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"A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness." John Keats, English romantic poet.
I never thought that my first exposure to real beauty would be tinged with the threat of oblivion…
~ ~ ~
When high school junior Scott Blackstone is forced to move from his childhood home in Springfield, Illinois to small-town Custer, South Dakota, he expects nothing less than to languish in complete disappointment. Instead, he discovers a beautiful and mysterious seventeen-year-old girl named Gwen, who captivates him from his initial, adrenaline-laced sight of her on the shores of Stockade Lake. Scott’s pursuit of the elusive Gwen sweeps him into the midst of a potentially lethal family heritage that was birthed in hope, only to be passed into a legacy of guilt and death.
Scott engages in a journey of discovery, tinged with both angst and danger. Like many dire legends throughout history, he is unprepared for the untimely revelation that both love and despair are often two sides of the same coin.
I never thought that my first exposure to real beauty would be tinged with the threat of oblivion…
~ ~ ~
When high school junior Scott Blackstone is forced to move from his childhood home in Springfield, Illinois to small-town Custer, South Dakota, he expects nothing less than to languish in complete disappointment. Instead, he discovers a beautiful and mysterious seventeen-year-old girl named Gwen, who captivates him from his initial, adrenaline-laced sight of her on the shores of Stockade Lake. Scott’s pursuit of the elusive Gwen sweeps him into the midst of a potentially lethal family heritage that was birthed in hope, only to be passed into a legacy of guilt and death.
Scott engages in a journey of discovery, tinged with both angst and danger. Like many dire legends throughout history, he is unprepared for the untimely revelation that both love and despair are often two sides of the same coin.
3.7
First, I like that it's from a male's POV and the one without the supernatural powers, too. So, I really liked that aspect. The story is original and well written. I would have liked to see a little more history about the reapers. I liked Scott, but had a hard time feeling connected to him. I think it was because he didn't seem to think like a typical teenage boy. His inner dialogue lacked just a little snark, maybe. Gwen was a great character. It was easy to ascertain why she was the way she was and her reactions to the events in her life were realistic. I really liked the relationship between Scott and Gwen as well.
There are some good lessons in this book too. Teaching kids to think before they act. The music references add a great touch of pop culture. Over all I'd say this book is a great read for both girls AND boys. The football lingo helps balance out the romance. The ending was satisfying. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel; this story could stand alone or open up for another.
Review copy provided generously by the author.
http://jazprimo.com
Twitter - @jazprimo
This sounds interesting and I like stories that are told from the male POV. Plus, that cover is gorgeous! I'll definitely have to check this one out. Great Review! :)
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