In first-time author Greene’s paranormal young-adult thriller, Ethan survives a beast’s attack only to realize that he’s slowly turning into a werewolf.
High school can be tough, but it’s even harder for young Ethan. He’s bitten by a wolf that also somewhat resembles a human; oddly enough, his wound has already begun to heal before the ambulance even arrives. The ensuing days are peculiar: His eyesight sharpens, his hearing is impeccable and he resorts to shades and colored contact lenses to hide the fact that his eyes now glow in the dark. Ethan also fears that he’s responsible for a string of recent murders, since the victims all seem to have been mauled by a wolf. When he suspects that he’s being followed, Ethan does what he can to protect his family, his friend Anthony, and his new girlfriend, Marie. Greene’s novel moves at a rapid pace that manages to retain tension. The relentless suspense continues to build, with Ethan repeatedly glimpsing a pair of seemingly omniscient, unmistakably fiendish black eyes. There’s mystery and intrigue, too, as when Ethan wakes up covered in blood with no memory of the previous night. The only element of the story adversely affected by the book’s brisk flow is the relationship between Ethan and Marie, who fall in love a little too quickly. However, the fact that the characters are teenagers is effectively integrated into the lycanthropic storyline; there’s an amusing comparison between the late stages of puberty and Ethan’s developing werewolf side. In an exploration of drug use, Ethan and Anthony concoct a “potion” from monkshood to subvert Ethan’s transformation; it’s undoubtedly the wrong choice for Ethan. Clear anti-alcohol, anti-bullying messages are present, too. The novel occasionally treads on familiar terrain—the names of Ethan and his rival, Jared, are reminiscent of Twilight’s Edward and Jacob—but the characters and plot have a life all their own.
Young and old readers can sink their teeth into this one.Pub Date: March 13, 2012
ISBN: 978-1469778174
Page Count: 240
Publisher: iUniverse
Review Posted Online: July 2, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Categories: GENERAL ROMANCE | ROMANCE | FANTASY & SCI-FI ROMANCE
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Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
43
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The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
Categories: ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
With captivating dialogue, angst-y characters, and a couple of steamy sex scenes, Hoover has done it again.
57
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After being released from prison, a young woman tries to reconnect with her 5-year-old daughter despite having killed the girl’s father.
Kenna didn’t even know she was pregnant until after she was sent to prison for murdering her boyfriend, Scotty. When her baby girl, Diem, was born, she was forced to give custody to Scotty’s parents. Now that she’s been released, Kenna is intent on getting to know her daughter, but Scotty’s parents won’t give her a chance to tell them what really happened the night their son died. Instead, they file a restraining order preventing Kenna from so much as introducing herself to Diem. Handsome, self-assured Ledger, who was Scotty’s best friend, is another key adult in Diem’s life. He’s helping her grandparents raise her, and he too blames Kenna for Scotty’s death. Even so, there’s something about her that haunts him. Kenna feels the pull, too, and seems to be seeking Ledger out despite his judgmental behavior. As Ledger gets to know Kenna and acknowledges his attraction to her, he begins to wonder if maybe he and Scotty’s parents have judged her unfairly. Even so, Ledger is afraid that if he surrenders to his feelings, Scotty’s parents will kick him out of Diem’s life. As Kenna and Ledger continue to mourn for Scotty, they also grieve the future they cannot have with each other. Told alternatively from Kenna’s and Ledger’s perspectives, the story explores the myriad ways in which snap judgments based on partial information can derail people’s lives. Built on a foundation of death and grief, this story has an undercurrent of sadness. As usual, however, the author has created compelling characters who are magnetic and sympathetic enough to pull readers in. In addition to grief, the novel also deftly explores complex issues such as guilt, self-doubt, redemption, and forgiveness.
With captivating dialogue, angst-y characters, and a couple of steamy sex scenes, Hoover has done it again.Pub Date: Jan. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2560-7
Page Count: 335
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Review Posted Online: Oct. 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
Categories: ROMANCE | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL FICTION
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SEEN & HEARD
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