The Body Finder

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Publication Date: 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 327
Source: Barnes and Noble

Summary:
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

My Thoughts: This was SO much better than I had thought reading the first few pages. I bought this book mostly because of the cover. (Shame...) So I wasn't all that interested in reading what it was about, but I knew that it was the book for me. Something about it just called me. Hmm...kinda like the echos that Violet feels in the book...? I was taken into Violet's world from an outside perspective. The narrative was in the 3rd person, so I got to watch what was happening with each individual character. The mystery that I was sucked into was breath-taking and sent shivers down my spine.

Oh, my heart smiles whenever I think of Violet and Jay. Their love was a bit cheesy, but in a such not-cheesy way that I couldn't conceal my happiness about their relationship. (You know what I mean?)

Anyway, I would suggest this book to anyone who is just looking for a good read. I can't wait to get Desires of the Dead in the mail soon! I will keep you posted.

Cover: 5+
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Style of writing: 4
Overall: 5 -Amazing. It stole my heart!

Would I ever read from this author again?: YES!!

 

The Lying Game

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Publication Date: December 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 307
Source: Borders

From the Back Cover:
I had a life anyone would kill for.
Then someone did.
The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.
Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?
From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.
Let the lying game begin.

My Thoughts: I loved this book! It was so hard to put down. I couldn't stop reading until the final page was turned and then there was a cliff-hanger! I love that! I loved the way it was narrated and the description was perfect. I am a HUGE fan of the Pretty Little Liars so I thought it was only right to read this...great choice. I think that realistic fiction lovers and mystery lovers will devour this book. I can't wait for the second in the series!

Cover: 5
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Style of writing: 5
Overall: 5

Would I read from this author again?: YES!