Book Review: SOMEONE'S LISTENING by Seraphina Nova Glass

Oh, when I read the description for this thriller, I knew I had to jump into it!! Scroll on down for my complete review.

Someone's Listening
by Seraphina Nova Glass
Publication Date: July 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1525836749
Publisher: Graydon House Books


Description from the Publisher:
You’re not alone. Someone’s waiting. Someone’s watching … Someone's listening.

In SOMEONE’S LISTENING, Dr. Faith Finley has everything she’s ever wanted: she’s a renowned psychologist, a radio personality—host of the wildly popular “Someone’s Listening with Dr. Faith Finley”—and a soon-to-be bestselling author. She’s young, beautiful, and married to the perfect man, Liam.

Of course Liam was at Faith’s book launch with her. But after her car crashes on the way home and she’s pulled from the wreckage, nobody can confirm that Liam was with her at the party. The police claim she was alone in car, and they don’t believe her when she says otherwise. Perhaps that’s understandable, given the horrible thing Faith was accused of doing a few weeks ago. And then the notes start arriving—the ones literally ripped from the pages of Faith’s own self-help book on leaving an abusive relationship. Ones like “Secure your new home. Consider new window and door locks, an alarm system, and steel doors…”

Where is Liam? Is his disappearance connected to the scandal that ruined Faith’s life? Who is
sending the notes? Faith’s very life will depend on finding the answers.

About the Author:
Seraphina Nova Glass is a professor and Playwright-in-Residence at the University of Texas-Arlington, where she teaches Film Studies and Playwriting. She holds an MFA in playwriting from Smith College, and has optioned multiple screenplays to Hallmark and Lifetime. Someone's Listening is her first novel.





My Review:

I loved it.

This was the first book I've read by Seraphina Nova Glass, and I enjoyed it thoroughly! The characters were well developed, the plot was intricately woven, and the pacing was perfect.

Admittedly, I was a little worried when the opening lines of the story had the main character waking up (a taboo cliche), but the story quickly improved with great imagery and layered questions.

Multiple places throughout the story, the author had me gasping out loud and feeling my own anxiety ramp up.

While the main character was quite complex, there were times when I wanted to reach through the story's pages and shake her, hard. She made a lot of dumb choices for a professional therapist, and her heavy-handed purchase of a gun pulled me out of the story world.

Nonetheless, expert writing and story pacing kept me glued to the pages. The plot was resolved in a satisfying climax, and the reveal of the villain was well justified.

I look forward to reading more books by this terrific author!

Favorite passages from the story:

"Maybe that primal need for your mother when you're in pain, because no matter how abandoned she's left you, no matter how many years have passed, you still carry an illogical hope that maybe ... maybe she'll be there this time."

"It seems impossible that I can go out in the world and find and lose jobs, fall in love, make unforgivable mistakes, hurt people, get my heart broken, develop wrinkles and cynicism, and change so completely from who I was in this house, and come home and that little Christmas globe hasn't moved, probably not even to be dusted, through all of this -- through a person's whole life."



[I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]

Book Review: DAY ZERO by Kelly deVos

Oh, I love thrillers, and I love novels written for the young adult audience! So when I was offered a copy of DAY ZERO to read, I jumped at the opportunity! Scroll down for my complete review.

DAY ZERO
Author: Kelly deVos
ISBN:  978-1335008480
Publication Date: 11/12/19
Publisher: Inkyard Press


Description from the Publisher
Don’t miss the exhilarating new novel from the author of Fat Girl on a Plane, featuring a fierce, bold heroine who will fight for her family and do whatever it takes to survive. Fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It series and Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave series will
cheer for this fast-paced, near-future thrill ride. If you’re going through hell…keep going. Seventeen-year-old coder Jinx Marshall grew up spending weekends drilling with her paranoid dad for a doomsday she’s sure will never come. She’s an expert on self-heating meal rations, Krav Maga, and extracting water from a barrel cactus. Now that her parents are divorced, she’s ready to relax. Her big plans include making it to level 99 in her favorite MMORPG and spending the weekend with her new hunky stepbrother, Toby. But all that disaster training comes in handy when an explosion traps her in a burning building. Stuck leading her headstrong stepsister, MacKenna, and her precocious little brother, Charles, to safety, Jinx gets them out alive only to discover the explosion is part of a pattern of violence erupting all over the country. Even worse, Jinx’s dad stands accused of triggering the chaos. In a desperate attempt to evade paramilitary forces and vigilantes, Jinx and her siblings find Toby and make a break for Mexico. With seemingly the whole world working against them, they’ve got to get along and search for the truth about the attacks—and about each other. But if they can survive, will there be anything left worth surviving for?


About the Author
KELLY DEVOS is from Gilbert, Arizona, where she lives with her high school sweetheart husband, amazing teen daughter and superhero dog, Cocoa. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Arizona State University. When not reading or writing, Kelly can typically be found with a mocha in hand, bingeing the latest TV shows and adding to her ever-growing sticker collection. Her debut novel, Fat Girl on a Plane, named one of the "50 Best Summer Reads of All Time" by Reader's Digest magazine, is available now from HarperCollins. Kelly's work has been featured in the New York Times as well as on Salon, Vulture and Bustle.

Twitter: @kdevosauthor
Facebook: @kellydevosbooks
Instagram: @kellydevos


My Review

In DAY ZERO, Kelly deVos brings us a political doomsday thriller jam packed with explosive action, plot twists, and unique settings.

At first, I was concerned that the story was going to sink too heavily into a political commentary, but once the action started, deVos deftly balanced out the politics with the additional plot elements. And honestly, such is the nature of a political thriller: a story involving political corruption, terrorism, and warfare while two opposing forces fight for control of the system. The tricky part here was the story is targeted at the young adult audience. So while the main character was a teenage girl, many of the decisions and resolutions in the plot line were made by adults. 

The beginning of the story contained quite a bit of set-up, but around the twenty-percent mark, the story started moving at a nice clip and constant adventure and action filled the pages.

I love a story that surprises me, and DAY ZERO offered plenty of plot twists—clear up to the final pages—keeping me engaged and wondering what would happen next.

Strong writing stood out in the action scenes while shorter sentences spattered the slower scenes, such as: “I force down mouthfuls of cheese pizza. The slice is cold and clammy. The cheese tastes like plastic.”

There were many passages of writing that I absolutely loved. Some of my favorites included:

“Next to the register, a stack of plastic dancing turkey figurines shake in unison from side to side. This is going to be the last thing I see. My last moments on earth will be spent thinking Gobble till you wobble.”

“A tall, grimly thin, gray-haired man emerges from a small room at the back. His hair shoots out in every direction, and he’s dressed in overalls so dirty that I was probably a small child the last time anyone washed them.”

“Everyone has a mother.”

“There’s no upside to being the daughter of the devil.”

“She thinks if she doesn’t pick any battles, there’s no way she can lose.”

“A zero-day exploit is a piece of malware that’s been hanging around for a while. Day Zero is the moment when the user becomes aware that they’re screwed. It’s usually the start of something. Something terrible.”

Final verdict: If you enjoy action, adventure, doomsday plots, and/or political thrillers, DAY ZERO by Kelly deVos is a book for you!



[I received this book for free from the publisher via Net Galley. This did not influence my opinion.]

Book Review: BLUE VALENTINES by Laura Moe

The long-awaited sequel to BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA has finally arrived! Scroll down for my complete review.

BLUE VALENTINES
by Laura Moe
July 9, 2019

Description from Publisher:
On the verge of graduating high school, with no solid plans for his future, Michael has two options. He can either remain in Rooster, Ohio and attend a local college, or accept a scholarship to a summer workshop in Seattle, where he has a chance to meet his biological father. Will he make the right choice? While he struggles with his options, Michael discovers the ties that bind him to his girlfriend Shelly may be slowly unraveling.

About the Author:
Laura Moe is a radio host and YA author. Her novel, BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA, is listed as NYPL's 50 Best Books for Teens in 2016.






My Review:

BLUE VALENTINES by Laura Moe is a captivating read from beginning to end.

The main characters from Moe's previous novel, BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA, are revisited in this newest novel. Michael and Shelly must navigate the waters of first love and the choices that must be made after high school. The characters explore new avenues that force them out of their comfort zones and discover who they want to become in the future. Change often is uncomfortable, but it also can be exciting. As one character explains to Michael, "Sometimes a man has to leave home to find himself. You're safe here. You know when you wake up today is going to be just like yesterday and tomorrow. But you don't truly value that security until you go away and face a little danger."

Michael takes the leap into the unknown, as he describes in the novel, "In the last twenty-four hours, I have contacted my unknown father, taken my first flight clear across the country, ridden a train in an enormous city, listened to poetry by a famous poet, smoked a joint with a stranger, and am about to sleep with my girlfriend in her ex-lover's bed. How messed up is my life now?"

While the novel totally captivated me from beginning to end, the lingering issue I had with the story was the amount of drinking and drugs. I thought the book could have been titled HEARTBREAK HANGOVERS. ;) But that's a personal issue of mine. Many readers could argue that experimenting with alcohol and drugs is simply a part of growing up. I disagree. I believe there are healthier and safer ways to transition into adulthood. 

Michael asks himself in the novel, "Am I the architect of my misfortune?"

One of my favorite lines from the book:
"Everything grows gray, as if Shelly snatched up all the colors and took them with her."

BLUE VALENTINES by Laura Moe is a terrific tale of teens exploring their options after high school and deciding what matters to them most: love, friendship, self-discovery, family, and more.


[I received a free early copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]

Book Review: STORM AND FURY by Jennifer L. Armentrout

When I was given the opportunity to read an early copy of STORM AND FURY by bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, I jumped at it! Scroll on down for my complete review.

STORM AND FURY
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
June 11, 2019 - Inkyard Press
ISBN: 978-1335218797

Description from the Publisher
Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

About the Author
# 1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn. Find her on Twitter @JLArmentrout or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.



My Review

In STORM AND FURY, Jennifer L. Armentrout has created dynamic characters, steamy romance scenes, and unexpected plot twists. 

Armentrout is a fabulous story teller, and I loved STORM AND FURY. I especially enjoyed the secondary characters - specifically Zayne. The main character, Trinity, seemed a bit scattered and inconsistent, but Zayne was well developed and fun to follow. This was the first book I've read by Armentrout, and I didn't realize beforehand that this was a spin-off from another series. Without having read any of her other books, I was still able to fully follow the plot and characters in this story. And now . . . I want to go and read the other series!

Additionally, even though STORM AND FURY is the first book in a new series, the plot was wrapped up beautifully, and I look forward to the next book. 

Some of my favorite lines from the book:

"I wasn't part-Warden, either, and they were like real-life superheroes, hunting down the bad guys, if superheroes were, well, gargoyles."

"Isn't that evil's greatest achievement? It often hides itself in innocence?"

"My iron blade clattered onto the driveway, settling in a pile of demon dust."



[I received a free advanced copy from the publisher via Net Galley, which in no way influenced my opinion.]

Book Review: BAGHDADDY by Lt. Col. Bill Riley (Retired)

I'm always hesitant when asked to read a memoir, because frankly, most of the ones I've read have been slow and boring. However, over the years, I've come across a few treasures in the genre, and because of that, I strive to keep an open mind when a tempting memoir crosses my path. When I was offered an early copy of BAGHDADDY by Bill Riley, my first thought was, "Who would put an image of a child aiming a gun on the cover of a book?" But then I decided the more important question was, "WHY is this child aiming a gun?" I had to read it. Scroll on down for my complete review.

BAGHDADDY: HOW SADDAM HUSSEIN TAUGHT ME TO BE A BETTER FATHER
by Lieutenant Colonel Bill Riley (Retired)
May 7, 2019 - Brown Books Pub Group
ISBN: 978-1612542928

Description from the Publisher:
As a child, he was raised in an unstable and violent home by a mother struggling with mental illness. An absent father with a firm belief in tough love left him with only his sister to understand or comfort him as they faced a home full of harshness, resentment, and physical abuse. As a man, he braved the war-torn landscapes of Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Having learned early from his father that only the strong survive, he enlisted in the Air Force after high school and began an impressive military career in intelligence analysis, communications, and supporting special operations, meeting incredible individuals along the way. Baghdaddy is Bill Riley's memoir: an honest and colorful depiction of his journey through a turbulent youth and into a challenging adulthood. This very human account of living in some of the least humane environments delivers the message that no matter how different we seem, we are all trying to make the best of life and learn how to be the best versions of ourselves.

About the Author:
Bill Riley is a writer and retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel with interests in space exploration, coffee roasting, global communication, intelligence activities, and ancient ruins. Bill was an intelligence analyst during the Cold War. Later, he specialized in strategy and communications. During his career, he's worked with intelligence and special operations professionals from every service, virtually every intelligence agency, and several friendly foreign governments. Bill's deployments took him through combat zones across the Middle East where he played significant roles in Kuwait and Iraq, supported joint coalition operations, and helped nations rebuild after wars. He was the first US electronic warfare officer in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom, he led the Air Force's largest network operations and security center, and he was the first cyberspace operations officer to receive the Air Force Combat Action Medal. He holds degrees in literature, public administration, and strategic leadership, and he is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and the Air Force Space Command VIGILANT LOOK program. Bill lives in Idaho, just outside Boise, with his wife and two sons. Visit him online at: https://www.billrileyauthor.com/



My Review:

BAGHDADDY, by Bill Riley, is a courageous and captivating memoir about a man who survived an abusive childhood, excelled as an Air Force officer, and applied lessons he'd learned to find peace as a father, husband, and human.

The first thing I noticed when reading this memoir was the high quality of writing, which shouldn't have surprised me considering Riley holds a degree in literature. (He earned two other degrees as well!) However, I found this to be an interesting dichotomy. Bill Riley grew up in a violent home, went on to survive violent combat missions, and yet somewhere, somehow, fostered his innate love for literature and writing.

The fact he lived past his childhood was a miracle by itself. Clearly, Riley was meant to live beyond his upbringing -- whether the purpose was to save fellow soldiers in combat, raise children in a healthier environment than he had, or merely to leave a mark of kindness on those along his path . . . Bill Riley is a survivor.

Of course, he didn't survive in isolation. Riley wrote, "I knew I had strong friendships, but I didn't realize, on a rational level, how wrong my life would have gone without them until I started connecting the dots" (page xi).

One of the lines that repeatedly struck me throughout the book was, "Why do they always use kids?" (page 14). Anyone who has endured or witnessed childhood trauma can grasp the depth of this question. Riley was "used" and abused in his childhood. During combat missions, he witnessed other children being used in atrocious ways. The question that repeated in my mind as a reader was, "Would Riley overcome these experiences to provide a better environment for his own children?"

BAGHDADDY by Bill Riley would make an excellent book club choice for any group of readers, because there are so many powerful situations, topics, and philosophies to be discussed.

The pages recounting his childhood abuse are hard to read, but they are so well written, they must be read. Additionally, these pages must be read to fully understand what Riley has endured and chosen to overcome to be the man of peace he is today.

I'm not a military buff, and I was concerned I would find the numerous pages of military stories boring, but I was wrong! Again, Riley is such a talented writer; with great skill, he painted vivid pictures and tapped into emotional wells, that I, as the reader, was compelled to read every word and turn every page. 

Riley's stories about his time in the military gave me a peek behind a curtain I would never have experienced without reading this memoir. And I am thankful for that.

"When I arrived in Iraq, I found myself at the crossroads of who I could be and what I would be, and my time was running out" (page 10).

As if writing a novel, Riley employed techniques often used in fiction, such as knowledge gaps, rhetorical devices, and embedded tension. This type of writing is what makes a memoir compelling--fully engaging the reader.

My only criticism of the book was I wanted more scenes of resolution. If space was a concern, several existing scenes could have been cut without affecting the overall flow or impact,  allowing closure stories from his  fatherhood years. I wanted to know specifics of how he parented differently from his own parents. Did he ever hit his kids, even once? I wanted to know how he took the lessons he learned from his deployments and implemented them into his role as a father. Additionally, I wanted to know what his adult relationships were like with his sisters. I wanted to know if he ever sought out his friend Sarah. I wanted examples comparing and contrasting how Riley's father treated him as a child versus how Riley treated his own sons in similar situations.

For example, one of my favorite scenarios that connected his past, present, and future was when he described hunting rabbits with his father. Riley compared that experience to a combat mission where he utilized hunting lessons from his father to help save the lives of his team, and then Riley contrasted that to fatherhood and how instead of hunting, he taught his sons to fish.

But I suppose, any book that leaves you wanting more is a good book. Yes?

I highly recommend BAGHDADDY by Bill Riley to all readers. After reading it, you'll better understand your own childhood, better understand what the military does for our country, and better understand the value of a quiet night at home, listening to your child sleep peacefully.

Some captivating passages from the book:

"From an early age, I understood there were monsters in the world, but, at the time, I didn't realize how fast they could creep up on you. ... They're fiends who wear the faces of the people you know and love the most. Familiarity gives them the power to hurt you, bad" (page 15).

"The bloody washcloth came open, and ice cubes bounced across the floor. They formed an archipelago of pink islands in a linoleum sea, and my father dragged me from the house by my hair ..." (page 47).

A friend of Riley's discussing future parenthood: "He [your son] won't understand where you came from, so don't even try to explain how good he's got it, because if you do your job raising him, he won't even be able to comprehend the world you grew up in. ... Your world isn't his world. His world is a safe and secure ... How do you explain hungry if he's never been?" (page 193).

"There was something to be said for building relationships one cup of tea at a time, and I saw a different Kuwait leaving than I did when I first arrived" (page 209).

"As I secured my helmet to my head, I turned back for one last look ... the clouds broke, and the flowers blazed in a thin stream of light that cut through the shadows of the ruin. ... Then the clouds coalesced. The light was gone, and everyone turned slowly back to what they'd been doing" (pages 285-286). 

"The larger combat convoys were covered with so much firepower they looked like porcupines that belched dragon fire" (page 310).





[I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]

Book Review: THE CHEERLEADERS by Kara Thomas

Oh, this was a terrific murder mystery that had me engaged from page one with just the right amount of suspense and tight writing. Scroll down for my full review.

THE CHEERLEADERS by Kara Thomas
July 31, 2018
Delacorte Press (Random House)
ISBN-13: 978-1524718329



Description from the Publisher:
There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook.

First there was the car accident--two girls dead after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know his reasons. Monica's sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they'd lost.

That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it's not that easy. She just wants to forget.

Only, Monica's world is starting to unravel. There are the letters in her stepdad's desk, an unearthed, years-old cell phone, a strange new friend at school. . . . Whatever happened five years ago isn't over. Some people in town know more than they're saying. And somehow, Monica is at the center of it all.

There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn't mean anyone else is safe.

About the Author:

Kara Thomas has written for everything from her high school newspaper to Warner Bros. Television. She is a true-crime addict who lives on Long Island with her husband and rescue cat. She is the author of The Darkest Corners, Little Monsters, and The Cheerleaders. To learn more about Kara and her books, visit her at kara-thomas.com or follow @karatwrites on Twitter and @kara_thomas on Instagram.

My Review:

THE CHEERLEADERS, by Kara Thomas, is a terrific murder mystery with just the right amount of intrigue on every page. Kara Thomas is a wonderful writer, engaging my imagination on page one and keeping my attention through the very last page. 

As the fifth anniversary of the cheerleaders' deaths approaches, the main character, Monica, is determined to learn the truth, because Monica doesn't believe the stories that everyone else has accepted. She knows there has to be more behind how and why her older sister died.

Monica struggles to not only find the truth, but she also struggles to find her place in the world, making some questionable choices along the way.

Some of my favorite lines:

"The empty house has been the subject of my mother's bitching. All the house is doing is existing, not bothering anyone. It's exactly the type of thing that offends my mother."

"In my head, I break down the agonizing wait for Saturday. Twenty-four hours; nine class periods; one dance team practice; one awkward Friday family dinner at Ristegio's, the Italian restaurant in town; and one restless night's sleep. All hurdles to clear before I can talk to Daphne Furman."

"...computer club boys plagued by ill-fitting jeans and cafeteria pizza breath."

"I knew what we were doing was wrong, and I didn't care because I was ready to set my perfect life on fire and walk away while it burned."

I highly recommend THE CHEERLEADERS by Kara Thomas to anyone who enjoys a twisty murder mystery. 



[I received an early copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.]

Book Review: THE HAZEL WOOD by Melissa Albert

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


With the extensive pre-publication marketing for this title (which is due to release January 2018), my expectations were high.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert grabbed me from page one and kept me coming back for more. I absolutely loved the first half of the book and found myself thinking about the story when I wasn’t reading it. I craved it, wanting to know what was going to happen next.

Things slowed down at the halfway point, and I found myself tiring of all the similes and metaphors. As I became hyperaware of every time the word “like” was used, I also started to notice every time the word “felt” was used. According to my Kindle, the word “like” was used over 500 times in the book. (The Kindle stopped counting at 500.) Granted, some of those “likes” were in dialogue, but most were similes. The word “felt” was used 120 times in the story.

Additionally, some of the metaphors seemed quite mixed to me, and I didn’t understand them. For example, “I felt stunned and flayed, a nerve ending exposed to cold sun.” (location 1299 in Kindle)

There were also descriptions I absolutely loved. Here are a few of my favorites:

“His tie was a loud yellow, his suit an exhausted brown.” (location 1307 in Kindle)

“A boy whose eyes were the alert, shiny color of sunlight through Coke …” (location 1086 in Kindle)

“A the moment she let go her last breath, the white light shuddered and went green. The green of infected wounds, of nightmares, of the rind of mold that crawled over week-old bread.” (location 1836 in Kindle)

“… a gray sky pressed against winter-crisped grass.” (location 2565 in Kindle)

The Hazel Wood is an adventure-filled story with constant unanswered story questions that will keep readers turning the pages to discover how the story will end.

I look forward to Melissa Albert’s next book.

{I received an advance reader copy from the publisher through Net Galley, which in no way influenced by review of the book.}


View all my reviews

Enter to Win an Early Copy of UNLOCKED

In case you missed the news - - - there is a giveaway going on over at YA Books Central for three Advance Reader Copies (signed) of UNLOCKED. Hop on over there to enter to win! ;)

Cover Reveal & Giveaway!

 

 

To celebrate the cover reveal for Who R U Really? I'm giving away TWO Advance Reader Copies of the book! Scroll down to fill out the entry form; contest ends Sunday, May 11, 2014, and winners will be announced Monday, May 12, 2014.

 

WHO R U REALLY?

by Margo Kelly

Merit Press -- September 18, 2014

 

Description:

 

Thea's overprotective parents are driving her insane. They invade her privacy, ask too many questions, and restrict her online time so severely that Thea feels she has no life at all. When she discovers a new role-playing game online, Thea breaks the rules by staying up late to play. She's living a double life: on one hand, the obedient daughter; on the other, a girl slipping deeper into darkness. In the world of the game, Thea falls under the spell of Kit, an older boy whose smarts and savvy can't defeat his loneliness and near-suicidal despair. As Kit draws soft-hearted Thea into his drama, she creates a full plate of cover stories for her parents and then even her friends.

 

Soon, Thea is all alone in the dark world with Kit, who worries her more and more, but also seems to be the only person who really "gets" her. Is he frightening, the way he seems sometimes, or only terribly sad? Should Thea fear Kit, or pity him? And now, Kit wants to come out of the screen and bring Thea into his real-life world. As much as she suspects that this is wrong, Thea is powerless to resist Kit's allure, and hurtles toward the same dark fate her parents feared most. Ripped from a true-life story of Internet stalking, Who R U Really? will excite you and scare you, as Thea's life spins out of her control.

 

About the Author:

 

Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, Margo is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her debut novel and will be published by Merit Press in September 2014. Margo welcomes opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs.

 

Links:

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

 

Available for Pre-Order:

Barnes& Noble

Amazon

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