Kristina McBride

For someone who grew up watching true crime and investigation shows, I was a bit nervous that this book would be completely unrealistic and dolled up for the pages. Fortunately, Kristina McBride did her research. The Tension Of Opposites was mysterious, intense and very real.

We didn’t get much of a glimpse into Tessa’s life while Noelle was missing, but when she comes home, it’s a whirlwind of drama and emotions as she tries to rebuild her friendship with Noelle, who doesn’t want show more anything to do with her anymore. And while getting inside Noelle, or ‘Elle’ as she dubbed herself after arriving home with a darker attitude, would’ve been interesting, I was immediately hooked on Tessa’s thoughts while she dealt with her once best friend’s extreme personality change. It’s something that crime and investigation shows don’t show too much of - the friend that is hurting just as much as anybody in the family is.

But while Tessa tries to cope with Elle’s fascination for breaking rules and being in the spotlight, she finds light in an enigmatic boy named Max. He’s insanely sweet and keeps her level, and their romance is so special because it’s flawed and realistic. It’s not perfect and giggly and it’s definitely not something from a fairytale; Max can be a bit impatient and Tessa has a tendency to put Elle above everyone else, including herself. It was just another reason why I loved how raw and real this story was; it was completely believable. All of it.

Overall, The Tension Of Opposites is an intense and suspenseful novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Kristina McBride writes an enthralling story that proves that even the safe return of a missing child can be as dark and depressing as the kidnapping in the first place. With perfectly written raw emotions, an admirable teenage romance and realistic crime scenarios, I definitely think this one is worth checking out! show less

Maggie is anticipating a great summer vacation. It's the summer before her senior year of high school, she and her friends are breaking loose and having fun, and she has plans for a special surprise for her steady boyfriend Joey of two years when his parents go out of town and leave him home alone. But then everything changes with the sudden death of the boyfriend that is like a bright light in a dark sky-- full of life and intense energy and recklessness.

Helping Maggie through these trying show more days are her best friend Adam and girlfriends Shannon and Tanna.

But questions arise surrounding Joey's death and the weeks leading up to it, and Maggie begins to wonder whether she really knew Joey at all.

I really enjoyed this lovely little YA novel.This was my introduction to author Kristina McBride, and I found the writing very effective, bringing scenes to life for me. The author does a wonderful job of beautifully capturing the fresh passion of new love.

At times gritty and spirited, other times emotional and sentimental, the story grabbed me and held me throughout. I don't recall a moment when I was bored or wishing it would end. The characters were well-developed. I wanted to comfort Maggie, shake Adam, at times even slap Shannon. But most of all you will find yourself becoming Maggie's cheerleader.

My final word: In a word, how did this book make me feel in the end? Hopeful... show less

I have not been able to stop turning the pages of this book ...
First oppressed by the heavy atmosphere revolving around the tragic death of a young man, full of life, then anxious to learn the revelations.

The author perfectly balanced the emotions. I had a heavy heart as if I was part of the band and I had just lost Joey. Kristina McBride was able to easily manipulate me.
Like Maggie, I dove into the investigation to know the truth and learn the secrets that were hiding behind Joey's show more perfection and the unity of the friends.

Pain, anger, indignation, understanding, Maggie goes through heavy, rich and intense phases in its handling of death and the lies surrounding her love life. It is a gripping tale that does not leave the reader unmoved!
Yet, as the heroine in the end, we forgive, we accept: perfection is in nobody. The need to protect the one you love for him to avoid suffering is human, even if the truth will always be revealed and not every time a relief. Honesty is always the best card to play even if it's not a easy one.

By closing this book, is the character of Joey who touched me the most. Despite all his lies, he must have been certainly the most saddened by his actions, his cowardice and by his discovering... He was scared and powerlessly in love from someone of was drifting apart from him.

A tragic, touching and hopeful story. If you like reading with your heart fast beating, this novel is perfect for you...

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr/2012/06/one-moment-by-kristina-mcbride.htm... show less

Since the moment I finished Kristina McBride's debut novel, The Tension of Opposites, I've been waiting for her to offer readers something new. When One Moment arrived unexpectedly at my doorstep, my wait was finally over. But now the moment of truth was upon me... would my high expectations be met?

Yes! Those expectation have been met and exceeded and I want to jump up and down and tell everyone how undeniably brilliant One Moment is. (Phew.) It has been a couple weeks since I finished show more reading McBride's sophomore novel - and by "reading" I mean "inhaled in a matter of hours" - but it refuses to leave my head. I find myself thinking about it when my mind randomly connects things in real life with small, sometimes seemingly insignificant details from the story.

The other day, someone mentioned a quilt. In the novel, right after the accident in which Maggie's boyfriend Joey ends up dead, Maggie huddles on her couch wrapped in a quilt her grandmother made. I was immediately transported back to Maggie's world and found myself thinking about and revisiting parts of her story. I might just be a crazy person, but I like to think that it's Kristina McBride's ability to appeal to her readers' emotions and pull them fully into her characters' worlds that keeps bringing me back to One Moment time after time... no small feat!

While both of McBride's novels are contemporary YA that feature rather dark, sad events and female protagonists, they're a world apart. While I could clearly tell that One Moment was a "McBride" novel, it was unique and had it's own power completely separate from that of The Tension of Opposites. Maggie is very different than McBride's first protagonist, yet I still connected deeply with her, just as I did with Tessa.

There is so much more I could say about One Moment, but I fear becoming spoilery, so I'll stop while I'm ahead. If you're already a fan of McBride, for goodness sake, preorder One Moment! For the rest of you, if you like a well written contemporary YA rife with emotion, mystery, drama, and romance, you simply must read this novel... and The Tension of Opposites while you're waiting! show less