Blur by Steven James | RE: View + Winner

When reality becomes unclear, Daniel Byers starts to question everything. Emily Jackson's body was found at Lake Algonquin and something strange started to happen to Daniel when he attended her funeral. He saw her, or a vision of her, and his world began to blur. Now, he's focused on why he saw her and what it may mean. As Daniel and his friends look into Emily's death, they start to believe that it may be more than an accident.

I enjoyed the beginning to this young adult trilogy created from the mind of talented author Steven James. Mystery surrounds the death of the introverted high school student, Emily Jackson, and things become increasingly more unclear as the book progresses and Daniel starts to see things that aren't there. Or are they? 

I like the approach James took to this book and the thought provoking questions he brings up about reality, spirituality, and where they meet. I feel as if James really captured the mind and actions of a teen boy living with his father, going to high school, and hanging out with his friends. 

I will say, however, that I expected...more? More action, more suspense, and more of a cohesiveness to the writing. I love other books I've read by Steven James and this seem to not quite make the bar set by his other books. Some portions felt repetitive and at times I felt the writing was almost too simple. 

That said, I'd still definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy young adult literature. James brings up some amazing points and deals with them in a practical, not-preachy way. It would be a good book for "actual" young adults to read (versus adults who enjoy young adult literature) and could open up doors for great conversation with teens.

Purchase Blur (Blur Trilogy)

Book Description
(from Amazon)

The isolated town of Beldon, Wisconsin, is shocked when a high school freshman’s body is found in Lake Algonquin. Just like everyone in the community, sixteen-year-old Daniel Byers believes that Emily Jackson’s death was accidental. But at her funeral, when he has a terrifying vision of her, his world begins to rip apart at the seams.

Convinced that Emily’s appearance was more than just a mere hallucination, Daniel begins to look carefully into her death, even as he increasingly loses the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality.

What’s real? What’s not? Where does reality end and madness begin?

As Daniel struggles to find the truth, his world begins to crumble around him as he slips further and further into his own private blurred reality.

Full of mind-bending twists and turns, Blur launches a new trilogy of young adult thrillers from Steven James, a master of suspense.

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own. 

Last week I had the privileged to have author James Burd Brewster on the blog and he was gracious enough to offer up a few giveaways of his children's books! We have two winners today...

Kara Peck and Chickie Brewer

Congrats!!! I'll get in contact with you soon to arrange for you to receive your books! 

And remember readers, I've still got my *BIG* End-of-Summer GIVEAWAY going as well! Check out my Facebook Page or visit this post to entree for a chance to win one of 5 prizes (including signed copies of some of my favorite books from this summer's reading!). 

RE:View | Singularity by Steven James and No One to Trust by Lynette Eason

Singularity | Steven James

I finished Placebo Jevin Banks Experience by Steven James a few weeks ago. It was a wild ride with many twists and turns. A great book I'd definitely recommend. It was also my first introduction to Steven James as an author. It took me a little bit of time to get used to his writing style, but once I did, I was hooked.

Singularity is book number two in the Jevin Banks Experience.

Excerpt from Goodreads:

When his friend is murdered, illusionist Jevin Banks is determined to find out what really happened. Drawn into a web of conspiracy and top-secret research on human consciousness, Jevin won't stop digging until the truth is revealed. Soon he uncovers a dark secret--one that could change the very fabric of human life on the planet.

Immediately, when I dug into Singularity, I was once again drawn into Jevin Banks' story. For me, this second book began even more smoothly than Placebo. That could be due to the fact that I was already familiar with the characters though, but I enjoyed the fast paced and intriguing beginning.

The story itself was very entertaining. Often, I found myself literally holding my breath (sometimes with Jevin as he preformed an illusion) wondering what was going to happen next. James is a masterful story teller who knows the best way to weave suspense with a swift, flowing plot.

I would definitely recommend this to any readers who like suspense and are interested in a slightly sci-fi/technical feel. I would highly recommend reading the first book, Placebo, before hoping into this one though - just so the fullness of the story can take affect.

One cautionary thing though - the book is set in Las Vegas and James is not shy about openly explain what the "strip" is like in a very frank (and sometimes shocking) manner. To me, it's what makes the book real, but to some it could be slightly offensive.

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.  

No One To Trust | Lynette Eason

No One to Trust (#1 in the Hidden Identity series) is my first experience with Lynette Eason's writing. I have heard and read her name all over but hadn't yet had the chance to pick up one of her novels. I'm so glad I did though - and I can assure you it won't be my last!

Excerpt from Amazon:

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover story?

The search for her husband--and answers--takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe.

From the moment you open No One to Trust you will be hooked! Eason does a fantastic job of keeping her readers on the edge of their seats trying to guess what's going to happen next. There aren't too many chances to relax because Eason has set up her plot with one suspenseful blow followed by another action packed sequence.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes romantic suspense or suspense in general. I did find that there was much less romance than I'd expected, but it didn't hinder the story in any way.

The only down side I saw was with the heroines chracter. I felt as if her heart transformation wasn't fully realized - she is definitely a difficult character to resonate with and you don't see much softness to her during most of the book. I found myself really having a hard time with who she said she was faith-wise and how she was acting. Then again, that can be said of many Christians, but I would have liked to see her realized why she was wrong, not just that she was.

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.