BOOK REVIEW: Perilous

FRAZZLED MOM ALERT: Due to 4 kids, the holiday season rush, and ice hockey season--which has completely frozen the brain cells of this ratty mom, said mom/writer accidently scheduled two posts for the same day. Yikes. Wanting to give both their just due, the Crazy Holiday Post for the fabulous Christina Danek will be plastered here on Wendesday. Chris, you are a gem. Thank you for including me and I hope all will return to read. CHEESE!)

I've been reviewing books for a little while now. And each time I approach a review I think, How will I come up with something interesting for the reader? How can I highlight the author's strengths?


It wasn't hard with this review. I'm exstatic to have been a part of this amazing Book Blog Tour. Seriously. Back in August, my good man Simon Larter wrote a plea to his followers saying he'd been asked to review a book but was unable to do so. He'd love to pass on the pleasure to one of us. I emailed him and voila!! I was put in contact with Tamara and I became part of the blog tour.

Um...yeah, did I mention how wonderful she is?? Whoa!

So have you heard about her book PERILOUS? Come now, you must have.

                     SEE

Title: PERILOUS
Author: Tamara Hart Heiner
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: WiDo Publishing (Nov. 2010)
Pages: 265

I was provided an electronic copy of this manuscript by the author.


Description: Jaci Rivera has plans for her sophomore year-- to make the honor roll and eat too much pizza with her best friends, Callie and Sara. Her biggest concern is Amanda, the pushy girl who just moved into town. What Jaci doesn't plan for is catching a notorious robber red-handed, or being kidnapped. The desperate thief drags her and her friends 2,000 miles across the Canadian border. Then Jaci finds something out about her family. Something which irrevocably connects her to their kidnapper, and makes her question their chances of escape.

NIGHTSTAND WORTHY

MY SPLATS: Creative, racy, and driven, PERILOUS captivated me from the onset.

Initially, there is a homey feel to it: descriptions of family life, school, and typical teen attitudes that surround these lead characters. But soon, and very soon the story takes off on a raceway with twists, turns, and troubled roadblocks. The characters are real and believable, as they struggle with their unexpected reality and ponder how to fix it.

With the exception of a few 'too convenient' subplots and scenes, the story is one of strength and survival. The girls, along with two other teens they pick up, travel endless hours and miles on foot, braving Mother Nature's elements and those hunting them, all while trying to make a connection home. (Although I loved most of the scenes, a few I would have liked to have more of a twist to make me say 'Wow, I didn't expect that.')

Overall, the writing was clear and concise, yet descriptive enough to paint a backdrop of mystery and intrigue. Seeing the story from two points-of-view heightens the suspense and makes the reader yearn for more as the story climbs to the climax and answers are exposed. I would definitely recommend it, and I look forward to Tamara's next project.

PERILOUS is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and in your local bookstore. And please come back next Monday, when I release my interview with Tamara!

Here's a virtual sneak peek: