Margo Bond Collins

Think if Buffy the Vampire Slayer was older, like middle-age and had 2 kids, recently divorced. That's pretty much what you're getting in this book, and I loved it. The story grabs your attention right from the start, and there are some gross parts (vampire goo, anyone?), and some that will make you laugh out loud. I loved the tension between Anson and Jenna practically jumped off the page, and I can't wait to see where that goes. Jenna might start off as a regular suburban mom, but she's show more anything but. I loved her character, and how she approaches everything the way you'd expect an ordinary person to. It was really hard to stop reading once I started. Can't wait to read book two! show less

Friday Night Lights meets Twin Peaks in this quick read. Add teen cat fighting, evil winged creatures that shift between dimensions and have terminal halitosis, plus two hot boys who have questionable motivation to a mix that begins with a girl moved from comfortable Atlanta to a tiny town in Texas when Mom reunites with an old high school boyfriend. A bit of gore, plus high school gossip on steroids completes the recipe for an enjoyable story.

This book had me from the very first chapter. The voice is great. It somehow stays light and fun while delving into solving a gruesome crime.

Callie's relationship with Ashara and her Maw-Maw is so naturally funny and heart-warming that sometimes I forgot poor Molly got hacked up. There are moments of delicious suspense where I was on the edge of my seat, almost wanting to yell at them to watch out! Here's a quick list of the goods and lows of the book.

What worked:
the voice
the relationship show more between the characters
the logical progression of their detective work
the suspense

What didn't work for me:
I really wanted to know more about Callie's death (Since this is the first of the series, I'm sure more will come)
The language (I'm not big on swearing and this one had a lot for me) show less

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Laney's mom has moved her from her home in Atlanta to a ranch in Fairy, Texas. Laney tries to get through the first day at a new school, but things go wrong when she trips over a dead body. And life gets more complicated from there as two handsome boys try to date her. She learns they are after more than she's willing to give as show more the town has a darker presence than she ever could have expected.

Melissa displays all emotions with enough emphasis that we feel them in the voice of Laney and others. Laney's sarcasm feels so genuine as if slips off the tongue of the narrator. Melissa has to have a strong southern accent to fit a book placed in Texas. She does. Not all characters have the accent and those that do, she shows the influence of the southern swing of their voice. There are breaks in the chapters and Melissa gives a breath of a pause long enough to know that the story is changing in the chapter. When the narrator does small things that relate to the characters or what they are doing, it helps make the story become catching, Melissa does these small things. When the characters have an obstacle in their way of speaking, Melissa makes the character sound as if it's obscured slightly.

Wow. That first sentence is one to draw you in! I had to keep going with that lead in.

We get to meet all the characters and see Fairy, Texas with Laney as she experiences it all for the first time. Boy, do Laney's thoughts come through in the narrator's voice! The town seems strange at first sight. The dreamy eyes she gets from several boys, the strange guidance counselor that has rancid breath, and Oma Raina with the same breath. Just to find the two handsome boys that want to date Laney, the guidance counselor, and another woman talking about her in an abandoned house. Things seem stranger and stranger at first, drawing me in to know what is really going on here in Fairy.

Laney is the dreaded new girl at Fairy High School. She has a new step-sister that doesn't want her around, a new friend that seems to have a crush on her (that she doesn't need being day one of school), and trips over a dead body as she's trying to impress the track coach in gym class. This all starts how Laney's reputation starts to tarnish in school, and just the icing of the cake for what she'll have to endure.

Through it all, Laney seems like my kind of girl. I could be friends with her. She keeps up with the quick quips that others throw at her, always having one to say back to them. Smart girl.

I really enjoy Margo's writing style with the narrators she picks. The book feels as Laney is talking to me as we live through her days. As if she's my friend telling me all she knows. It feels like she pulls me into the story with the characters and I'm their sounding board.

I would suggest this story to older teens as there is the underlining attempt of sex to the story line. Yet there is teen drama, mixed with fairy/demon meddling and ploys.

There are a few different twists to the story that I enjoyed, events and fairy/demon creation. I was kept guessing as to what would happen with these characters. I'm TOTALLY wanting more with Laney and Josh and all the characters. Especially with what we learn of the 'fairy' world, Laney, and more! show less