Genre:
Paranormal/Ghosts
Description:
“When
Bryan Harper was eight-years-old, his mother died tragically in a car
wreck. He was chilled when he realized the sickening smell clinging
to her beforehand was a sign of what was to come. Haunted by a "gift"
that lets him know who is going to die next, Bryan, now sixteen,
seeks solace in solitude.
Having
narrowly escaped death as a young child, Lauraline Reese fears the
reaper still searches for her. She's seeking to fit in and be normal
in her new school, but can she when the storm that almost claimed her
life continues to stalk her?
When
Lauraline Reese walks into Bryan's life, he knows immediately she's
different. She smells like no other living person he's ever
encountered. She's got the scent of ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
And he's drawn to her to discover why.
As the
two grow close, Lauraline helps Bryan discover a vital message. As
they decipher what to do next, they must each come to terms with
their unique gifts as they race against death to set things right.”
Author:
“RJ
Crayton is the author of the Virus
and the Life First series…
Prior to becoming an author, Crayton was a journalist. She reported
for several publications, including The
Kansas City Star and
Education Technology News.
Crayton lives in Maryland with her husband and two children. When
she's not writing, she enjoys eating cupcakes, walking, reading,
sewing, or watching TV (she's partial to Star Trek, super hero flicks
and gripping dramas).”
Ms.
Crayon’s Life First
was a nominee in the Speculative Fiction (excluding fantasy) category
for B&P 2014 Readers' Choice Awards.
Ms.
Crayton is also a contributing author at Indies Unlimited (a
multi-author blog “celebrating independent authors”).
Indies
Unlimited:
Appraisal:
This
is a unique story about two teenagers, who are learning to come to
grips with their own special gifts. Bryan Harper has a secret he has
only shared with his father; he can smell impending death in the
living. As a result he has chosen to live a life of solitude to keep
the smell of death at bay, except for his best friend Ferraz. When
Brian encounters Lauraline Reese, a new transfer student to
Knightsdale High School, he discovers an extraordinary smell he has
never smelled on a living person before. Curiosity and attraction
drive Bryan to determine why Lauraline emits this smell.
Lauraline
has a secret as well, one that scares the bejeezus out of her. The
only person she thinks can help is her grandmother, who is suffering
from Alzheimer’s, and whose lucid moments are fleeting.
Both
Lauraline and Bryan are realistic and engaging. I found it easy to be
sympathetic to both of them. I also enjoyed the fact that their
talents end up complementing each other as they grow to understand
and control the abilities they once despised. The twists and turns in
the plot keep the story moving forward at a good pace. Relationships
are also examined closely. Bryan and his father’s has always been
distant, troubled, and complicated. Lauraline’s father is overly
protective, which isn’t uncommon in any father/daughter
relationship as they reach dating age. Because of a past family
history Lauraline is afraid that if her father knew her secret he
would have her committed.
I had
pegged this book as a young adult or coming-of-age, however, when the
author threw in a small number of F-bombs I figured I must be
mistaken. Honestly, these didn’t even bother me or seem out of
place as they express extreme frustration in the situation. What did
bother me was the repetition. This is an element that also gave me
the feeling that this story was written for a younger audience, to
stress the points being repeated. Honestly, I don’t need to be told
something more than two times and only if it is extremely important.
Bottom
line; this is a provocative and enchanting tale dealing with many
complicated elements which were brought to a satisfying ending.
However, certain components were left open ended for the story to
continue. I would like to see that happen.
FYI:
There
are three F-bombs.
Format/Typo
Issues:
Small
number of proofing issues.
Rating:
**** Four Stars
Reviewed
by: ?wazithinkin
Approximate
word count: 80-85,000
words.
2 comments:
Thanks for taking time to review this book. I appreciate it.
You're welcome, Ms. Crayton. Thank you for dropping in and commenting.
Post a Comment