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Watched trilogy #1
Watched
It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change fifteen-year-old Christy's life. It takes murder.
A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys.
She discovers that if she can't help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.
Young Adults, teens, and adults will love this exciting suspenseful adventure with a dash of romance. You won't want to put it down
A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys.
She discovers that if she can't help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.
Young Adults, teens, and adults will love this exciting suspenseful adventure with a dash of romance. You won't want to put it down
348 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2011
200 people are currently reading
2418 people want to read
About the author
Cindy M. Hogan
43 books297 followersUSA Today Bestselling author, Cindy M. Hogan is the author of edge of your seat, young adult suspense novels that always have a dash of romance, because every book should have hot guys and girls in them. Her first series, the Watched Series, skyrocketed her to number one bestselling author and she hasn’t let up since with over 20 novels to her name.
She never sits down to write, instead, she walks and talks into a recorder and lets her computer transcribe her words. Editing is her enemy, but she loves the final results, so she’ll always dig in.
Her one dream is to own and bake in a German style bakery with a cute to-go window for Gelato. In the meantime, she’ll continue to do the thousand other things she loves like teaching, all things outdoors, painting, and gardening—she’s never met a flower, tree, bush or vegetable she doesn’t like—except maybe okra and beets. As long as she’s got a book playing in her ear, she even enjoys weeding. She may be deranged.
She loves to create, but can’t seem to sit still for long, even to read a book. Instead, she listens to books so she can read and create at the same time. She’s a non-stop worker and enjoys every minute of it.
Her most loved creation is her two amazing daughters and wishes they were teens again. She loves to be home, but her husband is a traveler and drags her family around the world, where she finds an endless supply of story ideas, characters, settings, and more often than not, walks away with a suntan or ends up in a cool castle. She is also inspired by the unpredictable teens she teaches. If she is not creating things other than books, you’ll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a movie or planning their next party.
Most of all, she loves to laugh.
To stay up to date on all things Cindy M. Hogan, join her book group HERE.
http://www.subscribepage.com/sweptawa...
She never sits down to write, instead, she walks and talks into a recorder and lets her computer transcribe her words. Editing is her enemy, but she loves the final results, so she’ll always dig in.
Her one dream is to own and bake in a German style bakery with a cute to-go window for Gelato. In the meantime, she’ll continue to do the thousand other things she loves like teaching, all things outdoors, painting, and gardening—she’s never met a flower, tree, bush or vegetable she doesn’t like—except maybe okra and beets. As long as she’s got a book playing in her ear, she even enjoys weeding. She may be deranged.
She loves to create, but can’t seem to sit still for long, even to read a book. Instead, she listens to books so she can read and create at the same time. She’s a non-stop worker and enjoys every minute of it.
Her most loved creation is her two amazing daughters and wishes they were teens again. She loves to be home, but her husband is a traveler and drags her family around the world, where she finds an endless supply of story ideas, characters, settings, and more often than not, walks away with a suntan or ends up in a cool castle. She is also inspired by the unpredictable teens she teaches. If she is not creating things other than books, you’ll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a movie or planning their next party.
Most of all, she loves to laugh.
To stay up to date on all things Cindy M. Hogan, join her book group HERE.
http://www.subscribepage.com/sweptawa...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews
September 1, 2012
I really wanted to like this book; I feel like I give extra allowance to LDS authors because I want so badly to see them succeed and have vast readership.
It was painful, pretty much the whole way through. I couldn't stand the main character who vascilated between being a supercilious know-it-all nerdy girl, and a totally superficial mindless teenage girl. Way too much time spent in her head on her thoughts. Reminded me a bit of Twilight books (which I liked, just so you don't think I'm a total book snob!) Teenage girl, two boys in love with her, life in peril, making dumb decisions. Rather than chewing on her lip, Christy "freezes" and finds herself unable to move. This allows the two hot guys to carry her around, repeatedly. Bella was much more likable, despite the fact that we spent too much time in her head as well.
Let me just give you a small flavor from the back of the book: "It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change Christy's life. It takes murder. A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot guys." Yes, that is actually what the back of the book says. I did not make that up.
"I willed my legs to move, but like my feet were encased in cement, I couldn't."
After Christy's best friend, Marybeth, witnesses the Senator's aide getting his head chopped off, she turns catatonic. She doesn't speak. She doesn't show any facial expressions. Since Christy came on this trip to D.C. as a nerd, and since Marybeth gave her a makeover and straightened Christy's hair, Christy worries about her. "Would she ever be herself again? I couldn't help but...wonder if I could get myself ready everyday and not make a fool of myself without her help."
Wow, that was big of her to worry about how her friend's post traumatic stress would affect her ability to get her own hair straightened each morning.
There is a moral message behind this book: Be true to yourself and your values. When you compromise them even a little bit for even one hot guy, you'll find yourself on a slippery slope that you can't always control. Also, choose friends (or hot boyfriends) amongst those who help you be a better person and who help you maintain your core beliefs.
It was painful, pretty much the whole way through. I couldn't stand the main character who vascilated between being a supercilious know-it-all nerdy girl, and a totally superficial mindless teenage girl. Way too much time spent in her head on her thoughts. Reminded me a bit of Twilight books (which I liked, just so you don't think I'm a total book snob!) Teenage girl, two boys in love with her, life in peril, making dumb decisions. Rather than chewing on her lip, Christy "freezes" and finds herself unable to move. This allows the two hot guys to carry her around, repeatedly. Bella was much more likable, despite the fact that we spent too much time in her head as well.
Let me just give you a small flavor from the back of the book: "It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change Christy's life. It takes murder. A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot guys." Yes, that is actually what the back of the book says. I did not make that up.
"I willed my legs to move, but like my feet were encased in cement, I couldn't."
After Christy's best friend, Marybeth, witnesses the Senator's aide getting his head chopped off, she turns catatonic. She doesn't speak. She doesn't show any facial expressions. Since Christy came on this trip to D.C. as a nerd, and since Marybeth gave her a makeover and straightened Christy's hair, Christy worries about her. "Would she ever be herself again? I couldn't help but...wonder if I could get myself ready everyday and not make a fool of myself without her help."
Wow, that was big of her to worry about how her friend's post traumatic stress would affect her ability to get her own hair straightened each morning.
There is a moral message behind this book: Be true to yourself and your values. When you compromise them even a little bit for even one hot guy, you'll find yourself on a slippery slope that you can't always control. Also, choose friends (or hot boyfriends) amongst those who help you be a better person and who help you maintain your core beliefs.
Read
November 28, 2012I wanted to give this series a chance. Clean, smut free suspense; by a local author, sounded good to me. I have a strong belief that just because books are written for young teens, doesn't mean they should be filled with silliness. This had good potential so i wanted to read it hoping i could overlook the silly comments, but decided although it was "clean" it just wasn't for me.
Here are a few quotes from the first 33 pages:
"I kept my eyes fixed on the door, wanting Alex to appear so I could feel the soft tingles he always gave me. It had been five long minutes since he'd gone inside..."
"I always considered girls I those stories to be weak or silly, until Alex happened to me...."I felt helpless and an unknown part of me like it--a lot."
Hiding in a closet in fear of being followed her remarks are "he looked awesome even with crazy hair."
"I tried not to watch him, but he did look good wearing those particular jeans."
Taking both books back to Costco, glad I didn't have the author sign them.
December 7, 2024
Reader should be aware that this book is the first in a series and though it doesn't end in a shocking cliffhanger, the story is not wrapped up at the end of this book.
This is one of the first books I had ever put on my TBR back in 2014. I think my tastes have changed and this book would be better suited for teenaged readers. There were some of problems for me including believability, uninteresting characters and some slow parts. Not for me.
This is one of the first books I had ever put on my TBR back in 2014. I think my tastes have changed and this book would be better suited for teenaged readers. There were some of problems for me including believability, uninteresting characters and some slow parts. Not for me.
August 17, 2013
When 15 year old Christy goes on a trip to Washington DC, She's determined to change herself, and make some friends. She'll wish she never bothered though, when during a trip with her new friends, She sees a murder.
Now she's being followed by the culprits.. Can the FBI stop them in time?
This was an okay book, but it dragged through the majority of it.
The beginning started well, and did catch my attention. It was full of details of the murder, and was quite gruesome. Though, there was a few problems with it.
I thought it was really stupid how, before taking a picture on one of their phones, they didn't check to see if any flash was on. If there was flash, it would have given them away in an instant. Not only telling the culprits that there was someone there, but also telling them where they were.
I also hated how it turned into a sort of show and tell. After not believing Christy, one of the boys had a look for themselves, only to tell someone else "You've got to see this!" Then falling off what they were standing on when they did. First of all, why aren't you whispering? Yes, you might be high up, but that doesn't mean they can't hear you. Secondly, Why aren't you getting out of there? Quit messing around!
The majority of this book was more about how Ponytails are bad, Because apparently, styling your hair into a ponytail is more shocking than seeing a murder. *Gasp*
We also have Kira, who was more concerned that Christy was getting too close to her crush. The murder is nothing compared to losing your crush to another girl, obviously.
I'll also point out how Jeremy, One of the FBI agents, had to tell them all that punching one of the bad guys in the nose will help you more than kicking him in the privates. Yep, "Privates" because telling a bunch of teenagers that punching someone in the nose, instead of their penis, will turn them into a bunch of laughing 10 year olds.
Overall, the mystery/crime aspect of it was quite good, But if you're partial to a ponytail, or you want more than teenagers playing games after a murder happened, then this isn't for you.
Now she's being followed by the culprits.. Can the FBI stop them in time?
This was an okay book, but it dragged through the majority of it.
The beginning started well, and did catch my attention. It was full of details of the murder, and was quite gruesome. Though, there was a few problems with it.
I thought it was really stupid how, before taking a picture on one of their phones, they didn't check to see if any flash was on. If there was flash, it would have given them away in an instant. Not only telling the culprits that there was someone there, but also telling them where they were.
I also hated how it turned into a sort of show and tell. After not believing Christy, one of the boys had a look for themselves, only to tell someone else "You've got to see this!" Then falling off what they were standing on when they did. First of all, why aren't you whispering? Yes, you might be high up, but that doesn't mean they can't hear you. Secondly, Why aren't you getting out of there? Quit messing around!
The majority of this book was more about how Ponytails are bad, Because apparently, styling your hair into a ponytail is more shocking than seeing a murder. *Gasp*
We also have Kira, who was more concerned that Christy was getting too close to her crush. The murder is nothing compared to losing your crush to another girl, obviously.
I'll also point out how Jeremy, One of the FBI agents, had to tell them all that punching one of the bad guys in the nose will help you more than kicking him in the privates. Yep, "Privates" because telling a bunch of teenagers that punching someone in the nose, instead of their penis, will turn them into a bunch of laughing 10 year olds.
Overall, the mystery/crime aspect of it was quite good, But if you're partial to a ponytail, or you want more than teenagers playing games after a murder happened, then this isn't for you.
November 18, 2017
I’ve not read anything by this author but that will have to change after reading this as I enjoyed it.
This is a well told YA story. I really like Christy and how she developed as the story went on. There’s lots of drama and romance in this story. I’d have loved the pace to be quicker but I still enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of the series.
This is a well told YA story. I really like Christy and how she developed as the story went on. There’s lots of drama and romance in this story. I’d have loved the pace to be quicker but I still enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of the series.
February 16, 2013
Trying hard to finish this one.....ugh.
I finished. bleh This will be a long rant.
I even OWN this one. Why did I bother, you ask? I am a sucker for author's signing their books, especially local authors hoping to sell some copies. I want and like to be supportive and I like to read, so that is a win-win, right? There was even a woman with her daughters standing there who said they had liked this first book. (It's a trilogy, I believe. Isn't everything anymore?) That's why I own this book - at least until I drop it off for the library book sale.
Here are some of my gripes:
It is written entirely in first person and Christy simply drove me crazy pretty quickly. Have I really forgotten what it is like to be 15 or was this really just over-the-top? This author was unable to give much depth to anyone - even Christy! - from this perspective. Here's a great quote from another reviewer that I wish I had written:
"Way too much time spent in her [Christy's] head on her thoughts. Reminded me a bit of Twilight books (which I liked, just so you don't think I'm a total book snob!) Teenage girl, two boys in love with her, life in peril, making dumb decisions. Rather than chewing on her lip, Christy "freezes" and finds herself unable to move. This allows the two hot guys to carry her around, repeatedly. Bella was much more likable, despite the fact that we spent too much time in her head as well.
Let me just give you a small flavor from the back of the book: "It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change Christy's life. It takes murder. A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot guys." Yes, that is actually what the back of the book says. I did not make that up."
The juxtaposing of the murder / 'suspense' with the love triangle drama was ridiculous.
Another author who makes a body part a main character. Christy's stomach must have been mentioned on almost every page; her heart got more print than many other characters in the story as well. If I read one more thing about 'butterfly wings tickling my stomach,' 'butterflies in my stomach went wild,' 'stomach muscles aching,' 'a knot sitting in my stomach,' and on and on and on, I thought I might just get sick to my stomach.
I was simply not able to suspend my disbelief for this one. Everything became too ridiculous. (Okay, I've used that word twice now.)
Maybe my biggest complaint is Christy. Who was the author writing for? This book was written by a woman who has teenage daughters. I think she was writing primarily for teenage girls. But is this really the way she wants her daughters to live? Is this someone she wants young women to emulate? The author tried to show a young woman raised with religious beliefs who struggled when faced with real world experiences. It was handled poorly. Christy was NOT a strong female character OR a good role model.
And there were a lot of editing problems, a lot of missing quotation marks and bad punctuation. (So many commas in bad places!) Who are your reader friends?
That other reviewer said this: "There is a moral message behind this book: Be true to yourself and your values. When you compromise them even a little bit for even one hot guy, you'll find yourself on a slippery slope that you can't always control. Also, choose friends (or hot boyfriends) amongst those who help you be a better person and who help you maintain your core beliefs." Take the message of those three sentences and save yourself the time and trouble of reading this book.
I would not recommend this to anyone, ESPECIALLY teenagers.
I finished. bleh This will be a long rant.
I even OWN this one. Why did I bother, you ask? I am a sucker for author's signing their books, especially local authors hoping to sell some copies. I want and like to be supportive and I like to read, so that is a win-win, right? There was even a woman with her daughters standing there who said they had liked this first book. (It's a trilogy, I believe. Isn't everything anymore?) That's why I own this book - at least until I drop it off for the library book sale.
Here are some of my gripes:
It is written entirely in first person and Christy simply drove me crazy pretty quickly. Have I really forgotten what it is like to be 15 or was this really just over-the-top? This author was unable to give much depth to anyone - even Christy! - from this perspective. Here's a great quote from another reviewer that I wish I had written:
"Way too much time spent in her [Christy's] head on her thoughts. Reminded me a bit of Twilight books (which I liked, just so you don't think I'm a total book snob!) Teenage girl, two boys in love with her, life in peril, making dumb decisions. Rather than chewing on her lip, Christy "freezes" and finds herself unable to move. This allows the two hot guys to carry her around, repeatedly. Bella was much more likable, despite the fact that we spent too much time in her head as well.
Let me just give you a small flavor from the back of the book: "It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change Christy's life. It takes murder. A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot guys." Yes, that is actually what the back of the book says. I did not make that up."
The juxtaposing of the murder / 'suspense' with the love triangle drama was ridiculous.
Another author who makes a body part a main character. Christy's stomach must have been mentioned on almost every page; her heart got more print than many other characters in the story as well. If I read one more thing about 'butterfly wings tickling my stomach,' 'butterflies in my stomach went wild,' 'stomach muscles aching,' 'a knot sitting in my stomach,' and on and on and on, I thought I might just get sick to my stomach.
I was simply not able to suspend my disbelief for this one. Everything became too ridiculous. (Okay, I've used that word twice now.)
Maybe my biggest complaint is Christy. Who was the author writing for? This book was written by a woman who has teenage daughters. I think she was writing primarily for teenage girls. But is this really the way she wants her daughters to live? Is this someone she wants young women to emulate? The author tried to show a young woman raised with religious beliefs who struggled when faced with real world experiences. It was handled poorly. Christy was NOT a strong female character OR a good role model.
And there were a lot of editing problems, a lot of missing quotation marks and bad punctuation. (So many commas in bad places!) Who are your reader friends?
That other reviewer said this: "There is a moral message behind this book: Be true to yourself and your values. When you compromise them even a little bit for even one hot guy, you'll find yourself on a slippery slope that you can't always control. Also, choose friends (or hot boyfriends) amongst those who help you be a better person and who help you maintain your core beliefs." Take the message of those three sentences and save yourself the time and trouble of reading this book.
I would not recommend this to anyone, ESPECIALLY teenagers.
July 29, 2012
I really, really wanted to like this book. I met the author at a book signing, and she seemed delightful and interesting. But, in a word, reading this story was PAINFUL! I frequently found myself cringing at the terrible grammar, which included fragmented sentences and constant misuse of the comma. I feel somewhat embarrassed for the author and publisher; I mean, who on earth "edited" this thing? Mistakes like that instantly lower the credibility of a story, in my opinion.
Honestly though, I'm not sure that a competent editor could have saved this story. I feel like Hogan tried to create too many characters, which made them seem flat and interchangable. I also don't think nearly enough research was done, especially concerning the way actual law enforcement agencies operate. This aspect of the book felt utterly ridiculous to me. And I can't ignore that Hogan seemed oblivious to the actual effects of extremely traumatic experiences on young adults. Example: after the DEA raid at the restaurant, the teens seem completely unaffected by the carnage of people who were shot and killed just feet away from them. Huh? Teens (or anyone) can just walk away from that and go about their day? I don't think so!
One positive thing I can say is that the story did contain a certain element of irony. The main character, Christy, goes on a trip to Washington DC hoping to reinvent herself, but her experiences there change her in ways she never could have imagined. Irony is a key element in a well-written story, and it's not easy to create. I give the author props for that.
I know that book two is already on the shelves. I won't be reading it, but I certainly hope that Hogan found a better editor this time around!
Honestly though, I'm not sure that a competent editor could have saved this story. I feel like Hogan tried to create too many characters, which made them seem flat and interchangable. I also don't think nearly enough research was done, especially concerning the way actual law enforcement agencies operate. This aspect of the book felt utterly ridiculous to me. And I can't ignore that Hogan seemed oblivious to the actual effects of extremely traumatic experiences on young adults. Example: after the DEA raid at the restaurant, the teens seem completely unaffected by the carnage of people who were shot and killed just feet away from them. Huh? Teens (or anyone) can just walk away from that and go about their day? I don't think so!
One positive thing I can say is that the story did contain a certain element of irony. The main character, Christy, goes on a trip to Washington DC hoping to reinvent herself, but her experiences there change her in ways she never could have imagined. Irony is a key element in a well-written story, and it's not easy to create. I give the author props for that.
I know that book two is already on the shelves. I won't be reading it, but I certainly hope that Hogan found a better editor this time around!
December 3, 2011
This book was OK, not bad not great. It is really a shame because this book seemed to have such promise. There was the element of a suspense thriller, with an atrocious crime and a group of kids who tried to reconcile what they saw and keep an eye out for the bad guys. There was an element of a nice coming of age story, with an akward teenage girl. I felt that it could have gone either way and been a good story, but in this cast the 2 themes never made a connection with me...They didn't gel with each other, and may have been 2 seperate stories in 2 different books rather than one.
While the premise of witnessing the murder seemed a likely story line and an enticing one as well....The responses of the kids didn't resonate with me at all. It took a day and a half to report the crime and 3 days before they talked to anyone. Not once did a kid call their parents, or any trusted adult or contact a chaperone (Who were strangely non existant in much of this). The main character seemed more concerned with what others thought of them and the boys they liked or didn't like them, than with the trauma and attrocity of what she saw. Once again the premise for suspense was there but almost relegated to a backseat while our main character tries to come grips with the akwardness of the teen years....It just doesn't click for me. The coming of age tale was there, and ripe for development but seemed kind of inconsequential inlight of the crime that had transpired.
The decisions made by the characters just didn't seem plausible to me...I know I am 42 y/o, but have worked in the public schools, as a boy scout leader. sports coach, and church youth pastor...and still function in that role. The main character seems to have caring parents, yet never tells them what she saw; she goes to church but does not seem to make decisions based upon any moral compass that she might have; she is highly intelligent, but seems to make decisions like a kid with out a great deal of sense common or otherwise. The decisions she made did not resonate with me, in comparrison to what I felt an actual person would do. I understand some kids may not talk with their parents, but this might be a good time...and if not MOST if not all would have a trusted older brother sister type, a school teacher youth leader coach...a connection with one of the chaperones...yet in a group of this size not one of those relationships existed??? I have also chaperoned school and church events with young people, and never have I seen such a non existant group of teachers chaperones....Not only should this teacher be fired immediately, she and her fellow chaperones should all be tried under negligence charges. A group of teens wandering around Washington DC by themselves, and then manage to stay out all night without a single person realizing they never returned to their motel. Even in the worst case scenerio this seems entirely unlikely. Boys and girls allowed to go to each others rooms, running around the motel at all hours with no adult presence at all? Even the cops and bad guys seemed in no rush to tie up the many dangeling peices in this story. It was more like I can't believe we saw a gruesome murder...don't talk to my boyfriend...I wonder if he likes me...lets play truth or dare....oh no there are the bad guys....heres a secret note for the FBI....lets play hide and seek...oh no a boy likes me but I like someone else...does everyone think I am a nerd....oh no here is the bad guy again. It had alot of potential, but just missed on so many level for me.
The story in itself was not bad, nor was the plot or the writing of the author. I did not find myself dreading to read this, but again I wasn't going to bed thinking about it either. Not a bad book, I would reccoend it if you stumble accross it, or if it is on your radar or to read list, but I wouldn't reccomend it as a you must go out of you way to read this type book.
While the premise of witnessing the murder seemed a likely story line and an enticing one as well....The responses of the kids didn't resonate with me at all. It took a day and a half to report the crime and 3 days before they talked to anyone. Not once did a kid call their parents, or any trusted adult or contact a chaperone (Who were strangely non existant in much of this). The main character seemed more concerned with what others thought of them and the boys they liked or didn't like them, than with the trauma and attrocity of what she saw. Once again the premise for suspense was there but almost relegated to a backseat while our main character tries to come grips with the akwardness of the teen years....It just doesn't click for me. The coming of age tale was there, and ripe for development but seemed kind of inconsequential inlight of the crime that had transpired.
The decisions made by the characters just didn't seem plausible to me...I know I am 42 y/o, but have worked in the public schools, as a boy scout leader. sports coach, and church youth pastor...and still function in that role. The main character seems to have caring parents, yet never tells them what she saw; she goes to church but does not seem to make decisions based upon any moral compass that she might have; she is highly intelligent, but seems to make decisions like a kid with out a great deal of sense common or otherwise. The decisions she made did not resonate with me, in comparrison to what I felt an actual person would do. I understand some kids may not talk with their parents, but this might be a good time...and if not MOST if not all would have a trusted older brother sister type, a school teacher youth leader coach...a connection with one of the chaperones...yet in a group of this size not one of those relationships existed??? I have also chaperoned school and church events with young people, and never have I seen such a non existant group of teachers chaperones....Not only should this teacher be fired immediately, she and her fellow chaperones should all be tried under negligence charges. A group of teens wandering around Washington DC by themselves, and then manage to stay out all night without a single person realizing they never returned to their motel. Even in the worst case scenerio this seems entirely unlikely. Boys and girls allowed to go to each others rooms, running around the motel at all hours with no adult presence at all? Even the cops and bad guys seemed in no rush to tie up the many dangeling peices in this story. It was more like I can't believe we saw a gruesome murder...don't talk to my boyfriend...I wonder if he likes me...lets play truth or dare....oh no there are the bad guys....heres a secret note for the FBI....lets play hide and seek...oh no a boy likes me but I like someone else...does everyone think I am a nerd....oh no here is the bad guy again. It had alot of potential, but just missed on so many level for me.
The story in itself was not bad, nor was the plot or the writing of the author. I did not find myself dreading to read this, but again I wasn't going to bed thinking about it either. Not a bad book, I would reccoend it if you stumble accross it, or if it is on your radar or to read list, but I wouldn't reccomend it as a you must go out of you way to read this type book.
November 17, 2020
(Source: Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk.)
15-year-old Christy is on a trip to Washington D.C. with some other high school students, when she accidentally witnesses an execution style murder.
From that moment on Christy is sure that someone is watching her and the other students that she was with at the time.
Christy hatches a plan to get a letter to the FBI detailing what she saw, and they promise to look into things for her, and keep her safe.
Is someone following them though? Can they trust the FBI? And more importantly, which boy should Christy choose?
This was an okay story, but for me it dragged, and the love triangle was really unnecessary.
Christy was one of those girls that didn’t listen to her instincts and instead went along with what her friends wanted to do, which is exactly why she ended up in hot water. If she had only spoken up, and voiced an opinion as to what she and her friends should be doing, they would never have ended up in the mess that they got into.
Christy was like this for pretty much the whole book unfortunately. She was so quiet, and so easily led that it got annoying, and I really wanted her to learn to stand on her own two feet, and not be quite so meek!
The storyline in this book was okay, but the pacing was too slow for me. I expected a fast-paced suspense novel, but instead got a story filled with teenage wonderings and musings, random events that added nothing to the storyline, some really lax FBI agents, and a love triangle. Why oh why was there need for a love triangle in this book? Why couldn’t Christy have just had one sweet boy that was interested in her, rather than going from being the girl that nobody asked out, to the girl that had two hot older boys fighting over her?
I have to say that I was actually expecting there to be a twist in this book where it turned out that the people who Christy thought were FBI agents were really the bad guys stringing her along and trying to work out how much she knew. I really thought that that was going to be the case, because the way the agents acted, and the way the whole investigation was carried out felt so shoddy and lax, but that wasn’t the case at all, which really surprised me. The FBI has never acted like a bunch of teenagers playing hide and seek from what I’ve seen on TV, but that’s kind-of what it felt like here.
I also thought that there were some big gaping holes in the plotline of this book. One of the agents claims that they have microchip trackers in the kid’s clothes to track them, but Christy was wearing a brand new dress that one of her admirers had only just bought her, so surely there couldn’t have been a microchip in that already? And then when someone is shot in his LOWER back, he then can’t move his arms? I think that medically speaking that is downright impossible, I’m pretty sure that you would only be paralysed from that point down, and so if you were shot in your lower back, everything above your lower back would still work fine.
The pacing and lack of action in this book just ruined it for me, and I found myself getting bored whilst reading it, I think if this had been shorter, and some of the unnecessary stuff was taken out this would actually have been better.
The ending was okay, but again, it all felt a bit too high school drama club rather than CSI or Criminal Minds. I might read the next book in the series if it is available for free at some point, but otherwise I don’t think I’ll bother.
Overall; an okay-ish YA suspense but the pacing was way off.
5 out of 10.
15-year-old Christy is on a trip to Washington D.C. with some other high school students, when she accidentally witnesses an execution style murder.
From that moment on Christy is sure that someone is watching her and the other students that she was with at the time.
Christy hatches a plan to get a letter to the FBI detailing what she saw, and they promise to look into things for her, and keep her safe.
Is someone following them though? Can they trust the FBI? And more importantly, which boy should Christy choose?
This was an okay story, but for me it dragged, and the love triangle was really unnecessary.
Christy was one of those girls that didn’t listen to her instincts and instead went along with what her friends wanted to do, which is exactly why she ended up in hot water. If she had only spoken up, and voiced an opinion as to what she and her friends should be doing, they would never have ended up in the mess that they got into.
Christy was like this for pretty much the whole book unfortunately. She was so quiet, and so easily led that it got annoying, and I really wanted her to learn to stand on her own two feet, and not be quite so meek!
The storyline in this book was okay, but the pacing was too slow for me. I expected a fast-paced suspense novel, but instead got a story filled with teenage wonderings and musings, random events that added nothing to the storyline, some really lax FBI agents, and a love triangle. Why oh why was there need for a love triangle in this book? Why couldn’t Christy have just had one sweet boy that was interested in her, rather than going from being the girl that nobody asked out, to the girl that had two hot older boys fighting over her?
I have to say that I was actually expecting there to be a twist in this book where it turned out that the people who Christy thought were FBI agents were really the bad guys stringing her along and trying to work out how much she knew. I really thought that that was going to be the case, because the way the agents acted, and the way the whole investigation was carried out felt so shoddy and lax, but that wasn’t the case at all, which really surprised me. The FBI has never acted like a bunch of teenagers playing hide and seek from what I’ve seen on TV, but that’s kind-of what it felt like here.
I also thought that there were some big gaping holes in the plotline of this book. One of the agents claims that they have microchip trackers in the kid’s clothes to track them, but Christy was wearing a brand new dress that one of her admirers had only just bought her, so surely there couldn’t have been a microchip in that already? And then when someone is shot in his LOWER back, he then can’t move his arms? I think that medically speaking that is downright impossible, I’m pretty sure that you would only be paralysed from that point down, and so if you were shot in your lower back, everything above your lower back would still work fine.
The pacing and lack of action in this book just ruined it for me, and I found myself getting bored whilst reading it, I think if this had been shorter, and some of the unnecessary stuff was taken out this would actually have been better.
The ending was okay, but again, it all felt a bit too high school drama club rather than CSI or Criminal Minds. I might read the next book in the series if it is available for free at some point, but otherwise I don’t think I’ll bother.
Overall; an okay-ish YA suspense but the pacing was way off.
5 out of 10.
January 5, 2013
I haven't finished the book yet. I'm somewhere around 15 pages short of the end. Im not sure that it is going to get finished.. no matter how badly I want to see what becomes of them. The book is... Interesting.. to say the least. I must admit that I like the concept, but the way it was written seemed unorganized. The characters weren't well rounded enough for me.
It gives a few minor details about each person that is important, and I felt like you don't get a chance to meet any of them before the story begins, or during the story--for that matter. That was disappointing to me.
Christy's behavior and attitude make me cringe. Her personality is beyond good-two-shoes. There aren't more than three or four places in the book where you can fault her for blatantly doing something wrong. Her persona, in general-- to me, felt fake and hard to relate to.
The author didn't do a very good job in giving her a definite position either. She was extremely wishy-washy, but even that was inconsistent. At some points, Christy had a clear conviction, and it made me feel like there was going to be a turning point, but she just slumped back into the old Christy again.
The love triangle between Christy, Rick, and Alex felt forced. Rick was constantly trying to be with her and near her. That was odd. Especially because there had been no detail at all about who he was, why he would like her, what kind of personality he had... You could miss out on all of the little things she notices just because you know nothing about him.
Alex was the most interesting character to me, I found that I enjoyed the parts that he was in most. That may have been because I felt like it was daring Christy to mess up or maybe even just to take a leap of faith. That never does happen. Although Alex was interesting.. again there is no detail on him or how he treats her before or the type of personality he has.
The author tries to create a romance where everything balances solely on Christy's feelings. Small gestures from Alex and Rick lend a little help, but not enough to carry the attraction.
The grammatical errors, in this story, were inexcusable. Multiple missing quotations, improper punctuation, and awkward wording dominated the book.
On top of all that, the story was a little bit out there. I kept having to remind myself that it was just a book, and it was okay that there was misinformation. However, I'm not sure who would believe that the justice system works like that. The fact that the FBI just believed them without so much as a second thought seemed a bit radical.
Anyways... Though the book does keep you on your toes and you find that you are interested in the whole idea of the book, it isn't nearly as well written as it could be.
This book should have been written in third person. Had that been the case, the book would have been more interesting and the characters would have been more clearly laid out. It's hard to create so many characters from a first person POV, and I think that Hogan did a terrible job at creating a basis for her story.
I may just be venting my frustration about this book... My apologies.
It gives a few minor details about each person that is important, and I felt like you don't get a chance to meet any of them before the story begins, or during the story--for that matter. That was disappointing to me.
Christy's behavior and attitude make me cringe. Her personality is beyond good-two-shoes. There aren't more than three or four places in the book where you can fault her for blatantly doing something wrong. Her persona, in general-- to me, felt fake and hard to relate to.
The author didn't do a very good job in giving her a definite position either. She was extremely wishy-washy, but even that was inconsistent. At some points, Christy had a clear conviction, and it made me feel like there was going to be a turning point, but she just slumped back into the old Christy again.
The love triangle between Christy, Rick, and Alex felt forced. Rick was constantly trying to be with her and near her. That was odd. Especially because there had been no detail at all about who he was, why he would like her, what kind of personality he had... You could miss out on all of the little things she notices just because you know nothing about him.
Alex was the most interesting character to me, I found that I enjoyed the parts that he was in most. That may have been because I felt like it was daring Christy to mess up or maybe even just to take a leap of faith. That never does happen. Although Alex was interesting.. again there is no detail on him or how he treats her before or the type of personality he has.
The author tries to create a romance where everything balances solely on Christy's feelings. Small gestures from Alex and Rick lend a little help, but not enough to carry the attraction.
The grammatical errors, in this story, were inexcusable. Multiple missing quotations, improper punctuation, and awkward wording dominated the book.
On top of all that, the story was a little bit out there. I kept having to remind myself that it was just a book, and it was okay that there was misinformation. However, I'm not sure who would believe that the justice system works like that. The fact that the FBI just believed them without so much as a second thought seemed a bit radical.
Anyways... Though the book does keep you on your toes and you find that you are interested in the whole idea of the book, it isn't nearly as well written as it could be.
This book should have been written in third person. Had that been the case, the book would have been more interesting and the characters would have been more clearly laid out. It's hard to create so many characters from a first person POV, and I think that Hogan did a terrible job at creating a basis for her story.
I may just be venting my frustration about this book... My apologies.
July 25, 2015
I love to mix things up a bit in my reading so after reading a MG fantasy I picked up a YA suspense. This particular book my wife had been begging me to read forever. I’m not even sure why I hadn’t read it to begin with since I know and adore the author, Cindy M Hogan. Cindy is the spunkiest, most energetic, positive person I know. In fact, if the super optimistic Olaf from Disney’s Frozen had a sister it would be Cindy. She just makes you feel a live and feel great. You would not think a sweet, outgoing, loving person would be able to write clench-your-teeth-suspense but SHE DOES!! And she does it very well.
Okay…embarrassing moment for me: I started reading this book on my kindle after my wife decided to turn in early. So I’m lying in bed and the tension in this books is high (hello, this man gets his head chopped in the first chapter and these kids might be next—no that’s not a spoiler, that’s the premise). It’s dark around me and all I have is the light from the kindle. I hear a creek and I’m like, what was that?! I continue reading; once again I am sucked into the tension. Then my wife scoots her leg over and it touches my foot!! I jumped too high I about threw the kindle across the bedroom. My wife thought this was the funniest thing ever and spent the next ten minutes laughing at me. So yes! This book will grab hold of you and not let you go. While it’s not that terrifying of a book (it is definitely NOT a horror story), it has this voice that just makes your heart race and you find yourself reading page after page.
Another thing that ready resonated well with this book is the voice of the main character, Christy. She sounds so real! I love that this is written in first person and we get to listen to all that internal dialogue. She feels, sounds, and thinks like a normal 15 year-old girl (at least what I believe would be so, since I have never been a 15 year-old girl). I particularly like that Christy has an internal struggle with choosing to do the right and wrong thing. I like that we see her will sometimes falter when placed against desiring temptations. I really think teens would benefit from reading this book!! They would see they’re not alone when it comes to peer pressure and the need to feel wanted and befriended. When I spoke to my wife about the book (after she had stopped teasing me of course) she told me the same thing: that she really connected with Christy and she felt like she was her in high school. So bravo, Cindy!
Watched, by Cindy M Hogan, is the first book in the Watched Trilogy. Lucky for me my wife is a huge fan of Cindy’s and we own all the books. I can’t wait to start reading book two, Protected. So if you are looking for a great-keep-you-up-at-night book. This is one for you.
Okay…embarrassing moment for me: I started reading this book on my kindle after my wife decided to turn in early. So I’m lying in bed and the tension in this books is high (hello, this man gets his head chopped in the first chapter and these kids might be next—no that’s not a spoiler, that’s the premise). It’s dark around me and all I have is the light from the kindle. I hear a creek and I’m like, what was that?! I continue reading; once again I am sucked into the tension. Then my wife scoots her leg over and it touches my foot!! I jumped too high I about threw the kindle across the bedroom. My wife thought this was the funniest thing ever and spent the next ten minutes laughing at me. So yes! This book will grab hold of you and not let you go. While it’s not that terrifying of a book (it is definitely NOT a horror story), it has this voice that just makes your heart race and you find yourself reading page after page.
Another thing that ready resonated well with this book is the voice of the main character, Christy. She sounds so real! I love that this is written in first person and we get to listen to all that internal dialogue. She feels, sounds, and thinks like a normal 15 year-old girl (at least what I believe would be so, since I have never been a 15 year-old girl). I particularly like that Christy has an internal struggle with choosing to do the right and wrong thing. I like that we see her will sometimes falter when placed against desiring temptations. I really think teens would benefit from reading this book!! They would see they’re not alone when it comes to peer pressure and the need to feel wanted and befriended. When I spoke to my wife about the book (after she had stopped teasing me of course) she told me the same thing: that she really connected with Christy and she felt like she was her in high school. So bravo, Cindy!
Watched, by Cindy M Hogan, is the first book in the Watched Trilogy. Lucky for me my wife is a huge fan of Cindy’s and we own all the books. I can’t wait to start reading book two, Protected. So if you are looking for a great-keep-you-up-at-night book. This is one for you.
July 4, 2013
This book only just barely avoids being classified as LDS fiction in that the author never mentions Christy's religion by name. It does, however, go on & on about her praying all the time & singing songs she learned in her childhood religion classes, & how her family doesn't believe she should date until she turns 16 & other tells that any LDS person will catch. Most of it didn't seem very out of place in the general story, but, by the end, it started feeling like it was too much, too out of place & it was getting shoved down my throat.
The writing was simplistic, as a first-time author may do when they aren't quite sure what they are doing. Some things are described in so much detail they get boring, while others are glossed over & leave you feeling lost & confused. The whole story-line was pretty intriguing; a group of kids on a school trip to DC stumble upon seeing a Senator's aide killed by a Middle Eastern man when they are sneaking out at night & need to find a bathroom. They then find themselves followed by some scary Middle Eastern men & the FBI as everyone tries to find out just how much they know. The book is told from the POV of Christy, a 15-year-old genius with a photographic memory who is apparently smarter than half the adults in the book. Listing her virtues got a little old & worn by the end of the book, no wonder she was never popular before, she's freaking annoying, as in the statement where she says her internal clock goes off at 5 AM naturally & she gets more done before breakfast than most people do before dinner. She annoyed me. I don't think I will be reading any of the follow-up books in this series.
The writing was simplistic, as a first-time author may do when they aren't quite sure what they are doing. Some things are described in so much detail they get boring, while others are glossed over & leave you feeling lost & confused. The whole story-line was pretty intriguing; a group of kids on a school trip to DC stumble upon seeing a Senator's aide killed by a Middle Eastern man when they are sneaking out at night & need to find a bathroom. They then find themselves followed by some scary Middle Eastern men & the FBI as everyone tries to find out just how much they know. The book is told from the POV of Christy, a 15-year-old genius with a photographic memory who is apparently smarter than half the adults in the book. Listing her virtues got a little old & worn by the end of the book, no wonder she was never popular before, she's freaking annoying, as in the statement where she says her internal clock goes off at 5 AM naturally & she gets more done before breakfast than most people do before dinner. She annoyed me. I don't think I will be reading any of the follow-up books in this series.
May 31, 2014
normally I hate writing or seeing bad reviews because I think it's easy to forget that the author is a person too and their work matters to them.
BUT...
so many problems with this story. I'm baffled by the dozens of 4 and 5 star reviews. did I read a different novel?
I'm sorry, but so many plot elements were under-researched and made to fit the story even though they were unrealistic. If you are going to write contemporary then you need to use what is true in today's world. I've never had any interactions with the FBI, but I highly doubt they work the way they were portrayed in the story. I think they're a bit too busy to be tailing teenager's to clubs and staging car accidents. Also, assuming they would buy a teenager's story that they received written on hotel stationary, if they really wanted to instill any sort of "witness protection" the kids would not have had the free reign that they did and the chaperones on the trip would have informed of what was going on.
The voices of the teenage characters were also unrealistic and unauthentic. Their conversations felt SO scripted and they shouldn't be.
The only thing the author did nail is a teenager's tendency to be self-absorbed and dramatic. Yes, it's true, but it's also not something you want to read about for 50 pages. There were way too many moments that I was eye-rolling over the mc internal dilemmas. I mean, being petrified to take a sip of alcohol because then you might become an alcoholic? please.
I finished the novel only because I have a serious problem with not doing that, but I won't be passing in on or picking up the next in the series.
BUT...
so many problems with this story. I'm baffled by the dozens of 4 and 5 star reviews. did I read a different novel?
I'm sorry, but so many plot elements were under-researched and made to fit the story even though they were unrealistic. If you are going to write contemporary then you need to use what is true in today's world. I've never had any interactions with the FBI, but I highly doubt they work the way they were portrayed in the story. I think they're a bit too busy to be tailing teenager's to clubs and staging car accidents. Also, assuming they would buy a teenager's story that they received written on hotel stationary, if they really wanted to instill any sort of "witness protection" the kids would not have had the free reign that they did and the chaperones on the trip would have informed of what was going on.
The voices of the teenage characters were also unrealistic and unauthentic. Their conversations felt SO scripted and they shouldn't be.
The only thing the author did nail is a teenager's tendency to be self-absorbed and dramatic. Yes, it's true, but it's also not something you want to read about for 50 pages. There were way too many moments that I was eye-rolling over the mc internal dilemmas. I mean, being petrified to take a sip of alcohol because then you might become an alcoholic? please.
I finished the novel only because I have a serious problem with not doing that, but I won't be passing in on or picking up the next in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2016
This was a bit of a disappointment for me. I had read a review of this book and was anxious to read it. I felt like I labored with every page. Yes, I understand I'm not the target reader here. Still...I've read a number of other books where I wasn't the target reader and nevertheless felt involved and engaged in reading. Not so with this one.
I didn't really find much to care about here: the characters, the bad guys (they were all so very vague) the plot, even the setting was sort of glossed over. Almost like the author wasn't sure herself what direction to take this.
Add to this lack the editing problems and I nearly tossed the book back to the library a number of times. Since I couldn't find any indication of a publisher, I'm guessing that means it was self-published. My hat is always tipped to those who have so much faith and conviction in their own writing that they will self-publish, I know it isn't an inexpensive project. However, this one is really marginal at best. Don't think I'll be recommending it.
I didn't really find much to care about here: the characters, the bad guys (they were all so very vague) the plot, even the setting was sort of glossed over. Almost like the author wasn't sure herself what direction to take this.
Add to this lack the editing problems and I nearly tossed the book back to the library a number of times. Since I couldn't find any indication of a publisher, I'm guessing that means it was self-published. My hat is always tipped to those who have so much faith and conviction in their own writing that they will self-publish, I know it isn't an inexpensive project. However, this one is really marginal at best. Don't think I'll be recommending it.
October 21, 2013
Watched was an okay book. It definately falls into the stereotypical and cliche catagory that Young Adult books are victim to. A good example can be in this books description:
A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys.
... Two hot boys huh? Nevermind the fact that she witnessed a murder of a person. These two Highschool hunks are all that mattter... oh and I guess her survival. Emphasis is put on little things, such as a boy's hair-do, rather than life altering events... like murder.
Great quick read for mind numbing experience.
A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys.
... Two hot boys huh? Nevermind the fact that she witnessed a murder of a person. These two Highschool hunks are all that mattter... oh and I guess her survival. Emphasis is put on little things, such as a boy's hair-do, rather than life altering events... like murder.
Great quick read for mind numbing experience.
September 3, 2011
I wanted to read this book because the author is a local author. It also was selected as one of Amazon's up and coming books. I did not like it. The main character is on a trip with a bunch of students to Washington D.C. to see how the government works. They see a traumatic event and have to stay away from the people trying to silence them. The girl ends up trying to decide which of two boys she likes and by the end I just wanted to say "enough already!" It was supposed to be a thriller and it was just difficult to plod through.
January 8, 2012
Okay, so I really HATE love triangles! This one was pretty out of control and i had to force myself to keep reading. So by the time I was 3/4 of the way done with the book, I finally started to enjoy it! I'm guessing there is going to be a sequel, so if we have to go with a love triangle, could we please have a love square and have one of them be the hero FBI agent..I know, older man...maybe 5 or 6 years could go by...just saying...
July 14, 2012
I blame this book for getting very little done today and neglecting my children. It was an enjoyable, intense read. I am going to read more by the author because I had so much fun. Well, maybe not. My family may suffer.
December 18, 2018
Washington, D.C. Christy Hadden 15, Marybeth, Rick, Alex, Kira, Eugene, Lance, & Josh were on a political trip.
Mrs. Jackson was the chaperone.
After going/coming out of the bathroom, the area was a bloodbath.
Johnathan (Senator Randolph’s aide) had been beheaded.
Senator Randolph (IA) was now acting real peculiar.
FBI SA Miller, FBI SA Durrant (aka Bird Catcher), FBI SA Jeremy McGinnis, & FBI SA Chris, Eugene are watching out/over everybody while they are investigating the murder.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 3/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; O'neal Publishing; 2 edition; bookfunnel; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Mrs. Jackson was the chaperone.
After going/coming out of the bathroom, the area was a bloodbath.
Johnathan (Senator Randolph’s aide) had been beheaded.
Senator Randolph (IA) was now acting real peculiar.
FBI SA Miller, FBI SA Durrant (aka Bird Catcher), FBI SA Jeremy McGinnis, & FBI SA Chris, Eugene are watching out/over everybody while they are investigating the murder.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 3/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; O'neal Publishing; 2 edition; bookfunnel; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
April 29, 2020
While I thought that this story is a fairly well-told Young Adult book that teens would enjoy, it didn't hit the mark for me. I liked it okay, but I vacillated on how to rate it and finally decided on a 3.
Christy is the MC who is only 15 years old and she witnesses a brutal murder. Of course, we all know that something like that will change your life in ways one never even thought of. Thus it is with her. I love a mystery and I think teens would especially like this one. I was a slower read for me, but I don't necessarily think teens would find it slow because there is drama in it and a little romance.
When she goes to Washington D.C. with some other students, she senses she is being watched (thus the title). And because of witnessing a murder, she is very concerned what the "watchers" want or want to do to her to silence her. She has intentions of helping the FBI and giving them her eye-witness account. Things might have gone a lot differently had she trusted in her own instincts, which too often many of us don't do.
Christy is the MC who is only 15 years old and she witnesses a brutal murder. Of course, we all know that something like that will change your life in ways one never even thought of. Thus it is with her. I love a mystery and I think teens would especially like this one. I was a slower read for me, but I don't necessarily think teens would find it slow because there is drama in it and a little romance.
When she goes to Washington D.C. with some other students, she senses she is being watched (thus the title). And because of witnessing a murder, she is very concerned what the "watchers" want or want to do to her to silence her. She has intentions of helping the FBI and giving them her eye-witness account. Things might have gone a lot differently had she trusted in her own instincts, which too often many of us don't do.
March 6, 2019
hope i have the right book ... covers are different here on Goodreads than Amazon? i wonder??
wow, 8 books in this series ...such a great read. love the cover. newbie author to me ... love this kind of read. well done!! what a story ...
wow, 8 books in this series ...such a great read. love the cover. newbie author to me ... love this kind of read. well done!! what a story ...
April 4, 2012
Thank you to Cindy Hogan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fifteen year old Christy Hadden is book-smart, shy, unpopular, boring and never been kissed. That is, until she wins a scholarship that pays for 2 weeks touring Washington D.C. This trip means Christy can start fresh and be someone else for a change. Especially, when she's accepted into the circle of cool, good-looking kids, for the first time in her life. In order to maintain their acceptance, she goes against her better judgement and joins them in sneaking out of their hotel at night for a game. Things go terribly wrong when she and her new friends become witnesses to a murder. The FBI assures them that they're well protected and being watched. But, Christy knows they're not the only ones watching. With no arrests made, how safe can they be with terrorists on the loose?
As if that isn't enough to preoccupy Christy's mind, her existence is FINALLY being noticed by the opposite sex. Not one, but TWO incredibly hot guys are vying for her attention. This can't possibly sit well with the other girls, can it? Like she doesn't have enough to worry about as it is.
With killers closing in on her, will she survive long enough to see justice served? And with zero experience in the romance department, how can she know which guy is for her? Or if she's even READY for a relationship?
I really and truly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Seriously hooked from page 1! If the sequel, PROTECTED (which I'm about to begin when I'm done with this review), is as good as WATCHED, this series will be well on it's way to finding a spot on my Favorite YA Series list.
This book has everything it needs to be a great YA book - strong protagonist, suspense, mystery, thrills, lots of action, chase scenes, intrigue, angst and romance.
Cindy captures the teenage mind really well. Christy's internal dialogue was spot on with how teenagers work through wants vs. needs and begin to get a feel for the strength of their own character. She finds herself questioning what her beliefs really are. What does that make you when you believe strongly in certain principles and judge others accordingly, then when tested, discover you didn't adhere to those principles? She learns the hard way that it's easier to judge people from an outside perspective, but when you find yourself in someone else's shoes, things aren't always so clear cut or black and white.
I really enjoyed the political element in this story, it reminded me of the movie, The Pelican Brief. I'd describe this book as a Young Adult version of TPB, but with a romantic spin. The story had intense moments and kept a great pace. All the characters were vivid, well-rounded and realistic. You WILL have your favorites! I already know which ones I'm hoping make appearances in PROTECTED. This is a really clean read that I recommend for teens AND adults. You've got to pick this one up.
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http://www.leavemommyalone.blogspot.com
Fifteen year old Christy Hadden is book-smart, shy, unpopular, boring and never been kissed. That is, until she wins a scholarship that pays for 2 weeks touring Washington D.C. This trip means Christy can start fresh and be someone else for a change. Especially, when she's accepted into the circle of cool, good-looking kids, for the first time in her life. In order to maintain their acceptance, she goes against her better judgement and joins them in sneaking out of their hotel at night for a game. Things go terribly wrong when she and her new friends become witnesses to a murder. The FBI assures them that they're well protected and being watched. But, Christy knows they're not the only ones watching. With no arrests made, how safe can they be with terrorists on the loose?
As if that isn't enough to preoccupy Christy's mind, her existence is FINALLY being noticed by the opposite sex. Not one, but TWO incredibly hot guys are vying for her attention. This can't possibly sit well with the other girls, can it? Like she doesn't have enough to worry about as it is.
With killers closing in on her, will she survive long enough to see justice served? And with zero experience in the romance department, how can she know which guy is for her? Or if she's even READY for a relationship?
I really and truly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Seriously hooked from page 1! If the sequel, PROTECTED (which I'm about to begin when I'm done with this review), is as good as WATCHED, this series will be well on it's way to finding a spot on my Favorite YA Series list.
This book has everything it needs to be a great YA book - strong protagonist, suspense, mystery, thrills, lots of action, chase scenes, intrigue, angst and romance.
Cindy captures the teenage mind really well. Christy's internal dialogue was spot on with how teenagers work through wants vs. needs and begin to get a feel for the strength of their own character. She finds herself questioning what her beliefs really are. What does that make you when you believe strongly in certain principles and judge others accordingly, then when tested, discover you didn't adhere to those principles? She learns the hard way that it's easier to judge people from an outside perspective, but when you find yourself in someone else's shoes, things aren't always so clear cut or black and white.
I really enjoyed the political element in this story, it reminded me of the movie, The Pelican Brief. I'd describe this book as a Young Adult version of TPB, but with a romantic spin. The story had intense moments and kept a great pace. All the characters were vivid, well-rounded and realistic. You WILL have your favorites! I already know which ones I'm hoping make appearances in PROTECTED. This is a really clean read that I recommend for teens AND adults. You've got to pick this one up.
Follow my blog:
http://www.leavemommyalone.blogspot.com
October 15, 2011
Generally when I get a new book in the mail or from the library, I open it up right away and start reading the first page. I don’t know why I do this, I guess to just get an initial feel for the book. To see if I’m going to be interested in it right away. If the book really captures me I end up reading more, even though I’ve already told myself that I can’t read the book until I finish with whatever other books I’m working on for reviews. Watched was one of those books that I started reading and didn’t put down even though I should have because it wasn’t its turn!
Christy is definitely a typical teenager with all the insecurities and desires I think many fifteen year old girls have. Her plight to fit in and find acceptance was relatable, even to me as an adult. Her nighttime exploits of sneaking out made the mother in me cringe though! After the first horrible outcome, you would think those kids would learn their lesson and not sneak out in the middle of the night, but no. They continue to do it, going to clubs and the like. It’s amazing what a teenager will do for a hot looking boy. Christy finds herself in all kinds of sticky situations.
I haven’t really read many YA suspense novels and I found myself really enjoying this one. Watched was fast paced and exciting. It had the tension that moves the story along and a bit of teenage romance too.
One thing that didn’t quite jive for me was Christy’s relationship with her parents. She often spoke of the rules in her home of not dating until she was 16 and even some thoughts on religion. Yet she spoke of parents who were distant and uninvolved in her life. She never called home on her trip or had contact with her parents in any way. Her parents were supposedly contacted to inform them of a “bus accident” in which she was involved yet there is still no contact between Christy and her parents. Really? I find it hard to believe that parents that give rules like no dating until 16 and teach their child religion as Christy explains it would be so uncaring or uninvolved in her life. Especially when something traumatic happens. I guess I just didn’t understand that element of the book very well.
Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I pushed through it so quickly because I just had to know what would happen. I suspected everyone, my heart was pounding, I forgot to write my review notes. That’s some good story! It sure was left wide open in the end, so I’m hoping for an exciting sequel to come.
I am having a giveaway on my blog for this book. Giveaway ends 10/31.
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.bl...
Christy is definitely a typical teenager with all the insecurities and desires I think many fifteen year old girls have. Her plight to fit in and find acceptance was relatable, even to me as an adult. Her nighttime exploits of sneaking out made the mother in me cringe though! After the first horrible outcome, you would think those kids would learn their lesson and not sneak out in the middle of the night, but no. They continue to do it, going to clubs and the like. It’s amazing what a teenager will do for a hot looking boy. Christy finds herself in all kinds of sticky situations.
I haven’t really read many YA suspense novels and I found myself really enjoying this one. Watched was fast paced and exciting. It had the tension that moves the story along and a bit of teenage romance too.
One thing that didn’t quite jive for me was Christy’s relationship with her parents. She often spoke of the rules in her home of not dating until she was 16 and even some thoughts on religion. Yet she spoke of parents who were distant and uninvolved in her life. She never called home on her trip or had contact with her parents in any way. Her parents were supposedly contacted to inform them of a “bus accident” in which she was involved yet there is still no contact between Christy and her parents. Really? I find it hard to believe that parents that give rules like no dating until 16 and teach their child religion as Christy explains it would be so uncaring or uninvolved in her life. Especially when something traumatic happens. I guess I just didn’t understand that element of the book very well.
Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I pushed through it so quickly because I just had to know what would happen. I suspected everyone, my heart was pounding, I forgot to write my review notes. That’s some good story! It sure was left wide open in the end, so I’m hoping for an exciting sequel to come.
I am having a giveaway on my blog for this book. Giveaway ends 10/31.
http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.bl...
November 7, 2011
Don't read this book if you don't have an entire sitting to read it!
Sadly, I learned that the hard way. This attention grabbing novel was really good and I kept wanting to turn the page to find out what happened next, even if I was in class.
What I liked about Watched, was the reality of it. Taking place in D.C., Watched is about a girl and a group of seven students who were on a two week trip to the Capitol. Being witness of a murder scene, they're thrust into the dangers and mystery of it all.
Not a unique plot, but Cindy M. Hogan adds her own details that extract it from the rest.
The characters were unique in their own way. I didn't like how there was the sudden enrapture with "the hot", Alex, but I guess I like to see the slow progress of the relationship. Which is why I liked how the relationship was kind of forming with Rick. But then Christy had already been there for a couple days, and there is always that unexplainable attraction to someone. I know, I am deeply and totally in love with Alex Pettyfer, and other characters whose name shall not be revealed because I don't want to fight you for them. :)
I also loved how the relationship wasn't all intense. I mean, the girl is 15 years old! She doesn't have to know that she's meet the love of her life. Which of course, made me connect with the book so much more. You see the difficult decisions she makes between choosing, going about them like any 15 year old would do.
Now the story wasn't all romance. Cindy M. Hogan has written a book for both genders. Being a crime-mystery, there was danger and action. Heroics and disappointments. This book had everything one could ask for. It was well written, enjoyable and a real page turner.
Rating: 4.02/5
Did I fall in love with the book? No, but I will definitely be reading it again! It's one for the bookshelf
Would I recommend it to others? Of course, especially if you're into government plots, spies, action, and a little love.
Sadly, I learned that the hard way. This attention grabbing novel was really good and I kept wanting to turn the page to find out what happened next, even if I was in class.
What I liked about Watched, was the reality of it. Taking place in D.C., Watched is about a girl and a group of seven students who were on a two week trip to the Capitol. Being witness of a murder scene, they're thrust into the dangers and mystery of it all.
Not a unique plot, but Cindy M. Hogan adds her own details that extract it from the rest.
The characters were unique in their own way. I didn't like how there was the sudden enrapture with "the hot", Alex, but I guess I like to see the slow progress of the relationship. Which is why I liked how the relationship was kind of forming with Rick. But then Christy had already been there for a couple days, and there is always that unexplainable attraction to someone. I know, I am deeply and totally in love with Alex Pettyfer, and other characters whose name shall not be revealed because I don't want to fight you for them. :)
I also loved how the relationship wasn't all intense. I mean, the girl is 15 years old! She doesn't have to know that she's meet the love of her life. Which of course, made me connect with the book so much more. You see the difficult decisions she makes between choosing, going about them like any 15 year old would do.
Now the story wasn't all romance. Cindy M. Hogan has written a book for both genders. Being a crime-mystery, there was danger and action. Heroics and disappointments. This book had everything one could ask for. It was well written, enjoyable and a real page turner.
Rating: 4.02/5
Did I fall in love with the book? No, but I will definitely be reading it again! It's one for the bookshelf
Would I recommend it to others? Of course, especially if you're into government plots, spies, action, and a little love.
September 9, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It was filled with action, suspense and adventure.
Fifteen year old Christy is a bit of a know-it-all. She is very book smart and school work has always come easily to her. However she's a bit of a flop when it comes to social situations. Her entire life she's felt award, invisible and even ostracized. When the opportunity to win a scholarship to attend a two week long trip to Washington D.C. with high school students from across the nation arises Christy jumps at the chance. Although not very interested in politics Christy thinks that this trip might just be her ticket to break the mold, to shed the skin of 'old Christy' and discovery who she really wants to be.
One night during the trip Christy and a group of other high school students sneak out of their hotel to do a little sight-seeing of their own. However, the group sees more than they bargained for as they witnessed a murder with political ties.
The group is now being watched, not only by the murderers, but by the FBI.
The plot was full of twists, there were cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Suspicion was woven throughout as you wondered who you could trust and what motivated each of the characters.
This book had multidimensional characters with complex relationships. Not every characters was as developed as the rest and I thought that 2 boys being 'in love' with Christy was a bit cliche.
This one is definitely a page turner, I could not put it down. It was a fun, easy read, geared toward teenagers, and as long as you don't look too closely, dig too deep, or ask too many questions it's a pretty great book.
I got this as a FREE download for my Kindle, and it was worth every penny!
Young Adult Romance/suspense: CLEAN
With an LDS-fiction vibe.
Fifteen year old Christy is a bit of a know-it-all. She is very book smart and school work has always come easily to her. However she's a bit of a flop when it comes to social situations. Her entire life she's felt award, invisible and even ostracized. When the opportunity to win a scholarship to attend a two week long trip to Washington D.C. with high school students from across the nation arises Christy jumps at the chance. Although not very interested in politics Christy thinks that this trip might just be her ticket to break the mold, to shed the skin of 'old Christy' and discovery who she really wants to be.
One night during the trip Christy and a group of other high school students sneak out of their hotel to do a little sight-seeing of their own. However, the group sees more than they bargained for as they witnessed a murder with political ties.
The group is now being watched, not only by the murderers, but by the FBI.
The plot was full of twists, there were cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Suspicion was woven throughout as you wondered who you could trust and what motivated each of the characters.
This book had multidimensional characters with complex relationships. Not every characters was as developed as the rest and I thought that 2 boys being 'in love' with Christy was a bit cliche.
This one is definitely a page turner, I could not put it down. It was a fun, easy read, geared toward teenagers, and as long as you don't look too closely, dig too deep, or ask too many questions it's a pretty great book.
I got this as a FREE download for my Kindle, and it was worth every penny!
Young Adult Romance/suspense: CLEAN
With an LDS-fiction vibe.
May 14, 2013
This book starts out with a group of teenagers who, while on a field trip to Washington DC, witnesses a murder that involves a Senator. I thought it sounded juvenile but it looked like the plot was going to interesting, so I decided to keep reading. But after about the first thirty or so pages it goes off on a tangent about the young girl who is kind of a genius and never did fit in at her high school, but is hoping that this trip to DC will help her change somehow so that people will like her. Most of the rest of the book is taken up with the high school crushes, the insecurities of adolescence, which clothes to wear, what to do with her hair, how to wear makeup etc. that her room mate helps her with. There are a few tidbits thrown in along the way with a few clues and finally about the last 100 pages gets back to the plot and lets it come to it conclusion finally. The book is 658 pages but would have been better if it had been maybe 150 pages.
This must be one of those young adult books and not my kind of book, but I'm glad I read it just to see what the hype is about young adult fiction. I still don't get it. If a teenager had written it I would have been more impressed but when I read about the author at the back of the book and found out a grown woman wrote it, it kind of confused me. If you like these young adult books, you will probably like this one though.
This must be one of those young adult books and not my kind of book, but I'm glad I read it just to see what the hype is about young adult fiction. I still don't get it. If a teenager had written it I would have been more impressed but when I read about the author at the back of the book and found out a grown woman wrote it, it kind of confused me. If you like these young adult books, you will probably like this one though.
September 15, 2011
"WATCHED" BY CINDY M. HOGAN
Poor Christy! It's bad enough to be stalked by possible murderers, but to have two guys you care for suddenly find you interesting... at the same time? Christy is a girl that has spent her life being virtually invisible, but one trip to Washington D.C. changes everything. She goes from being an intelligent, barely seen, little known girl, to being wanted by a group of murderers, harbored by the F.B.I. under protective custody, and adored by two guys that she never would have imagined could even look at her in that way. Not only does she have to help the F.B.I. find out who killed a man and why, but she has to decide which guy is the one for her.
This book was emotional on so many different levels it was hard to keep yourself from trying to mentally steer Christy in the way she should go. A fantastic read, full of suspense and excitement! Cindy M. Hogan writes brilliantly and she knows just how to keep you on the edge of your seat. It's virtually impossible to just relax reading this book and when you finish you feel as if you've been right there in the midst of it all!
Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
Poor Christy! It's bad enough to be stalked by possible murderers, but to have two guys you care for suddenly find you interesting... at the same time? Christy is a girl that has spent her life being virtually invisible, but one trip to Washington D.C. changes everything. She goes from being an intelligent, barely seen, little known girl, to being wanted by a group of murderers, harbored by the F.B.I. under protective custody, and adored by two guys that she never would have imagined could even look at her in that way. Not only does she have to help the F.B.I. find out who killed a man and why, but she has to decide which guy is the one for her.
This book was emotional on so many different levels it was hard to keep yourself from trying to mentally steer Christy in the way she should go. A fantastic read, full of suspense and excitement! Cindy M. Hogan writes brilliantly and she knows just how to keep you on the edge of your seat. It's virtually impossible to just relax reading this book and when you finish you feel as if you've been right there in the midst of it all!
Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
April 28, 2013
Found this on netgalleys
This is a great concept: Christy goes to Washington, D.C. to participate Ina two week seminar for high school kids. She is a genius,mbut she has never felt like she fit in and this is her chance to remake herself. Most of the kids in her group like her and include her in their activities. In fact, two wonderful guys like her....
So, there's that. And there's also the fact that Christy witnesses the murder of a senator's aide. She has to help her small group let the FBi know what happened.
So, there's that. And, Christy also has to figure out why the aide was killed.
So, there's that. And Christy has to worry about dating, because her parents don't want her to do so before she is 16, which is a month away.
This novel just has too much going on and each plot strand can get in the way of another. There are two more books in this series, so there is a possibility that the knots will untwist, but it's just overly complicated in the first book.
Other stuff gets in the way as well....Christy never speaks to her parents in the two weeks she is in DC. She mentions that they just are 't overly protective, because she always does what they want her to do, but still.....
This is a great concept: Christy goes to Washington, D.C. to participate Ina two week seminar for high school kids. She is a genius,mbut she has never felt like she fit in and this is her chance to remake herself. Most of the kids in her group like her and include her in their activities. In fact, two wonderful guys like her....
So, there's that. And there's also the fact that Christy witnesses the murder of a senator's aide. She has to help her small group let the FBi know what happened.
So, there's that. And, Christy also has to figure out why the aide was killed.
So, there's that. And Christy has to worry about dating, because her parents don't want her to do so before she is 16, which is a month away.
This novel just has too much going on and each plot strand can get in the way of another. There are two more books in this series, so there is a possibility that the knots will untwist, but it's just overly complicated in the first book.
Other stuff gets in the way as well....Christy never speaks to her parents in the two weeks she is in DC. She mentions that they just are 't overly protective, because she always does what they want her to do, but still.....
March 24, 2015
Mild mannered, quiet, shy Christy Hadden is looking forward to her group trip to Washington D.C. to study politics up close. She is also hoping to reinvent herself so that when she returns to her small hometown in Montana she won’t be bullied and an outcast any longer. Christy gets way more than she bargained for when she and fellow student, Marybeth, witness the brutal murder of a senator’s aide. After calling the others from their group into the bathroom were they witnessed the murder through a vent, it puts all 8 of their lives in danger. While trying to avoid the terrorists, they continue on with the group trip, but that’s much easier said than done.
This story intrigued me with its twists and turns and immediately pulled me into the story. I found Christy to be easily relatable as a book nerd, honor student, and all around good girl. She finds her faith and morals strongly tested on this trip and not just by the terrorists and FBI. Christy has her first crush(es), first kiss, and first dance all while eluding the bad guys. Pretty cool, huh. The story definitely kept me on my toes. It’s a fast paced, heart pounding narrative. The author’s style reminds me of James Patterson but a YA edition. I look forward to reading other works by Cindy M. Hogan.
This story intrigued me with its twists and turns and immediately pulled me into the story. I found Christy to be easily relatable as a book nerd, honor student, and all around good girl. She finds her faith and morals strongly tested on this trip and not just by the terrorists and FBI. Christy has her first crush(es), first kiss, and first dance all while eluding the bad guys. Pretty cool, huh. The story definitely kept me on my toes. It’s a fast paced, heart pounding narrative. The author’s style reminds me of James Patterson but a YA edition. I look forward to reading other works by Cindy M. Hogan.
August 22, 2012
I really liked this story. It was a nice break from all the supernatural stories I normally read.
While sneaking out for a night of exploration without the chaperones Christy and her group see a meeting and a murder they shouldn't have. After going to the FBI they find out the bad guys are a greater threat they could have imagined. Until the FBI can find the bad guys and put them away they're lives are in danger, but this isn't the only exciting thing going on in D.C. Christy quickly becomes the object of two guys affection. Who will she pick? The aloof rebel who pushes her to do all the exciting things she never dreamed of doing and especially not before her 16th birthday (when her parent allow her to date). Or the guy who shares her values and promises to wait patiently for her 16th birthday. Her heart wants both, but her conscience is telling her only one is right for her. This story is fun, exciting and will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end!
While sneaking out for a night of exploration without the chaperones Christy and her group see a meeting and a murder they shouldn't have. After going to the FBI they find out the bad guys are a greater threat they could have imagined. Until the FBI can find the bad guys and put them away they're lives are in danger, but this isn't the only exciting thing going on in D.C. Christy quickly becomes the object of two guys affection. Who will she pick? The aloof rebel who pushes her to do all the exciting things she never dreamed of doing and especially not before her 16th birthday (when her parent allow her to date). Or the guy who shares her values and promises to wait patiently for her 16th birthday. Her heart wants both, but her conscience is telling her only one is right for her. This story is fun, exciting and will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 355 reviews