interesting in their own way. Life and love for a 16 year old can be complicated enough as it is but when there are magical forces involved things can get really crazy.
When Lightning Strikes it's a young adult paranormal book. Julie Marin is a 16 year old girl who has one goal in mind to be the best dancer she can be. She has dedicated all her time and energy to to secure a spot at the Academy. It's a prestigious school for dance in NYC. She works tirelessly to achieve her goal foregoing dating and many other fun activities that most girls her age. She is almost attacked leaving practice one day and then again 2 weeks later at a high school dance. But was saved again this time by a new teacher, Mr.Black, whom she feels a pull towards no matter the inappropriate nature.
Julie doesn't understand why her parents have decided to move move out of the city to a remote island. Citing that the recent attacks have proven that it's just too dangerous to live in the city anymore, her parents along with her twin brother Jamie are whisked to the island that her parents had grown up on. Devastated about not being able to even say a proper goodbye to her friends, Julie lashes out but when it comes time to leave. She doesn't understand why everything is so strange on this island, or why her twin brother James has been pulling away from her.
The storyline is so interesting and page turning you can't put it down. All of the characters were well-developed and interesting in their own way. Life and love for a 16 year old can be complicated enough as it is but when there are magical forces involved things can get really crazy.
May 8, 2016
When Lightning Strikes is both a paranormal romance and a love triangle, but to label it so simplistically just wouldn't do the book justice. There aren't adequate words to describe When Lightning Strikes, except to say that it left me with one of the biggest book hangovers I've ever had! It was outstanding!
The characters were complex and well developed. Julie is a high school student and talented dancer. When she's viciously attacked after dancing one night, her seemingly perfect life is turned upside down. Her parents pack up the house and move Julie and her brother to an island, where everyone seems to be keeping secrets. To make things worse, Julie finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with two very handsome and mysterious men, Lucas and Rory. Whom will Julie choose? And what is everyone on the island hiding from her?
I had a hard time getting into this book the first chapter or two, but then the plot picked up and reeled me in. I was riveted and could NOT put it down. The suspense was killing me!
This is the first book in the Lightning series and my first book by Kathleen Rovner. It is FABULOUS! I am totally hooked, and I've already downloaded and read book two as well. That is saying a lot, since I don't normally care for paranormal romances. I highly recommend this book and series!
The characters were complex and well developed. Julie is a high school student and talented dancer. When she's viciously attacked after dancing one night, her seemingly perfect life is turned upside down. Her parents pack up the house and move Julie and her brother to an island, where everyone seems to be keeping secrets. To make things worse, Julie finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with two very handsome and mysterious men, Lucas and Rory. Whom will Julie choose? And what is everyone on the island hiding from her?
I had a hard time getting into this book the first chapter or two, but then the plot picked up and reeled me in. I was riveted and could NOT put it down. The suspense was killing me!
This is the first book in the Lightning series and my first book by Kathleen Rovner. It is FABULOUS! I am totally hooked, and I've already downloaded and read book two as well. That is saying a lot, since I don't normally care for paranormal romances. I highly recommend this book and series!
June 27, 2015
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from the LoP group.
I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I started reading it. I was confused a bit a the beginning. As I read more of the book it I started to make sense that something was off and I was intrigued. I would have to say that I really liked Lucas. I mean what girl wouldn't want to be swept off her feet and kissed by a gorgeous agent. I wasn't too happy that he erased her memory of him though.
I would so love to be able to shoot lighting out of my fingers. I didn't like Rory in the beginning, I actually thought he was Lucas in a different body. After seeing how the Island was where they were staying was magically affected I started suspecting the Fae were involved, after finding the name of the Island was Seelie I knew it was the Fae.
I was very happy when Lucas came back in the end but now she has 2 men that are connected to her, uh oh. I vote Lucuas!!!!
Thank you for letting me read and review your book.
I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I started reading it. I was confused a bit a the beginning. As I read more of the book it I started to make sense that something was off and I was intrigued. I would have to say that I really liked Lucas. I mean what girl wouldn't want to be swept off her feet and kissed by a gorgeous agent. I wasn't too happy that he erased her memory of him though.
I would so love to be able to shoot lighting out of my fingers. I didn't like Rory in the beginning, I actually thought he was Lucas in a different body. After seeing how the Island was where they were staying was magically affected I started suspecting the Fae were involved, after finding the name of the Island was Seelie I knew it was the Fae.
I was very happy when Lucas came back in the end but now she has 2 men that are connected to her, uh oh. I vote Lucuas!!!!
Thank you for letting me read and review your book.
September 16, 2015
This is a new approach on a subject that has been covered quite a bit. I am not going to give it away since that is a huge part of this book, the discovery on what is actually going on. Kathleen had me going for the entire time even with her leaving hints on what topic she was writing about. That to me was very intriguing. The idea and overall plot captivated me. She has a very lively writing style that is pleasant to read. The pacing of the book is right on the money, no rushing the reader nor does she drag it out.
Julie is a lovable character that is struggling quite a bit. For quite some time the reader can only suffer with her and hope that things will finally change and when they do things come together beautifully. The characters play nicely off of each other and really make up a nice mix.
I was sad to see this book end. I didn't know this was going to be a series and now I am itching to read the next one.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP. Lovers of Paranormal)
Julie is a lovable character that is struggling quite a bit. For quite some time the reader can only suffer with her and hope that things will finally change and when they do things come together beautifully. The characters play nicely off of each other and really make up a nice mix.
I was sad to see this book end. I didn't know this was going to be a series and now I am itching to read the next one.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP. Lovers of Paranormal)
March 25, 2016
Wow, what can I say about this story. It shocked me a lot. I couldn't stop reading, and didn't expect for what happened to happen.
We meet Julie and her family. Julie is a typical young woman, who enjoys dancing and aspires to go to the Academy for dancers. Her whole world turned upside down, when her family moved to the Island. She has to leave behind her best friends Darcy and Mandy, her school and her dance studio. She is angry her parents, and her brother took this choice from her.
She does not enjoy the island, and thinks something is off. She no longer goes to school with her twin brother, and she feels like every time she walks into a room, they stop talking. She gets more suspicious when she hears conversations.
This book is simply amazing. I could not help but feel for Julie, but also feel for her mum, dad and brother.
I cannot wait to be able to read the second book of this series. As I can't wait to see what happens after the cliffhanger at the end.
I recommend this book.
We meet Julie and her family. Julie is a typical young woman, who enjoys dancing and aspires to go to the Academy for dancers. Her whole world turned upside down, when her family moved to the Island. She has to leave behind her best friends Darcy and Mandy, her school and her dance studio. She is angry her parents, and her brother took this choice from her.
She does not enjoy the island, and thinks something is off. She no longer goes to school with her twin brother, and she feels like every time she walks into a room, they stop talking. She gets more suspicious when she hears conversations.
This book is simply amazing. I could not help but feel for Julie, but also feel for her mum, dad and brother.
I cannot wait to be able to read the second book of this series. As I can't wait to see what happens after the cliffhanger at the end.
I recommend this book.
July 6, 2015
A Great Read
For me this book was a bit of a slow starter, but once it got going it really took off for me. Once that happened, I was captivated and needed to keep reading. At the beginning there a lot of questions as to what the heck is going on. As I got father into the story I had all sorts of theories, some kind of outlandish. The pieces start to line up as you work your way through. Overall, I say that this is a read that I would definitely recommend if you are a lover of paranormal like me. The characters in the book are very well developed, especially Julie. I love her strength of character and think that she handled the situation a lot better than most would in her situation. You'll need to read the book to find out just what that situation is. No spoilers. I will tell you however that there is a cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to see what happens next! I was given this book free from Lovers of Paranormal in exchange for an honest review.
For me this book was a bit of a slow starter, but once it got going it really took off for me. Once that happened, I was captivated and needed to keep reading. At the beginning there a lot of questions as to what the heck is going on. As I got father into the story I had all sorts of theories, some kind of outlandish. The pieces start to line up as you work your way through. Overall, I say that this is a read that I would definitely recommend if you are a lover of paranormal like me. The characters in the book are very well developed, especially Julie. I love her strength of character and think that she handled the situation a lot better than most would in her situation. You'll need to read the book to find out just what that situation is. No spoilers. I will tell you however that there is a cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to see what happens next! I was given this book free from Lovers of Paranormal in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal)
Okay, so I loved the title of the book and the main plot - those are the things I mainly watch out for before choosing a book to read. The plot of this book seemed good to me as well as the cover of the book was amazing so I went ahead to read it.
I was disappointed because it was not as good as I thought it would be. The story in the beginning was stretched way more than it was needed. The pace of the story was slow and it made the reader lose interest. However, the last few pages really recaptured my attention and I wanted to know what was happening. The ending left me heartbroken and really sad though, I hate love triangles because one always gets hurt and I can't bear that in my book, it's so heart breaking :'(.
I loved how the author started to build up the romance with Rory and how Julie has learnt to manage the amnesia thingy. <== These were my favourite parts.
Okay, so I loved the title of the book and the main plot - those are the things I mainly watch out for before choosing a book to read. The plot of this book seemed good to me as well as the cover of the book was amazing so I went ahead to read it.
I was disappointed because it was not as good as I thought it would be. The story in the beginning was stretched way more than it was needed. The pace of the story was slow and it made the reader lose interest. However, the last few pages really recaptured my attention and I wanted to know what was happening. The ending left me heartbroken and really sad though, I hate love triangles because one always gets hurt and I can't bear that in my book, it's so heart breaking :'(.
I loved how the author started to build up the romance with Rory and how Julie has learnt to manage the amnesia thingy. <== These were my favourite parts.
October 8, 2017
I found this book initially hard to get into because so many things did not make sense, but I kept going and with all good books, something clicked. By then I just continued reading, anxiously wanting to find out what was going on. I had to wait a long time to find out and felt it would have been more fulfilling had the reader been privy to some of those secrets.
I did feel this book was aimed at the YA (young adult) market, and would do very well as it was told through the eyes of the main character Julie who is a teenager.
Kathleen Rovner is clearly a great story teller and her descriptions of a world where everything was a mystery was really well written and the characters well formed.
As I approached the end of the book, I was wondering how the beginning would fit in. It didn't explain it all, but that what sequels are all about. However, I didn't expect the ending and it left me with something to think about.
I did feel this book was aimed at the YA (young adult) market, and would do very well as it was told through the eyes of the main character Julie who is a teenager.
Kathleen Rovner is clearly a great story teller and her descriptions of a world where everything was a mystery was really well written and the characters well formed.
As I approached the end of the book, I was wondering how the beginning would fit in. It didn't explain it all, but that what sequels are all about. However, I didn't expect the ending and it left me with something to think about.
April 12, 2016
Julie spends all her time practising her dancing. She desperately wants to get into the New York dance academy. Things seem to be changing at home. Her twin brother is spending more time going out with their father lately and distancing himself from her. After two violent incidents her family decide to move back to the island her parents came from. This will end all Julie's chances of getting into the academy. How can her loving family destroy her dreams. The island is a place full of secrets and strange feelings. Will she ever find out what is going on?
A good YA romantic suspense, with paranormal happenings. Lots of emotion and excitement. An ideal book for any teenage girl or those of us who enjoy a lighter read occasionally.
A good YA romantic suspense, with paranormal happenings. Lots of emotion and excitement. An ideal book for any teenage girl or those of us who enjoy a lighter read occasionally.
June 24, 2015
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (Lop or Lovers of Paranormal)
This book is an interesting read that will leave you wanting more. Julie is a teenage girl who's entire life is turned upside down overnight and she is forced to re-examine everything and everyone she knows. Her world is no longer familiar to her and she doesn't know who she can trust anymore. Even under these strange circumstances, Julie is a strong character who refuses to give up on her dreams. She shows true strength and determination through it all. This story is about dealing with the unexpected and it's told quite well.
This book is an interesting read that will leave you wanting more. Julie is a teenage girl who's entire life is turned upside down overnight and she is forced to re-examine everything and everyone she knows. Her world is no longer familiar to her and she doesn't know who she can trust anymore. Even under these strange circumstances, Julie is a strong character who refuses to give up on her dreams. She shows true strength and determination through it all. This story is about dealing with the unexpected and it's told quite well.
March 29, 2016
Omg what an ending!!! This book was amazing and very well written I love paranormal and this book has it all i loved surprises throughout the book definitely keeps you guessing what's next. The main character Julie goes through quite a bit she's a talented dancer and gets attacked one night and in turn her family packs up and moves her to an island that she not only loathes but she also is getting the feeling something is terribly off with her new place she is made to call home. I loved all the twists and turns the author really impressed me with many surprises along the way I didn't expect this book I rate 5 stars was amazing!
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April 27, 2016I loved this book! What a pleasure to read a well written YA Paranormal story! I was so caught up in to the story that I missed other book release parties!! There was a point in the book where a lot of what is happening to the lead character is revealed and I was blown away. I didn't see that one coming and I read a lot in that genre. I can see where some would think that the book could be slow at first, but I think the writer was setting up not only this story but also the next book coming in the series. Sometimes you have to take a moment and think what is this writer doing? Kathleen Rovner has a winner here and I can't wait to dig into the next in the series.
January 17, 2016
I received the book as an ARC and I found it to be well written but it is a little different than the books that I normally read. I read alot while I am waiting in my car, before work and I need something that I can pick up and put down alot. This book was a little hard for me to do that. I kept losing my train of thought and had to go back and reread items.
I still think this is a good book and you should give it a try but don't pick it up for just a few minutes and put it back down you tend to get lost or at least I did.
I would read more from this author without a doubt
I still think this is a good book and you should give it a try but don't pick it up for just a few minutes and put it back down you tend to get lost or at least I did.
I would read more from this author without a doubt
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