The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Release Date: April 17th

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: The Body Finder series (bk.  3)

Genera: Paranormal Romance/murder mystery thriller

Subjects: Kidnappings, murderers, serial killers, psychic ability, FBI

Length: 358 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

Summary/ product description: “Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye.”

My Rating: êêêêê

My Review: This series just keeps getting better and better! I love Jay and Violet! I love Violet’s unique ability! Finding body by their echoes, sensing imprints on killers. This series is a wonderful mix of funny, creepy, scary and just plain awesome. And this killer is the creepiest yet. He kidnaps women and wants them to love him, and if they don’t, he kills them (no spoiler in here). 

Also, there’s new characters! Rafe was new in the last book, along with Sara Priest. Rafe is kinda moody, and I don’t like the idea of a love triangle between Violet, him and Jay. “TEAM JAY ALL THE WAY!” I like Rafe, but Violet needs to stay with Jay. (And the name Rafe makes me think of werewolves from another series…) The new characters are the other psychics on their team. It’s awesome. Most of them have psychometry of some kind, and empathy and one’s a medium. I won’t tell you who has what.

And there's another bad guy who Violet meets. Some gang banger who’s mad at her. Side stories like these make things even more interesting. Things are getting really dangerous for Violet and her family doesn’t want her working on the team anymore.

There’s a lot more action and surprises. You won’t be disappointed with this book! I can’t wait to read book 4!!!

Cover Art Review: The flower is lilac, the color of the nail polish the killer puts on the girls. It’s a nice touch!

~Haley G

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Release Date: April 24th

Publisher: HarperTeen: B&B

Series: Unraveling (bk. 1)

Genera: Sci-fi thriller/paranormal romance

Subjects: Parallel universes, mystery, action, abilities

Length: 445 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

Summary/ product description: “Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.”

My Rating: ê ê ê ê ê

My Review: I’m not sure how to start describing this book. It’s like Fringe/X-files meets Paranormal Romance. I love Fringe. I loved this book. It was. Really. That awesome. (The following may contain spoilers, but without them I wouldn’t be about to describe it any further) Janelle is a funny, sarcastic characters, and her friend Alex is also funny. All the characters are pretty well developed. The plot is really good. I like the countdown chapter format. The Gone series does it to. The countdown adds to the anticipation of the climax. To add to the fast paced storyline, it’s also written in first person, present tense. I love the universe-crossed lovers relationship of Janelle and Ben (Like Olivia and Peter kind of). There are things you will never see coming in this book. It will keep you guessing till the very end. If you think you know who the killer is, or whose causing the events, you thought wrong.

I recommend this book to fans of sci-fi books and TV shows, like Fringe/X-files, Maximum Ride series, or apocalyptic/dystopian fiction. And anyone who ever think FBI stuff is cool. (Men in Black fans?)

Cover Art Review: I love the cover! If only the Maximum Ride cover were like this (she looks like Max..) I love how the images are blended, and the count down makes me think of the Matrix. The cover fits the genera.

~Haley G