Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate has lived in Gatlin his whole life...and nothing ever happens in Gatlin. But all that is about to change as Lena Duchannes "storms" into town. Literally. Ethan immediately feels drawn to Lena - and I still say all this YA cliché insta-love, electricity flowing, melting-into-one-another almost immediately is extremely annoying. And ridiculous. However, this novel redeems itself by explaining all that in the end. And the main story itself is truly a page turner. Lena is the niece of the town recluse and has powers she is trying to hide. Trying, but not always succeeding. She and Ethan have a connection that allows them to communicate without speaking - often without even being near each other. Lena has a secret having to do with something that will take place on her 16th birthday, which is only a few months away at the beginning of the novel. In addition, there is another mystery that the pair are trying to unravel throughout the course of the novel having to do with an old locket, a family curse, and some extremely vivid visions - visions Ethan and Lena share. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll stop at that. I do want to add, though, that I really liked the story and have already purchased the next two books in the series :)… (more)

This is a DNF for me because after dragging thru almost 3 books I just don't care anymore. It feels like the storyline is just going round and round, without adding anything new (or interesting).

I have kept up with badly written, juvenile writing just to get to the end of a story, but even I couldn't take any more. It just felt more and more like the Twilight saga moved south of the Mason-Dixon line. I already struggled thru that mess once, I can't do it again.

Plus, would someone introduce the author to some real male teenagers? Where did that inner voice come from?… (more)