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Finding My Escape
Hannah Jordan's life is shattered when she walks in on the double homicide of her parents. Transplanted from Atlanta to a small town in East Tennessee, she finds her solace in running the beautiful mountain trails behind her aunt’s house. Until she begins dreaming of the mysterious, but handsome Josh, that is.
As Hannah is tortured by memories of the night her parents died, she is disturbed by the idea that she may be forgetting something important. Aided by her best friend, Matt, she begins to uncover clues indicating that what she had believed was a simple home invasion was actually something much more sinister. And the killer is still out there.
Finding My Escape is a teen novel mixing romance with suspense and a twist of the paranormal.
As Hannah is tortured by memories of the night her parents died, she is disturbed by the idea that she may be forgetting something important. Aided by her best friend, Matt, she begins to uncover clues indicating that what she had believed was a simple home invasion was actually something much more sinister. And the killer is still out there.
Finding My Escape is a teen novel mixing romance with suspense and a twist of the paranormal.
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First published August 13, 2011
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About the author
Fran Veal
2 books29 followersFran Veal fell in love with books and stories as a child. In grade school she wrote and designed her own comic book, which she hand-drew and distributed to her friends. She graduated to writing fiction stories in Junior High (without pictures, for which her audience was grateful), and continued writing on into her adult years.
"There is nothing like escaping into a book for a while, where for those stolen moments you can be anyone...do anything."
Veal currently resides in Middle Tennessee with her husband, teen daughter, and one extremely snarky cat.
"There is nothing like escaping into a book for a while, where for those stolen moments you can be anyone...do anything."
Veal currently resides in Middle Tennessee with her husband, teen daughter, and one extremely snarky cat.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 12, 2012
Hannah Jordan, a teenage girl, sees her parents murdered in her home when she is back from her friend, Matt's home. Then, someone hits her in the head and she goes unconscious. Hannah is in trauma and she tries to forget the incidents that happened to her parents. But, all she gets is nightmares with her dead parents. Hannah goes and lives with her aunt, and soon starts school there. Her best friend, Matt, also joins her in this new school to give support to Hannah.
While she deals with her real life, she also finds herself in another dimension called Valeria, in her dreams. There, she finds Josh, one who is perfect model-like boy. She tries to find more about Valeria and her parents' killer is searching for her in Valeria and in real life. Hannah's life is in more dangerous in her dreams too.
This book is well-written, well-thought-out thriller, with some paranormal elements splattered across the pages. It was a fast read for me and I really enjoyed the way the author has presented it. I loved both Josh and Matt and Hannah's feelings towards both of them are explained without any awkwardness. Thanks to that! (I hate awkwardness in love triangles :) )
While I got confused towards the end, the other parts of the book are perfect. I hope that confusion gets solved in the next installments of the series.
Recommended!
While she deals with her real life, she also finds herself in another dimension called Valeria, in her dreams. There, she finds Josh, one who is perfect model-like boy. She tries to find more about Valeria and her parents' killer is searching for her in Valeria and in real life. Hannah's life is in more dangerous in her dreams too.
This book is well-written, well-thought-out thriller, with some paranormal elements splattered across the pages. It was a fast read for me and I really enjoyed the way the author has presented it. I loved both Josh and Matt and Hannah's feelings towards both of them are explained without any awkwardness. Thanks to that! (I hate awkwardness in love triangles :) )
While I got confused towards the end, the other parts of the book are perfect. I hope that confusion gets solved in the next installments of the series.
Recommended!
February 10, 2012
Finding My Escape
By: Fran Veal
ISBN: 2940011464119
Published August 13, 2011
Available Format: ebook
My Rating: ★★★★★
Seventeen-year-old Hannah Jordan stumbles upon something no person should ever have to face—the murder of her parents. When Hannah awakes after having tripped and hit her head, she cannot remember exactly what happened that fateful evening, other than walking into her dark home and hearing her mother's pleas for her to run away. She knows the murder was much more than a simple home invasion, and with the help of her best friend, Matt, she sets out to discover exactly why anyone would want to take her mother and father away from her.
As she dreams, Hannah suddenly begins visiting a strange new world, a world her new friend, Josh, explains is very real and very dangerous for Hannah. Josh isn't completely forthcoming about the details, but Hannah begins to suspect there is something very important she is missing about the land of Valeria.
I was actually really impressed with this book. The writing style is easy and captivating. The plot flowed nicely. I was immediately drawn into Hannah's life and was able to relate to her (despite the awful things that have happened in her life). I LOVED the idea that she visits this other realm in her dreams, and I liked the little element of mystery, brought full circle by the twists at the end of the book.
I think this is a fantastic YA novel, with a little bit of paranormal, a little bit of romance, and a little bit of mystery mixed in. I think the author does a great job mixing all the elements and leading the reader on the search for answers. The paranormal aspect wasn't so far-fetched as to be completely unbelievable, so it gave the story a much more authentic feel.
There could have been a bit more explanation about what her parents did that made them a target. Is what Hannah dreams about really the motive for the killer? I think some of the loose ends will probably be tied up in the next book of the series, My Way Out—which I am very much looking forward to!
Pretty much all of you know, I'm an Alabama gal, so having this story set in the south, in places that I am very familiar with, was just an extra bonus for me! Where can I get a house like Aunt Laura's?
By: Fran Veal
ISBN: 2940011464119
Published August 13, 2011
Available Format: ebook
My Rating: ★★★★★
Seventeen-year-old Hannah Jordan stumbles upon something no person should ever have to face—the murder of her parents. When Hannah awakes after having tripped and hit her head, she cannot remember exactly what happened that fateful evening, other than walking into her dark home and hearing her mother's pleas for her to run away. She knows the murder was much more than a simple home invasion, and with the help of her best friend, Matt, she sets out to discover exactly why anyone would want to take her mother and father away from her.
As she dreams, Hannah suddenly begins visiting a strange new world, a world her new friend, Josh, explains is very real and very dangerous for Hannah. Josh isn't completely forthcoming about the details, but Hannah begins to suspect there is something very important she is missing about the land of Valeria.
I was actually really impressed with this book. The writing style is easy and captivating. The plot flowed nicely. I was immediately drawn into Hannah's life and was able to relate to her (despite the awful things that have happened in her life). I LOVED the idea that she visits this other realm in her dreams, and I liked the little element of mystery, brought full circle by the twists at the end of the book.
I think this is a fantastic YA novel, with a little bit of paranormal, a little bit of romance, and a little bit of mystery mixed in. I think the author does a great job mixing all the elements and leading the reader on the search for answers. The paranormal aspect wasn't so far-fetched as to be completely unbelievable, so it gave the story a much more authentic feel.
There could have been a bit more explanation about what her parents did that made them a target. Is what Hannah dreams about really the motive for the killer? I think some of the loose ends will probably be tied up in the next book of the series, My Way Out—which I am very much looking forward to!
Pretty much all of you know, I'm an Alabama gal, so having this story set in the south, in places that I am very familiar with, was just an extra bonus for me! Where can I get a house like Aunt Laura's?
June 19, 2013
I would would like to give this 4.5 stars but the site won't allow that, I guess...
Finding My Escape is a fast read and very well-paced, without a lot of extraneous narrative. YA readers will identify with the protagonist, Hannah, who faces her fears even though she is unsure and scared. There is good, clear writing throughout, and I love the repeated motif of "beep beep beep"! Maybe my favorite part was when Hannah realized her feelings for another character midway through -- her excitement and anxiety about this were described perfectly! The writing made me remember falling for someone for the first time, and I was right there with her. Very cool!
I said above that there isn't a lot of extraneous narrative -- which is good. You don't want to bog readers down -- but I wondered if the author could have addressed the following through Hannah's eyes with the same straightforward writing style: What was it like for Aunt Laura (and, by association, Hannah) to be "semi-famous," as one of the other characters described her? How did she feel about suddenly having her niece there with her (I know she loved Hannah, but taking on such a responsibility must have been daunting)? And what was the reaction of the other students, and of Hannah herself, when attending a new school for such a terrible reason? I think these questions would have been interesting to explore more. But they are minor observations and not addressing them doesn't take away from the story.
I am a little old-fashioned, though, and used to characters' adventures being included in one, all-encompassing book, not in a series. That's not really a quibble with FME as much as the whole publishing industry -- the fact that I have to wait for a sequel to find out what happens to characters (in this particular instance, Hannah and Matt [especially Matt!]). But I can't blame the author for following the trend -- and she has certainly made the most of it by leaving us with an unexpected (and imaginative) cliffhanger.
With that said, I can't wait for the second book! So, bring it on, already! Recommended!
Finding My Escape is a fast read and very well-paced, without a lot of extraneous narrative. YA readers will identify with the protagonist, Hannah, who faces her fears even though she is unsure and scared. There is good, clear writing throughout, and I love the repeated motif of "beep beep beep"! Maybe my favorite part was when Hannah realized her feelings for another character midway through -- her excitement and anxiety about this were described perfectly! The writing made me remember falling for someone for the first time, and I was right there with her. Very cool!
I said above that there isn't a lot of extraneous narrative -- which is good. You don't want to bog readers down -- but I wondered if the author could have addressed the following through Hannah's eyes with the same straightforward writing style: What was it like for Aunt Laura (and, by association, Hannah) to be "semi-famous," as one of the other characters described her? How did she feel about suddenly having her niece there with her (I know she loved Hannah, but taking on such a responsibility must have been daunting)? And what was the reaction of the other students, and of Hannah herself, when attending a new school for such a terrible reason? I think these questions would have been interesting to explore more. But they are minor observations and not addressing them doesn't take away from the story.
I am a little old-fashioned, though, and used to characters' adventures being included in one, all-encompassing book, not in a series. That's not really a quibble with FME as much as the whole publishing industry -- the fact that I have to wait for a sequel to find out what happens to characters (in this particular instance, Hannah and Matt [especially Matt!]). But I can't blame the author for following the trend -- and she has certainly made the most of it by leaving us with an unexpected (and imaginative) cliffhanger.
With that said, I can't wait for the second book! So, bring it on, already! Recommended!
June 19, 2013
Fran Veal's "Finding My Escape" is the story of Hannah Jordan. She's a high-school senior who comes home one night to the worst nightmare imaginable - the murder of her parents, in progress. In the chaos, she's knocked unconscious and she wakes up two weeks later, in the hospital, with very little recollection of what happened to her, or what she saw. Hannah goes to live with her aunt in a small town in Tennessee, where she tries to piece her life back together, and she struggles to cope with the trauma of her parents' murder. She's aided in these efforts by her aunt, her best friend Matt, and a strange boy who keeps showing up in her dreams...
There's mystery and suspense as Hannah fights to remember what she saw, and uncovers clues to the reasons behind her parents' murder; there's romance as Hannah figures out her feelings for both Matt and for the boy she keeps dreaming about; and there's an emotional journey as Hannah simply tries to go on with her life in the wake of an unimaginable loss. Fran Veal handles all of this with great care, and great skill.
The book is wonderfully written, and Hannah is an engaging and completely relateable narrator (the book is told in first person, from Hannah's point of view). The prose is clean and clear, the world is well described, and Hannah's feelings and actions are believable every step of the way. The story takes some unexpected twists and turns, which I won't spoil at all. I'll just say that the author surprised me more than once, even when I was sure I knew what was coming next, but at the same time I never felt that the surprises didn't make sense.
I would VERY HIGHLY recommend this book, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
There's mystery and suspense as Hannah fights to remember what she saw, and uncovers clues to the reasons behind her parents' murder; there's romance as Hannah figures out her feelings for both Matt and for the boy she keeps dreaming about; and there's an emotional journey as Hannah simply tries to go on with her life in the wake of an unimaginable loss. Fran Veal handles all of this with great care, and great skill.
The book is wonderfully written, and Hannah is an engaging and completely relateable narrator (the book is told in first person, from Hannah's point of view). The prose is clean and clear, the world is well described, and Hannah's feelings and actions are believable every step of the way. The story takes some unexpected twists and turns, which I won't spoil at all. I'll just say that the author surprised me more than once, even when I was sure I knew what was coming next, but at the same time I never felt that the surprises didn't make sense.
I would VERY HIGHLY recommend this book, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.
April 10, 2014
When Hannah wakes up in hospital she is forced to pick up life after having walked in on the most horrible of crime scenes: the murder of her parents. The police believe it is an ordinary burglary gone wrong but Hannah knows about the Box – and the dangerous secret her parents kept. What she does not know is what the secret is and just how dangerous.
Moving in with her aunt and lucky enough to have a good friend in Matt, a senior in high school, Hannah has to cope with her loss and the suspicion that the murderer is looking for her and the secret. As if this is not enough Hannah visits a parallel world in her dreams: a world that is uncanny and at the same time strangely real. This is also where she meets Josh. Whereas Matt is her best friend Josh is the kind of boy you fall in love with. As time goes by nothing seems to be what it set out to be and Hannah is worried she is losing her mind and she is not the only one who is worried.
From a slightly hesitant start this book evolves into one of the most promising in recent years. The reader is drawn into a well-crafted story, sharing Hannah’s worries about what is real or not. There is a sequel and, despite suffering slightly form “YA series fatigue”, I am genuinely looking forward to continue with the next instalment. The plot, its twists and turns, and the warm and heart breaking story about Hannah’s loss, lift the novel to a higher level and together with the author's careful eye to language and style make it a novel to relish.
Moving in with her aunt and lucky enough to have a good friend in Matt, a senior in high school, Hannah has to cope with her loss and the suspicion that the murderer is looking for her and the secret. As if this is not enough Hannah visits a parallel world in her dreams: a world that is uncanny and at the same time strangely real. This is also where she meets Josh. Whereas Matt is her best friend Josh is the kind of boy you fall in love with. As time goes by nothing seems to be what it set out to be and Hannah is worried she is losing her mind and she is not the only one who is worried.
From a slightly hesitant start this book evolves into one of the most promising in recent years. The reader is drawn into a well-crafted story, sharing Hannah’s worries about what is real or not. There is a sequel and, despite suffering slightly form “YA series fatigue”, I am genuinely looking forward to continue with the next instalment. The plot, its twists and turns, and the warm and heart breaking story about Hannah’s loss, lift the novel to a higher level and together with the author's careful eye to language and style make it a novel to relish.
March 5, 2012
Hannah has just survived a most harrowing experience - walking in to witness the death of her parents at the hand of an intruder. Waking in the hospital, she finds that only parts of her memory of the horrific incident remain intact. Moving out of state to live with her Aunt, Hannah is relieved when her very best friend gets permission to live with them to support her through their final year of high school. With his support, she begins to piece together what has happened, only to find that what appeared to be a home invasion may be something worse - and the man who killed her parents may be after her next.
Veal's Finding My Escape is an example of the supremely high quality young adult fiction available from self-published authors today. When I finished the book, I was still so intrigued I wanted to turn back to the first page and start reading again. There are many different twists in the novel and even when I was sure I knew what was coming, it turned out I was wrong. Veal created very likeable characters and pieced together their story in a way that keeps the reader engaged and wishing for more.
Early in the novel there are a few intuitive leaps that could benefit from some editing and toward the end of the novel I wish she had chosen to draw out the suspense before resolving the tension, but overall this novel is dynamite and I can't wait to read more.
For more of my reviews, visit www.inquisitivehippo.com
Veal's Finding My Escape is an example of the supremely high quality young adult fiction available from self-published authors today. When I finished the book, I was still so intrigued I wanted to turn back to the first page and start reading again. There are many different twists in the novel and even when I was sure I knew what was coming, it turned out I was wrong. Veal created very likeable characters and pieced together their story in a way that keeps the reader engaged and wishing for more.
Early in the novel there are a few intuitive leaps that could benefit from some editing and toward the end of the novel I wish she had chosen to draw out the suspense before resolving the tension, but overall this novel is dynamite and I can't wait to read more.
For more of my reviews, visit www.inquisitivehippo.com
July 19, 2014
I came across this book when it was chosen as the Book of the Month in the Goodread’s Paranormal, Fantasy, Dystopia and Romance Readers, Writers and Reviewers group, so I was provided a free copy by the author. It was good enough that I rushed to purchase the sequel on my own.
Finding My Escape is a faced-paced and well-written first novel for author Fran Veal. Hannah is strong, likeable, and easy to root for as a main character, and the relationship triangle between her, the “real-life” Matt, and the “dream-world” Josh is interesting, providing an attractive element of sexual tension, though appropriately chaste.
The initial action of the story stems from the situation Hannah finds herself in as the lone survivor of a home invasion resulting in the murders of both her parents. Faced with the psychological and emotional aftermath of her trauma, and dealing with her grief, she must also adapt to the lifestyle change of moving to live with her aunt, also grieving, and adjusting to life at a new high school.
The story and plot quickly expand, however, as we find the home invasion was more than it seemed, and the killer is now looking for Hannah, both in the real world and her dreams. This is a fast, easy read, with a compelling twist at the end that left me hungry for more. I gave it four out of five stars.
Finding My Escape is a faced-paced and well-written first novel for author Fran Veal. Hannah is strong, likeable, and easy to root for as a main character, and the relationship triangle between her, the “real-life” Matt, and the “dream-world” Josh is interesting, providing an attractive element of sexual tension, though appropriately chaste.
The initial action of the story stems from the situation Hannah finds herself in as the lone survivor of a home invasion resulting in the murders of both her parents. Faced with the psychological and emotional aftermath of her trauma, and dealing with her grief, she must also adapt to the lifestyle change of moving to live with her aunt, also grieving, and adjusting to life at a new high school.
The story and plot quickly expand, however, as we find the home invasion was more than it seemed, and the killer is now looking for Hannah, both in the real world and her dreams. This is a fast, easy read, with a compelling twist at the end that left me hungry for more. I gave it four out of five stars.
April 20, 2012
Beep. Beep. Beep
Hannah's life starts falling apart when she walks in on the double homicide of her parents. Taken in by her aunt, Hannah suppresses the memories of that night, chasing them from her mind as she runs the mountain trails. But, even though she just wants to forget, her mind won't let her.
She begins dreaming of a place, another dimension. And then there's Josh, the really handsome boy in her dreams. Josh shows her how to navigate her dreams and protects her from the Others. Encouraging her to remember, Josh gives Hannah the nudge to finally remember what happened that night, and she goes searching for clues in her waking hours.
Luckily, Hannah has Matt, her best friend, to help her through the start of the school year and piece together the puzzle of that night. But as they get closer to the truth, the killer gets closer to finding Hannah, both in her dreams and in the real world.
Gripping and fast-paced, Finding My Escape races along as Hannah and Matt figure out the mystery of her parents murder with the killer on her heels. While I did predict what was happening, watching Hannah and Matt figure out all the pieces, including what they mean to each other, was an enjoyable escape.
Hannah's life starts falling apart when she walks in on the double homicide of her parents. Taken in by her aunt, Hannah suppresses the memories of that night, chasing them from her mind as she runs the mountain trails. But, even though she just wants to forget, her mind won't let her.
She begins dreaming of a place, another dimension. And then there's Josh, the really handsome boy in her dreams. Josh shows her how to navigate her dreams and protects her from the Others. Encouraging her to remember, Josh gives Hannah the nudge to finally remember what happened that night, and she goes searching for clues in her waking hours.
Luckily, Hannah has Matt, her best friend, to help her through the start of the school year and piece together the puzzle of that night. But as they get closer to the truth, the killer gets closer to finding Hannah, both in her dreams and in the real world.
Gripping and fast-paced, Finding My Escape races along as Hannah and Matt figure out the mystery of her parents murder with the killer on her heels. While I did predict what was happening, watching Hannah and Matt figure out all the pieces, including what they mean to each other, was an enjoyable escape.
June 7, 2012
Hannah walks in on the murder of her parents, and a blow to the head wipes out most of her memory of the event. Forced to move from her hometown to live with her aunt, she struggles to cope with her new life. Running seems to help, and when she stops to rest, she meets Josh, who introduces her to an alternate reality. Then her friend Matt talks his parents into allowing him to move in with Hannah and her aunt so they can attend the new school together. Add in the deranged killer who is still looking for the computer chip her parents had hidden, and you’ve got a thrilling teen romantic adventure with an intriguing paranormal twist.
Ms Veal has done a fabulous job of weaving all the elements together and keeping you guessing. This is definitely an original story, and a real page-turner. It is well-written and believable. Edgy and gripping, yet tender and romantic – this book has it all. Well done, Ms Veal!! Now when is the next one coming out?
Ms Veal has done a fabulous job of weaving all the elements together and keeping you guessing. This is definitely an original story, and a real page-turner. It is well-written and believable. Edgy and gripping, yet tender and romantic – this book has it all. Well done, Ms Veal!! Now when is the next one coming out?
June 16, 2013
I have literally just finished this book, fran gifted it to me for me to review. I am sitting here absolutely bamboozled. I read a lot, I review a lot but although I have given 5 stars to authors before, I can safely say, this is the best book I have read in a while. That is not to say the others weren't as good. This one however, has blown my mind.
The writing was fantastic, thorough and so well written.
The story, well, it is unusual for me to not guess the ending but I can safely say this didn't happen. It completely surprised me. I fell in love with the characters and I am gutted that the book has finished.
I am actually finding it difficult to find the exact words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. It was superb. The story is unique, nothing I have read before.
Get this book, you will not regret it.
Absolute stunner. I cannot wait for the sequel to be released. Fantastic story, fantastic writing and fantastic book.
If I could give it 6 stars I would.
The writing was fantastic, thorough and so well written.
The story, well, it is unusual for me to not guess the ending but I can safely say this didn't happen. It completely surprised me. I fell in love with the characters and I am gutted that the book has finished.
I am actually finding it difficult to find the exact words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. It was superb. The story is unique, nothing I have read before.
Get this book, you will not regret it.
Absolute stunner. I cannot wait for the sequel to be released. Fantastic story, fantastic writing and fantastic book.
If I could give it 6 stars I would.
May 25, 2013
Hannah Jordan's life all changed when she walks in and sees her parents getting murdered. Hannah tries to get forget what happened but instead all she gets are nightmares. She needed to get away so she goes to live with her aunt and starts school there as well. Her best friend, Matt, joins her on her quest to give Hannah support.
Not only is Hannah not safe in real life, but in her dreams as well. She starts to have dreams about a beautiful boy named Josh. As she tries to find out more about Josh and her parents killers, Hannah finds out that her life is about to get more dangerous than before.
This book was a fast paced and interesting book. I love all the characters, especially Hannah and thought that the concept of the story was unique and fun to read. It was a great thriller, excellent writing and an amazing plot! I look forward to reading more from this author.
Not only is Hannah not safe in real life, but in her dreams as well. She starts to have dreams about a beautiful boy named Josh. As she tries to find out more about Josh and her parents killers, Hannah finds out that her life is about to get more dangerous than before.
This book was a fast paced and interesting book. I love all the characters, especially Hannah and thought that the concept of the story was unique and fun to read. It was a great thriller, excellent writing and an amazing plot! I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 22, 2012
I thought I had this plot figured out many times, but the twists and turns kept me doubting myself. This was really a great story about a girl who's parents were both murdered and she has some memories she needs to recall. As the reader, we think we have that all figured out, but trust me, you don't!! I had a really hard time putting this book down because it was fast paced and I just had to know what was going to happen next. I will say that the ending left me wondering what would happen next for a certain character in the book, but I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel so that I can find out. If you like a little mystery, a bit of paranormal, and some romance, then this book is certainly for you. I did recieve a free copy for my review.
September 24, 2011
Very nice first novel written by a childhood friend. It is classified as young adult but I found the story very engaging and interesting. From the very first chapter I was waiting to find out what was going to happen next. I'm not a huge fantasy fan so I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story more than the fantasy aspect but the fantasy wasn't distracting to me. Nor was the fantasy so extreme that I couldn't buy into the concept. I know the author is working on a sequel and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
June 15, 2013
This story has more than enough to keep a thriller reader going in my opinion. It kept this reader interested and normally I don't go much for YA stories. I personally couldn't put it down, I just had to find out what happened later on. Will say at the end there is a very good, unexpected twist and now I'm looking forward to reading book two. That's also something I normally won't do since I don't care much for any series usually. The author has definitely succeeded in hooking this reader.
June 3, 2012
woah! My mind was blown! YOU MUST READ THIS!!! There's this one part where they watch a movie... I can't tell you what it was, but then at the end of teh book, I was like "hey! it connected!" SO AMAZING!
July 10, 2014
The book starts by dropping a plot bomb. Her parents were murdered and she wakes up in the hospital. I was hooked, but then my interest started slipping away until Josh shows up.
I'm sick, so I won't be able to write a complete detailed review like I always do. But I will get to the main points.
Hannah is devastated by her parent's murder. And she behaves like any regular teen would in that situation, and that made the book believable. THe problem is, she has problems sorting out her feelings. All teens do, but when you think you're in love with someone who might not be real? I think the obvious choice is Matt. I mean she clearly has feelings for him. THe feelings she has for Josh seem more lustful than loving.
Matt is Hannah's best friend. He is the definition of the perfect best friend. Always by her side no matter what. Always knows just what she needs. And it looks like they've reached the point in their relationship, that they want to be more than best friends. And by the end of the book, you'll see that Matt is OBVIOUSLY the better guy out of the two.
Josh is this stupidly attractive guy who may or may not be real. He exists in her dreams and they feel all too real. Could this be another plane of existence? Regardless, Josh he's charming, good looking and fun. But he has a secret. And then not only does Hannah begin to doubt him and lose trust, but the reader (me) as well. THere's something fishy about him. I'm sure of it.
The characters all look to be static characters to me. Their personas do not change. They overcome obstacles, but they really haven't changed in their knowledge and experiences by the end of the book.
The plot had trouble keeping my interest at the beginning, but it caught my attention once Matt moves in with Hannah. It seems to me that even though the real conflict was introduced in the beginning, the whole action starts to play out at that moment. That's when Hannah really starts to develop and move toward her personal epiphany.
This book does have an interesting take on what dreams are/mean. It is definitely a book to read. Though it might not have become a favorite of mine since my tastes differ slightly, it is still a book that I was glad to read and would recommend.
THe ending was confusing. But after reading it a few times I understood it. It left me with many questions and I felt like the book was cut in half. This is a perfect ending for those who love cliffhangers. And it is a nice element to have in a book. But I like a book that gives some kind of finality. Like some conflicts have been resolved. But nothing really was resolved. She may or may not have figured out that she loves Matt. She still doesn't know if Valeria is real or not. The doctors know something we don't. SHe found out who the killer of her parents was, but that's about it.
Overall. This book did peak my interest. I mean, I could put it down if I had to(it's not like I CAN'T STOP READING IT!!!!), I just didn't want to stop reading because it was good. It kept me guessing and I always tried to predict what would happen but then a plot twist would come. Fran is very good with plot twists :)
Congratulations Fran, you've written yourself a damn good book.
four stars!
I'm sick, so I won't be able to write a complete detailed review like I always do. But I will get to the main points.
Hannah is devastated by her parent's murder. And she behaves like any regular teen would in that situation, and that made the book believable. THe problem is, she has problems sorting out her feelings. All teens do, but when you think you're in love with someone who might not be real? I think the obvious choice is Matt. I mean she clearly has feelings for him. THe feelings she has for Josh seem more lustful than loving.
Matt is Hannah's best friend. He is the definition of the perfect best friend. Always by her side no matter what. Always knows just what she needs. And it looks like they've reached the point in their relationship, that they want to be more than best friends. And by the end of the book, you'll see that Matt is OBVIOUSLY the better guy out of the two.
Josh is this stupidly attractive guy who may or may not be real. He exists in her dreams and they feel all too real. Could this be another plane of existence? Regardless, Josh he's charming, good looking and fun. But he has a secret. And then not only does Hannah begin to doubt him and lose trust, but the reader (me) as well. THere's something fishy about him. I'm sure of it.
The characters all look to be static characters to me. Their personas do not change. They overcome obstacles, but they really haven't changed in their knowledge and experiences by the end of the book.
The plot had trouble keeping my interest at the beginning, but it caught my attention once Matt moves in with Hannah. It seems to me that even though the real conflict was introduced in the beginning, the whole action starts to play out at that moment. That's when Hannah really starts to develop and move toward her personal epiphany.
This book does have an interesting take on what dreams are/mean. It is definitely a book to read. Though it might not have become a favorite of mine since my tastes differ slightly, it is still a book that I was glad to read and would recommend.
THe ending was confusing. But after reading it a few times I understood it. It left me with many questions and I felt like the book was cut in half. This is a perfect ending for those who love cliffhangers. And it is a nice element to have in a book. But I like a book that gives some kind of finality. Like some conflicts have been resolved. But nothing really was resolved. She may or may not have figured out that she loves Matt. She still doesn't know if Valeria is real or not. The doctors know something we don't. SHe found out who the killer of her parents was, but that's about it.
Overall. This book did peak my interest. I mean, I could put it down if I had to(it's not like I CAN'T STOP READING IT!!!!), I just didn't want to stop reading because it was good. It kept me guessing and I always tried to predict what would happen but then a plot twist would come. Fran is very good with plot twists :)
Congratulations Fran, you've written yourself a damn good book.
four stars!
January 28, 2012
17-year-old Hannah has suffered, and survived, a horrific trauma; a home invasion in which her parents were murdered. All that's left to Hannah are menmories, some scrap books, and a mysterious box. Hannah goes to live with her aunt in Tennessee, while her best guy-friend is moving to North Carolina. Now Hannah is suffering from life-like dreams where a hot, angelic guy likes her...except that these dreams appear to be following her into the daylight. And her nightmare follows her to Tennessee.
There are some very clever twists to this story. Looking back, there are subtle clues right from the beginning that heralds the ending twist. I like twists. Twists are almost as good as pretzels. I would take a few savvy book twists over pretzels any day of the week.
But, while this pretzel of a book flexed and twisted its plot...the dough-making process prior to baking didn't quite rise.
I felt like I was being told a story. I wasn't immersed. There was no emotion to draw from, other than what we were told the characters were feeling. This made the story read slightly flat. There was romance, but I didn't feel any cockle-warming...there was nothing to generate heat or friction.
Some plot points were a litrle weak. For example, we never quite know what her parents did for a living that made them an open target for murder...what they actually *do* is never really explained. The reason we're given for the murder has been done, and I'm not sure how her parents came across the information in the first place. Or maybe this was all glossed over quickly enough that I just don't remember.
I would have liked to have gone a little deeper into the characters. While like-able, there's nothing that had me rooting for them. Well, except maybe her best guy-friend, Matt. For some reason I couldn't help rooting for him. And I'm not quite sure what motiviated Jessie, the first friend Hannah makes in Tennesee, especially when she first meets Hannah. I was expecting something...I don't know...sinister maybe? But nothing ever really happened there.
Some of the dialogue didn't quite ring true for me. The transitions had to be kneaded a little more to make 'em smooth; there were some rough spot that caused confusion as to where my place was in the story line. Overall the story had that 'first book' feel to it.
The premise is cool and has a lot of potential. There's a whole other world that needs to be explored...though I'm not sure if Hannah can get back there. This is the first book in the series, so you can look forward to more writing from this author.
There are some very clever twists to this story. Looking back, there are subtle clues right from the beginning that heralds the ending twist. I like twists. Twists are almost as good as pretzels. I would take a few savvy book twists over pretzels any day of the week.
But, while this pretzel of a book flexed and twisted its plot...the dough-making process prior to baking didn't quite rise.
I felt like I was being told a story. I wasn't immersed. There was no emotion to draw from, other than what we were told the characters were feeling. This made the story read slightly flat. There was romance, but I didn't feel any cockle-warming...there was nothing to generate heat or friction.
Some plot points were a litrle weak. For example, we never quite know what her parents did for a living that made them an open target for murder...what they actually *do* is never really explained. The reason we're given for the murder has been done, and I'm not sure how her parents came across the information in the first place. Or maybe this was all glossed over quickly enough that I just don't remember.
I would have liked to have gone a little deeper into the characters. While like-able, there's nothing that had me rooting for them. Well, except maybe her best guy-friend, Matt. For some reason I couldn't help rooting for him. And I'm not quite sure what motiviated Jessie, the first friend Hannah makes in Tennesee, especially when she first meets Hannah. I was expecting something...I don't know...sinister maybe? But nothing ever really happened there.
Some of the dialogue didn't quite ring true for me. The transitions had to be kneaded a little more to make 'em smooth; there were some rough spot that caused confusion as to where my place was in the story line. Overall the story had that 'first book' feel to it.
The premise is cool and has a lot of potential. There's a whole other world that needs to be explored...though I'm not sure if Hannah can get back there. This is the first book in the series, so you can look forward to more writing from this author.
January 27, 2016
This is a young adult paranormal mystery. There were a lot of good elements to the book, although I had trouble with the paranormal aspects of the book.
A young girl comes upon the murder in progress of her parents as she returns home, and is nearly killed herself. Most of the rest of the book is her moving to live with her aunt, trying to move on in a new school, having her best friend, a boy, move in to be with her. She knows her parents were involved in secret stuff for the government and knows that there is information that she needs to protect.
She and Matt do the investigating to know what her parents wanted her to find and to get it to the person they can trust. Hannah is also trying to remember details that she knows are important, but that seem to be just out of reach. She knows the murderer is still searching for her. All of these elements add to the interest and intrigue of what is happening.
The just-friends relationship between Hannah and Matt also begins to change and I thought this romantic aspect was well handled. I think young adult readers will find the characters and their situation good reading.
Often when she sleeps, she enters some sort of parallel existence, where she meets Josh, who is a romantic foil to Matt. This is the part I found difficult to get into. In essence, there is a connect between the real world and this world, which is not just dreaming. She is trying to escape from the murderer in both places. I understood the concepts; I just didn't find them interesting. Perhaps, it would be more interesting to young adults who often enjoy the paranormal elements more. Even so, the characters were again interesting and the story moved along nicely. In fact, this added an extra element to the mystery.
The end of the book brings the big surprise, where what had seemed to be true turns out not to be. All the strange pieces fall into place.
I enjoyed the book, in spite of the paranormal part of the story, and I think young adult readers would really like it. I received a copy of the book in exchange for writing a review.
A young girl comes upon the murder in progress of her parents as she returns home, and is nearly killed herself. Most of the rest of the book is her moving to live with her aunt, trying to move on in a new school, having her best friend, a boy, move in to be with her. She knows her parents were involved in secret stuff for the government and knows that there is information that she needs to protect.
She and Matt do the investigating to know what her parents wanted her to find and to get it to the person they can trust. Hannah is also trying to remember details that she knows are important, but that seem to be just out of reach. She knows the murderer is still searching for her. All of these elements add to the interest and intrigue of what is happening.
The just-friends relationship between Hannah and Matt also begins to change and I thought this romantic aspect was well handled. I think young adult readers will find the characters and their situation good reading.
Often when she sleeps, she enters some sort of parallel existence, where she meets Josh, who is a romantic foil to Matt. This is the part I found difficult to get into. In essence, there is a connect between the real world and this world, which is not just dreaming. She is trying to escape from the murderer in both places. I understood the concepts; I just didn't find them interesting. Perhaps, it would be more interesting to young adults who often enjoy the paranormal elements more. Even so, the characters were again interesting and the story moved along nicely. In fact, this added an extra element to the mystery.
The end of the book brings the big surprise, where what had seemed to be true turns out not to be. All the strange pieces fall into place.
I enjoyed the book, in spite of the paranormal part of the story, and I think young adult readers would really like it. I received a copy of the book in exchange for writing a review.
January 9, 2012
Imagine my apathy while I was about to read and review another work of YA fiction. Troubled teenager unexpectedly cast into an unusual situation? Yawn! Another Paranormal Genre novel? Seems that everyone out there thinks they can write in that genre; I got thousands of'em in my TBR pile.
As I was dragging myself to pick a copy of "Finding my Escape" and start reading it, an inner voice said: "Hey, tackle this book! It starts a bit gruesome, I give it that… You know, as a writer, you are also eager for someone else to give your own books a fair chance."
Well, so I began reading this book.
It started somewhat gruesome, alright. Hannah, a teenaged girl walks in on the murder of her mother by a cold-blooded killer, who's after an electronic chip that Hannah's parents had developed for the government. She runs away and bumps her head.
Excellent beginning. Intriguing.
Of course, she predictably lost all recalling of her parents' murder, and moves in with her aunt after a short stay in the hospital. Hannah actually goes to a shrink to help her deal with this horrid event in her life, and here's where the plot presently kicks in.
And I mean: KICK IN. Hannah is suddenly able to enter an alternate, dreamlike reality and, after a few more pages, we're totally unable to distinguish what's real and what's not. The author has achieved a master stroke here, being able to move from reality to the dream world with some very smooth transitions. Paint me green with envy; it makes me wonder if Fran Veal has read any Phillip K. Dick's books.
From that point onward, I was unable to put down the book.
And the end of this book had the sort of little nasty twist that I'll always cherish. Excellent job, Mrs. Veal. I'm eagerly waiting to read some more of your work.
Go ahead: give this book a try.
As I was dragging myself to pick a copy of "Finding my Escape" and start reading it, an inner voice said: "Hey, tackle this book! It starts a bit gruesome, I give it that… You know, as a writer, you are also eager for someone else to give your own books a fair chance."
Well, so I began reading this book.
It started somewhat gruesome, alright. Hannah, a teenaged girl walks in on the murder of her mother by a cold-blooded killer, who's after an electronic chip that Hannah's parents had developed for the government. She runs away and bumps her head.
Excellent beginning. Intriguing.
Of course, she predictably lost all recalling of her parents' murder, and moves in with her aunt after a short stay in the hospital. Hannah actually goes to a shrink to help her deal with this horrid event in her life, and here's where the plot presently kicks in.
And I mean: KICK IN. Hannah is suddenly able to enter an alternate, dreamlike reality and, after a few more pages, we're totally unable to distinguish what's real and what's not. The author has achieved a master stroke here, being able to move from reality to the dream world with some very smooth transitions. Paint me green with envy; it makes me wonder if Fran Veal has read any Phillip K. Dick's books.
From that point onward, I was unable to put down the book.
And the end of this book had the sort of little nasty twist that I'll always cherish. Excellent job, Mrs. Veal. I'm eagerly waiting to read some more of your work.
Go ahead: give this book a try.
May 4, 2014
The author, Fran Veal, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.
“Finding my Escape” has the feeling of an author that carefully considered all elements. The main character, Hannah, witnesses a great trauma and she spends the first part of the book numb. Instead of skipping this transition, which would be the easy route, Veal eases Hannah into her new life in Tennessee. Hannah is a very authentic feeling teen but readers have the knowledge, despite the fact that she can’t remember anything, that this event has changed her profoundly as it would any child. She has lost the two most important people in her life and to come out of that takes strength of spirit which Veal shows us Hannah has in droves though she is helped by aunt and her empathy for the sorrow that character faces. Hannah faces of choice between reality and giving up and with each step into this stunning story, readers aren’t sure of what she’ll choose.
Twelve-year-old Alex also read, “Finding my Escape.” She’s been on a something of a thriller kick of late and I thought she would enjoy this novel. Alex enjoyed the writing style of the story if not some of the boy/girl dynamic. Alex said that Veal is a writer who trusts that her reader can handle what she writes and while the murder of the parents made her feel a little sick she thought it was very important in the broader scheme of the story. How would the killer know what she looks like if Hannah didn’t see her parents die? She also liked the uncertainty of the parallel world.
Parents will want to consider their child’s age and comfort level with difficult subjects before buying “Finding My Escape.” “Finding my Escape” is a novel for all genders and all ages so if you like thrillers with a twist, pick up this wonderfully written novel today.
“Finding my Escape” has the feeling of an author that carefully considered all elements. The main character, Hannah, witnesses a great trauma and she spends the first part of the book numb. Instead of skipping this transition, which would be the easy route, Veal eases Hannah into her new life in Tennessee. Hannah is a very authentic feeling teen but readers have the knowledge, despite the fact that she can’t remember anything, that this event has changed her profoundly as it would any child. She has lost the two most important people in her life and to come out of that takes strength of spirit which Veal shows us Hannah has in droves though she is helped by aunt and her empathy for the sorrow that character faces. Hannah faces of choice between reality and giving up and with each step into this stunning story, readers aren’t sure of what she’ll choose.
Twelve-year-old Alex also read, “Finding my Escape.” She’s been on a something of a thriller kick of late and I thought she would enjoy this novel. Alex enjoyed the writing style of the story if not some of the boy/girl dynamic. Alex said that Veal is a writer who trusts that her reader can handle what she writes and while the murder of the parents made her feel a little sick she thought it was very important in the broader scheme of the story. How would the killer know what she looks like if Hannah didn’t see her parents die? She also liked the uncertainty of the parallel world.
Parents will want to consider their child’s age and comfort level with difficult subjects before buying “Finding My Escape.” “Finding my Escape” is a novel for all genders and all ages so if you like thrillers with a twist, pick up this wonderfully written novel today.
May 29, 2014
Finding My Escape
By Fran Veal
Hannah comes home to find a home invasion in process. Tripping over her father’s dead body she screams and then remembers nothing. When she wakes in the hospital her Aunt is there and she learns both her parents have been killed. Now she lives with her aunt and life is full of grief and fear until she meets the boy in the meadow. Once she meets him things begin to change for Hannah and she feels more alive. He is someone that listens, someone that cares, and someone to be there for her. It is all making sense except people tell her to remember what happened and she has blocked it and every time that memory starts to surface she pushes it back wanting it to stay buried. Her meadow friend is so close to her. Her best friend is coming to live with her and her Aunt for her first year in the new school and then just when things start to seem better Hannah wakes up and has to decide what is dream and what is reality and who is the meadow boy and what does this surreal world mean to her. Fran Veal builds a story around the world of dreams and it keeps you guessing until the end trying to find out what is Hannah’s reality and what is her dream world or do you find out. This is a fantastic read and I look forward to book two.
Bella Doerres Ma Ed 05/29/14
By Fran Veal
Hannah comes home to find a home invasion in process. Tripping over her father’s dead body she screams and then remembers nothing. When she wakes in the hospital her Aunt is there and she learns both her parents have been killed. Now she lives with her aunt and life is full of grief and fear until she meets the boy in the meadow. Once she meets him things begin to change for Hannah and she feels more alive. He is someone that listens, someone that cares, and someone to be there for her. It is all making sense except people tell her to remember what happened and she has blocked it and every time that memory starts to surface she pushes it back wanting it to stay buried. Her meadow friend is so close to her. Her best friend is coming to live with her and her Aunt for her first year in the new school and then just when things start to seem better Hannah wakes up and has to decide what is dream and what is reality and who is the meadow boy and what does this surreal world mean to her. Fran Veal builds a story around the world of dreams and it keeps you guessing until the end trying to find out what is Hannah’s reality and what is her dream world or do you find out. This is a fantastic read and I look forward to book two.
Bella Doerres Ma Ed 05/29/14
September 26, 2013
She’s the girl who lost her parents. She’s the victim of a horrifying crime. She feels like everyone’s staring at her in school. And she’s trying to pick up the pieces of her life.
Author Fran Veal creates a very believable wounded protagonist in the narrator of her young adult novel, Finding my Escape. Hannah’s voice is bright and convincing, without that inner whine of so many first-person teen-girl novels. Descriptions are crisp and clear with appropriate analogies. Hints of fantasy appear perfectly naturally in the dreams of a girl who’s suffered a blow to the head. And mysteries grow with nearly perfect timing.
The romance is well-drawn and well-timed too, as Hannah comes of age and the friend of a lifetime proves to have grown and changed. But a killer is still chasing after her, and conversations still disappear into silence as soon as she appears. Who’s hiding what? And why?
This story will keep readers guessing right to the end, and leaves you longing for more. It’s complete, but I want to stand by the watercooler and ask what everyone else thinks—perhaps I should read more reviews, but I’d rather read book 2 and find out more.
Disclosure: I got lucky and was given an ecopy.
Author Fran Veal creates a very believable wounded protagonist in the narrator of her young adult novel, Finding my Escape. Hannah’s voice is bright and convincing, without that inner whine of so many first-person teen-girl novels. Descriptions are crisp and clear with appropriate analogies. Hints of fantasy appear perfectly naturally in the dreams of a girl who’s suffered a blow to the head. And mysteries grow with nearly perfect timing.
The romance is well-drawn and well-timed too, as Hannah comes of age and the friend of a lifetime proves to have grown and changed. But a killer is still chasing after her, and conversations still disappear into silence as soon as she appears. Who’s hiding what? And why?
This story will keep readers guessing right to the end, and leaves you longing for more. It’s complete, but I want to stand by the watercooler and ask what everyone else thinks—perhaps I should read more reviews, but I’d rather read book 2 and find out more.
Disclosure: I got lucky and was given an ecopy.
July 13, 2014
'Finding My Escape' is the story of teenager Hannah as she goes to live with her aunt after her parents are killed in a home invasion she walked in on and is trying hard not to remember. She begins having some strange dreams and starts trying to figure out why her parents were killed.
I got engrossed in this story very quickly and could not put the book down. It was a good mix of YA paranormal romance and suspenseful mystery/thriller. There's plenty of emotional turmoil for Hannah to go through which made her easy to connect to and worry about. There was an excellent twist and I loved the ending, even though it did raise more questions than it answered. This only made me want to read the next one to find out what happens now! It's the kind of book you will be thinking about for a while after you read it.
Overall an excellent read with bit of a mix of well blended genres in it. Highly recommended to fans of PNR!
I got engrossed in this story very quickly and could not put the book down. It was a good mix of YA paranormal romance and suspenseful mystery/thriller. There's plenty of emotional turmoil for Hannah to go through which made her easy to connect to and worry about. There was an excellent twist and I loved the ending, even though it did raise more questions than it answered. This only made me want to read the next one to find out what happens now! It's the kind of book you will be thinking about for a while after you read it.
Overall an excellent read with bit of a mix of well blended genres in it. Highly recommended to fans of PNR!
August 16, 2013
Wow. Im not quite sure where to start on this review. Hannah walks in on her parents being murdered. She moves in with her Aunt and starts dreaming of a place called Valeria. In this place she meets Josh who trys to help her, but ends up falling in love with her. But in the real world she finds herself falling in love with her best friend Matt. Through this entire story you flip between two realities, that you can't piece together until the end. Once the author reveals the truth you are blown away. Not at all what I was expecting! Needless to say I cannot wait for book 2! WaAR
August 31, 2016
There are a few words to sum up this book: fantastic, well-written, exciting, eerie, enticing and suspenseful. Okay, that's more than a few words, but I will say -- I LOVE THIS BOOK! Fran Veal does a great job of telling a story and keeping the reader engaged, entertained and captivated. When I began this book, it didn't take me long before I couldn't stop reading it. I couldn't put it down! I never expected the various turn of events and the end, well, oh my! I can't wait to read Fran's next book! This is a must read for everyone!
January 18, 2015
Wow I was so surprised by all the twists and turns in this book. I bought this book a while back but it had been buried on my kindle when I was just looking for something different to read this cover caught my eye so I decided to start reading. I am so glad I did as I really enjoyed it. Even though the ending surprised me and left me hanging. The author does a great job of involving you in this story and making you feel like you are part of what is going on. Can't wait to get grab book 2 and see the rest of the story.
July 27, 2014
I really enjoyed this blend of elements, the realistic teen characters thrown into otherworldly, Avatar-esque fantasy and horrific crime. It is not easy to pull off such a combination and have it all work - but here the potentially disparate story elements meld and flow. The characters and dialogue were genuine and likeable. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2013
I thought this was an "AWESOME" book! It had me from the beginning because I'm always into a murder mystery. The romance and suspense wasn't bad either:) Looking forward to a sequel!
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