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Ghost Island
Is Aaron a dream or something much more deadly? Livia Hinson has just begun a Seminar at Sea when a storm hits their yacht. Now, she is stranded with the other students on an island off the coast of California. Far away from her foster home and her heartbreak, Livia finds Aaron, the perfect love. But the only way they can be together is in her dreams. The other students are having tempting dreams of their own, and Livia begins to realize that the storm has blown in more than rain. Is Aaron flesh or spirit? Can he come to her world, or will he pull her into his? Together, they explore the blurred territory between love and illusion on a dangerous journey that will force Livia to make the most important decision of her life.
310 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2011
273 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Hearn Hill
38 books113 followersBonnie Hearn Hill's latest novel of suspense, THE RIVER BELOW, was described by Publishers Weekly as, a "poignant standalone (that) is as much a story about friendship and loss as it is a mystery."
Hill is the author of six thrillers from MIRA Books, the Star Crossed young adult series, and the Kit Doyle series, IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN (2015), GOODBYE FOREVER (2016), and I WISH YOU MISSED ME (2016). With Christopher Allan Poe, she wrote DIGITAL INK: WRITING KILLER FICTION IN THE E-BOOK AGE, a guide for novelists.
Her thrillers INTERN, KILLER BODY, MISTRESS, OFF THE RECORD, LAST WORDS, TIL MORNING, and CUTLINE are now available as e-books.
A national conference speaker and contest judge, she has is proud of the many published authors she has mentored.
Hill is the author of six thrillers from MIRA Books, the Star Crossed young adult series, and the Kit Doyle series, IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN (2015), GOODBYE FOREVER (2016), and I WISH YOU MISSED ME (2016). With Christopher Allan Poe, she wrote DIGITAL INK: WRITING KILLER FICTION IN THE E-BOOK AGE, a guide for novelists.
Her thrillers INTERN, KILLER BODY, MISTRESS, OFF THE RECORD, LAST WORDS, TIL MORNING, and CUTLINE are now available as e-books.
A national conference speaker and contest judge, she has is proud of the many published authors she has mentored.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 4, 2012
Ghost Island is one of those books that grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Seriously, it doesn’t. I was supposed to be studying – I have that a lot, that I’m “supposed” to be studying – and I thought that I could read a chapter of this book during my break. Well, yes, that definitely didn’t happen. I didn’t read a chapter. I read the entire book. Result: study plans, gone entirely. Even from page one, I was intrigued by this book. I wanted to know what was going on, what it was all about, and more importantly, what secret our main character was supposedly hiding. And boy, was I in for a surprise.
Livia has a secret she desperately wants to hide from the other pupils who joined her on this trip. Ms. Gates, one of the chaperones, is the only ones who knows about her secret and still threats her the same. Mr. Freeman, the other chaperone however, behaves towards her like most people do: with caution, condescending and sometimes downright awful. When Livia manages to become friends with Grace, one of the rich girls whose parents sponsored this trip, she knows that if she wants their friendship to last, she’ll have to guard her secret with her life. But once they arrive on Avalon, everything turns out to be different than expected. With a storm brewing, they are trapped on the island for days. Ghostly spirits communicate with them in their dreams, and Livia doesn’t think these spirits are benign. In fact, they might be a threat to their very lives. But who will believe her, especially when the truth about her comes out?
It’s obvious that this isn’t Bonnie Hearn Hill’s first book. It’s way too good for that. The writing is sublime, the way the characters talk is spot-on the way regular teenagers talk. The writing itself is fluent and it doesn’t linger too long on descriptions. The setting is amazing. The island, Avalon, is both atsmospheric and eerie at the same time. On the island of Avalon, the lines between the world of the living and the world of the dead – the spirit world, if you will – are blurring. With a storm racing around the island, our main character are trapped like animals in a cage. There’s no way to escape Avalon until the storm lies down. This reminded me a lot of another paranormal horror book I read recently, Dead Sky Morning by Karina Halle. It has the same setting – a haunted island – and the same tension and atmosphere – the main characters can’t possibly escape the island until the storm lies down. I’ve seen this same setting in a number of horror movies as well, and I’m surprised by how well it works every single time. The sense of dread and despair is instant, the feeling of terror continuous. In Ghost Island, this happens as well. Bonnie Hearn Hill takes the most out of the setting of the novel, and uses atmospheric elements to her utmost example. The result is stunning and terrifying and just the way I like it.
Livia is an intriguing character. She has a very defensive personality, because of the secret she’s hiding. She’s also very much on edge througout the entire story, stressed and leaning towards depression. You would think that these traits don’t make her a very likeable character, but that’s hardly the truth. There’s another side to Livia we meet later on as the novel progresses. She’s caring and protective over her new-found friends, Grace, Johnny and Charles, and she’s not afraid to rebel against the rules to protect them. She is brave and clever, and although I found her a bit naive when it comes to Aaron, the boy she sees in her dreams, I could understand why she’s attracted to him and the promise of real love, especially after what happened with her ex-boyfriend. However, I’m a much bigger fan of Johnny, the potential other love interest.
The side characters are great. I loved Johnny. He was funny and cute and smarter than I initially gave him credit for. Grace was a complicated, but intriguing character. It’s like on the one side she wants to be friends with Livia and she’s level-headed enough to understand what’s really going on, but on the other hand she has the potential to break easily. One of the most interesting things about these characters was that they each had a very distinct personality. On top of that, we also learn their greatest fears and passions, since that’s what the ghosts initially use to lure them into the haunted theater/casino. Talking about ghosts and passions, I find it very original that the ghosts have the ability to find out the character’s greatest desires and use those against them. I’ve never heard or read anything of the kind before, and I thought it was new, refreshing and scary.
The storyline evolved enough to keep me entertained till the very end and, as I already mentioned, the writing was flawless. The pacing is fast and the plot twists are unexpected and unpredictable. I loved the characters and I enjoyed the story. I would definitely recommend this to all fans of paranormal mystery and paranormal romance out there. Since the story ends on a cliffhanger, I can’t wait to read the next part in this series.
Livia has a secret she desperately wants to hide from the other pupils who joined her on this trip. Ms. Gates, one of the chaperones, is the only ones who knows about her secret and still threats her the same. Mr. Freeman, the other chaperone however, behaves towards her like most people do: with caution, condescending and sometimes downright awful. When Livia manages to become friends with Grace, one of the rich girls whose parents sponsored this trip, she knows that if she wants their friendship to last, she’ll have to guard her secret with her life. But once they arrive on Avalon, everything turns out to be different than expected. With a storm brewing, they are trapped on the island for days. Ghostly spirits communicate with them in their dreams, and Livia doesn’t think these spirits are benign. In fact, they might be a threat to their very lives. But who will believe her, especially when the truth about her comes out?
It’s obvious that this isn’t Bonnie Hearn Hill’s first book. It’s way too good for that. The writing is sublime, the way the characters talk is spot-on the way regular teenagers talk. The writing itself is fluent and it doesn’t linger too long on descriptions. The setting is amazing. The island, Avalon, is both atsmospheric and eerie at the same time. On the island of Avalon, the lines between the world of the living and the world of the dead – the spirit world, if you will – are blurring. With a storm racing around the island, our main character are trapped like animals in a cage. There’s no way to escape Avalon until the storm lies down. This reminded me a lot of another paranormal horror book I read recently, Dead Sky Morning by Karina Halle. It has the same setting – a haunted island – and the same tension and atmosphere – the main characters can’t possibly escape the island until the storm lies down. I’ve seen this same setting in a number of horror movies as well, and I’m surprised by how well it works every single time. The sense of dread and despair is instant, the feeling of terror continuous. In Ghost Island, this happens as well. Bonnie Hearn Hill takes the most out of the setting of the novel, and uses atmospheric elements to her utmost example. The result is stunning and terrifying and just the way I like it.
Livia is an intriguing character. She has a very defensive personality, because of the secret she’s hiding. She’s also very much on edge througout the entire story, stressed and leaning towards depression. You would think that these traits don’t make her a very likeable character, but that’s hardly the truth. There’s another side to Livia we meet later on as the novel progresses. She’s caring and protective over her new-found friends, Grace, Johnny and Charles, and she’s not afraid to rebel against the rules to protect them. She is brave and clever, and although I found her a bit naive when it comes to Aaron, the boy she sees in her dreams, I could understand why she’s attracted to him and the promise of real love, especially after what happened with her ex-boyfriend. However, I’m a much bigger fan of Johnny, the potential other love interest.
The side characters are great. I loved Johnny. He was funny and cute and smarter than I initially gave him credit for. Grace was a complicated, but intriguing character. It’s like on the one side she wants to be friends with Livia and she’s level-headed enough to understand what’s really going on, but on the other hand she has the potential to break easily. One of the most interesting things about these characters was that they each had a very distinct personality. On top of that, we also learn their greatest fears and passions, since that’s what the ghosts initially use to lure them into the haunted theater/casino. Talking about ghosts and passions, I find it very original that the ghosts have the ability to find out the character’s greatest desires and use those against them. I’ve never heard or read anything of the kind before, and I thought it was new, refreshing and scary.
The storyline evolved enough to keep me entertained till the very end and, as I already mentioned, the writing was flawless. The pacing is fast and the plot twists are unexpected and unpredictable. I loved the characters and I enjoyed the story. I would definitely recommend this to all fans of paranormal mystery and paranormal romance out there. Since the story ends on a cliffhanger, I can’t wait to read the next part in this series.
July 12, 2012
A great late night, spooky read - preferably with the lights out. Ghost Island starts out detailing a trip a bunch of students are about to embark on as they participate in a "Seminar at Sea" but end up on an island to wait out a storm. It reminds me a lot of the books I used to read as a teenager by Christopher Pike, where the lines of reality are blurred and you can never tell what is real and what isn't.
Livia seems to be a pretty average teenage girl that has had a hard time recently. Her mom has disappeared, her dad has been accused of murdering her, she's been in foster care and her boyfriend has broken up with her. Not the easiest few months for a teenage girl. When a teacher offers her a chance to attend a "Seminar at Sea" for the summer, she sees her chance to escape her life for a few weeks.
Unfortunately, before they can begin their trip they get stranded on an island to wait out a storm, but strange things begin to happen. Nothing is what it seems, dreams are strangely real and some of the other kids are....different when they wake up.
I loved the mystery and suspense of this story. It's one of those delicious plots where nothing is what it seems and when you think you have figured out what or who is real, there is a twist that leaves you digging back in. The characters were typical teenagers and well portrayed. Livia was very likeable but most of the others left me realistically equally liking and disliking them.The only thing that left me a little perplexed, and was never really explained by the end, was the complete about face of one character's behavior.
The ending was left open enough with some of the characters that it leaves you with a few questions. A possible sequel? I'm not sure. There are enough questions left with the characters that it's possible, but I'm not sure where the plot would go. It would be fun to find out though. Definitely worth checking out.
Livia seems to be a pretty average teenage girl that has had a hard time recently. Her mom has disappeared, her dad has been accused of murdering her, she's been in foster care and her boyfriend has broken up with her. Not the easiest few months for a teenage girl. When a teacher offers her a chance to attend a "Seminar at Sea" for the summer, she sees her chance to escape her life for a few weeks.
Unfortunately, before they can begin their trip they get stranded on an island to wait out a storm, but strange things begin to happen. Nothing is what it seems, dreams are strangely real and some of the other kids are....different when they wake up.
I loved the mystery and suspense of this story. It's one of those delicious plots where nothing is what it seems and when you think you have figured out what or who is real, there is a twist that leaves you digging back in. The characters were typical teenagers and well portrayed. Livia was very likeable but most of the others left me realistically equally liking and disliking them.The only thing that left me a little perplexed, and was never really explained by the end, was the complete about face of one character's behavior.
The ending was left open enough with some of the characters that it leaves you with a few questions. A possible sequel? I'm not sure. There are enough questions left with the characters that it's possible, but I'm not sure where the plot would go. It would be fun to find out though. Definitely worth checking out.
May 1, 2012
Recommended for YA and Adults.
The goal was to set sail to Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island, stay there for two nights, then take a cruise boat to Mexico. The sky grew dark, rain hit, and a storm warning was issued, leaving Livia and her friends stranded on the island and the others kids stranded on the yacht.
Ghosts from the past invade Livia's friends dreams, Aaron invades hers, promising them all of the things they want most in life.
Is Aaron a ghost or is he real? It's up to Livia to figure out what is going on. Their chaperone doesn't believe her when she explains to her what's happening, which leaves only the support of Livia's friends. Will they be able to resist the temptations of the ghosts?
Ghost Island is a great read! I felt like I was trying to solve a puzzle on who was real, who was a ghost, who could be trusted, and who might just be possessed! I am the type of reader that enjoys trying to figure out the ending of a book before I get there, so this book was lots of fun for me. I'm also very curious if Livia will ever find out who Aaron really is.
The goal was to set sail to Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island, stay there for two nights, then take a cruise boat to Mexico. The sky grew dark, rain hit, and a storm warning was issued, leaving Livia and her friends stranded on the island and the others kids stranded on the yacht.
Ghosts from the past invade Livia's friends dreams, Aaron invades hers, promising them all of the things they want most in life.
Is Aaron a ghost or is he real? It's up to Livia to figure out what is going on. Their chaperone doesn't believe her when she explains to her what's happening, which leaves only the support of Livia's friends. Will they be able to resist the temptations of the ghosts?
Ghost Island is a great read! I felt like I was trying to solve a puzzle on who was real, who was a ghost, who could be trusted, and who might just be possessed! I am the type of reader that enjoys trying to figure out the ending of a book before I get there, so this book was lots of fun for me. I'm also very curious if Livia will ever find out who Aaron really is.
October 7, 2011
Ghost Island is a great ghost story! With all the supernatural elements needed for a good pull-the-covers-over-your-head, don't-turn-out-the-lights story, Bonnie was able to capture not only the fragility of teen love but also great examples of what teens, and adults, secretly long for. As the spirits try to channel what each character wants most, I found myself turning pages to find out what and who was next on their list and why. Definitely recommend!
October 14, 2011
Spectacular! This is one of those books that you pick up and can't put down. A storm strands Livia Hinson on Catalina Island. Soon after, she and her classmates start sharing the same dreams. From there, the story launches in a character-driven roller coaster that is part romance, mystery, and suspense, with plenty of creepy supernaturals that keep you guessing to the very end. Love it.
July 19, 2012
Bonnie Hill lived up to her reputation of a great writer. GHOST ISLAND was the first Young Adult novel I’ve ever read, and though reading from the perspective of a teenage girl was something new for me, I enjoyed this book very much. If you are a fan of paranormal love, you will love Hill’s GHOST ISLAND.
July 1, 2013
One of my favorite things to do is curl up and read a good ghost story. Ghost Island has everything that makes a ghost story intriguing. Interesting characters, a believable heroine and plenty of twists, turns and mystery.
Although the characters are teenagers and it's geared to an YA crowd, I enjoyed it just as much as my 16 year old daughter did.
Highly recommended.
Although the characters are teenagers and it's geared to an YA crowd, I enjoyed it just as much as my 16 year old daughter did.
Highly recommended.
September 3, 2011
Prepare for goosebumps, OMG!'s and a chilling good time. Bonnie Hearn Hill's latest book will have you wondering who's real, who's not, and who is somewhere between. I couldn't put it down.
December 30, 2011
GENRE: Horror/Paranormal
THEME: Ghost
RECEIVED: For The Bookish Snob Promotions
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
Livia Hinson just wants to get away from her life for a while; her past seems to follow her everywhere she goes. When an opportunity to join a seminar at sea is offered by one of her teachers, she takes the chance to be around people who don’t know about her past. Little does she know the island she’s heading to has a whole lot of secrets itself and it may want Livia to stay a lot longer than she wants.
Ghost Island is a great story to read on a stormy night. Horror is a big favorite of mine and when its done right it always gives me the chills. Bonnie Hill does a great job making the island itself really creepy and the ghost that haunt it unusual and mysterious. I can’t imagine being trapped on an island in the middle of a big storm, with ghost at every turn.
Livi is a young girl who has seeing ghost since she was little and coming to this island she soon realizes that these ghost have a plans of his or her own. The secondary characters, which are classmates of Livi were entertaining and frustrating in their own was, they each pulled the story along nicely. Livi makes a lot of decisions that frustrated me as well, also at many points where I felt she should of stuck up for herself. I like my leads a bit tougher and especially with her tough past, I would of liked for her to actually fight back.
Overall this was a fast read, the backstory behind the ghost was the biggest pull for me and it really made Livi’s situation more intense being stuck on the island. I felt some parts were a bit rushed and the decisions that the students make are a little rash at some point but I still enjoyed the ride seeing if this group ever got off the island. If you love horror, romance and lots of ghost, then I recommend Ghost Island.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel that fans of A Fallen Angel series by Heather Terrell and Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood will definitely want to read!
THEME: Ghost
RECEIVED: For The Bookish Snob Promotions
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
Livia Hinson just wants to get away from her life for a while; her past seems to follow her everywhere she goes. When an opportunity to join a seminar at sea is offered by one of her teachers, she takes the chance to be around people who don’t know about her past. Little does she know the island she’s heading to has a whole lot of secrets itself and it may want Livia to stay a lot longer than she wants.
Ghost Island is a great story to read on a stormy night. Horror is a big favorite of mine and when its done right it always gives me the chills. Bonnie Hill does a great job making the island itself really creepy and the ghost that haunt it unusual and mysterious. I can’t imagine being trapped on an island in the middle of a big storm, with ghost at every turn.
Livi is a young girl who has seeing ghost since she was little and coming to this island she soon realizes that these ghost have a plans of his or her own. The secondary characters, which are classmates of Livi were entertaining and frustrating in their own was, they each pulled the story along nicely. Livi makes a lot of decisions that frustrated me as well, also at many points where I felt she should of stuck up for herself. I like my leads a bit tougher and especially with her tough past, I would of liked for her to actually fight back.
Overall this was a fast read, the backstory behind the ghost was the biggest pull for me and it really made Livi’s situation more intense being stuck on the island. I felt some parts were a bit rushed and the decisions that the students make are a little rash at some point but I still enjoyed the ride seeing if this group ever got off the island. If you love horror, romance and lots of ghost, then I recommend Ghost Island.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel that fans of A Fallen Angel series by Heather Terrell and Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood will definitely want to read!
March 13, 2023
In Bonnie Hearn Hills "Gefangen in Avalon" geht es um Livia Hanson, ein Mädchen aus einem Waisenhaus, dessen Vater aufgrund der Aussage ihres Bruders des Mordes an ihrer Mutter verurteilt wurde, obwohl sie weder tot noch lebendig je wieder gesehen wurde.
Wegen ihrer schwierigen familären Situation ist es für sie eine absolut neue Erfahrung, dass sich ihre Lehrerin Ms Gates für sie einsetzte, damit sie mit auf die Kreuzfahrt nach Mexiko gehen konnte.
Auf dem Schiff lernt sie Grace kennen, eine offensichtliche Tochter aus gutem Hause, ein schüchternes Mädchen namens Emily und die beiden Jungen Johnny und Charles. Während Charles ein Auge auf Grace geworfen hat, scheint Johnny mit Livia flirten zu wollen.
Aufgrund schwerer Unwetterwarnungen sind sie gezwungen ihre Reise kurz zu unterbrechen und an Land zu gehen. Livia hat noch vor ihrer Ankunft einen Traum über einen Jungen namens Aaron, dem sie sofort sehr zu gefallen scheint.
Doch das verrückteste: Auch die anderen haben merkwürdige Träume von einem Ort, an dem sie nie zuvor waren.
Als Emily sich plötzlich sehr stark verändert, ahnen die neuen Freunde, dass der gewaltige Sturm nicht ihre einzige Sorge ist...
Mir hat diese Geschichte nicht ganz so gefallen. Die Charaktere waren zu extrem schnell unwiderruflich ineinander verliebt, zu extrem schnell Freunde oder Feinde. Livia selbst steht natürlich im Mittelpunkt, aber die Ratschläge, die sie den anderen gibt und von denen sie sagt sie seien Überlebenswichtig, scheinen für sie selbst nicht zu gelten - was sie sehr unsympathisch gemacht hat.
Auch der Plot konnte mich nicht so sehr fesseln, wie ich es von einer mystery-Gruselgeschichte erwartet hätte.
Das Ende war natürlich wieder so eine Art Augenöffner, wo man die Handlungen nochmal in einem neuen Licht sehen konnte, aber das mir im ganzen die Story eher weniger zusagt, ist leider geblieben.
Wegen ihrer schwierigen familären Situation ist es für sie eine absolut neue Erfahrung, dass sich ihre Lehrerin Ms Gates für sie einsetzte, damit sie mit auf die Kreuzfahrt nach Mexiko gehen konnte.
Auf dem Schiff lernt sie Grace kennen, eine offensichtliche Tochter aus gutem Hause, ein schüchternes Mädchen namens Emily und die beiden Jungen Johnny und Charles. Während Charles ein Auge auf Grace geworfen hat, scheint Johnny mit Livia flirten zu wollen.
Aufgrund schwerer Unwetterwarnungen sind sie gezwungen ihre Reise kurz zu unterbrechen und an Land zu gehen. Livia hat noch vor ihrer Ankunft einen Traum über einen Jungen namens Aaron, dem sie sofort sehr zu gefallen scheint.
Doch das verrückteste: Auch die anderen haben merkwürdige Träume von einem Ort, an dem sie nie zuvor waren.
Als Emily sich plötzlich sehr stark verändert, ahnen die neuen Freunde, dass der gewaltige Sturm nicht ihre einzige Sorge ist...
Mir hat diese Geschichte nicht ganz so gefallen. Die Charaktere waren zu extrem schnell unwiderruflich ineinander verliebt, zu extrem schnell Freunde oder Feinde. Livia selbst steht natürlich im Mittelpunkt, aber die Ratschläge, die sie den anderen gibt und von denen sie sagt sie seien Überlebenswichtig, scheinen für sie selbst nicht zu gelten - was sie sehr unsympathisch gemacht hat.
Auch der Plot konnte mich nicht so sehr fesseln, wie ich es von einer mystery-Gruselgeschichte erwartet hätte.
Das Ende war natürlich wieder so eine Art Augenöffner, wo man die Handlungen nochmal in einem neuen Licht sehen konnte, aber das mir im ganzen die Story eher weniger zusagt, ist leider geblieben.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2012
I recently read Ghost Island not knowing what to expect. It's advertised as a Young Adult/Parnormal and I'm an older guy who reads mostly Christian fiction. I read Ghost Island because of the author.
I'm glad I did. I'd been trying for months to start writing a third novel, my first without Bonnie Hearn Hill's assistance via an online class. As soon as I read Ghost Island, everything she'd taught us came back to me. What helped most was a reminder to use scene goals and conflicts.
Now I've written two chapters of my new book and have a decent outline for the rest of the book. Thanks, Bonnie.
Oh, and by the way, you should read Ghost Island. You don't have to be a writer looking for an example or even a Young Adult to enjoy this book. One interesting tidbit is that it is set in Catalina. Some of you Bonnie fans might recall reading her Thriller, Killer Body, which also had some scenes there.
I'm glad I did. I'd been trying for months to start writing a third novel, my first without Bonnie Hearn Hill's assistance via an online class. As soon as I read Ghost Island, everything she'd taught us came back to me. What helped most was a reminder to use scene goals and conflicts.
Now I've written two chapters of my new book and have a decent outline for the rest of the book. Thanks, Bonnie.
Oh, and by the way, you should read Ghost Island. You don't have to be a writer looking for an example or even a Young Adult to enjoy this book. One interesting tidbit is that it is set in Catalina. Some of you Bonnie fans might recall reading her Thriller, Killer Body, which also had some scenes there.
September 9, 2011
A great, creepy read about ghosts, a storm, and romance! If you like ghost stories, the perfect book for fall and October. :)
October 28, 2013
Seriously you have no idea what is happening until the last couple pages!
May 19, 2016
An intriguing read. I'll re-read it, and then write a full review.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews