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Beyond the Eyes #1
Beyond the Eyes
Paige knows evil exists in this world, but she never imagined it would want something from her.
In the small town of Astoria, Oregon, surrounded by deep forest and endless mountains, another world thrives . . . a menacing one where dark spirits dwell in soulless humans. Seventeen-year-old Paige Reed lives in this lush, picturesque setting. She’s not your average teen, though she appears to be. Not only is she heartsick, but she’s been receiving cryptic premonitions from a ghostly voice since the age of four. After she hears a haunting message about herself, supernatural occurrences begin to confuse her.
Nathan Caswell seems to peer into Paige’s soul, evoking a magnetic energy between them they cannot deny. They’re connected. But he’s no ordinary guy. He tracks dark spirits and becomes alarmed when they set their sights on Paige.
When two power-hungry malevolent beings make demands on her, she realizes then the fate of mankind rest in her hands. Her world quickly turns inside out where the impossible becomes possible, and in the end, she’s faced with a life-changing decision that will not only alter her existence but the world as she knows it.
Can a deeply troubled teen overcome her own demons in order to fight those lurking about? With the past and present colliding, Paige must make the ultimate mortal choice. Will it be the right one?
In the small town of Astoria, Oregon, surrounded by deep forest and endless mountains, another world thrives . . . a menacing one where dark spirits dwell in soulless humans. Seventeen-year-old Paige Reed lives in this lush, picturesque setting. She’s not your average teen, though she appears to be. Not only is she heartsick, but she’s been receiving cryptic premonitions from a ghostly voice since the age of four. After she hears a haunting message about herself, supernatural occurrences begin to confuse her.
Nathan Caswell seems to peer into Paige’s soul, evoking a magnetic energy between them they cannot deny. They’re connected. But he’s no ordinary guy. He tracks dark spirits and becomes alarmed when they set their sights on Paige.
When two power-hungry malevolent beings make demands on her, she realizes then the fate of mankind rest in her hands. Her world quickly turns inside out where the impossible becomes possible, and in the end, she’s faced with a life-changing decision that will not only alter her existence but the world as she knows it.
Can a deeply troubled teen overcome her own demons in order to fight those lurking about? With the past and present colliding, Paige must make the ultimate mortal choice. Will it be the right one?
296 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2012
147 people are currently reading
1618 people want to read
About the author
Rebekkah Ford
12 books273 followersRebekkah Ford is an award-winning author who writes paranormal romance and fantasy novels. She's also a blogger and an explorer in search of adventure, new discoveries, and to live life minimally and deliberately.
She believes we weren't born to just pay bills and die.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
May 1, 2015
One of my New Year's resolution for 2014 is to give indie authors a shot and see what good books are hiding in self-publishing, if not obscurity.
BEYOND THE EYES was reaffirming that I made a good decision there. It is a solid YA paranormal romance that is developing an intriguing mythos and characters with personality. The first book is obviously setting some things in motion for readers to follow into next books while offering some resolution within the novel itself.
I think Nathan, the love interest in this book comes off as attentive without being overbearing or creepy - which sometimes unintentionally manifests in YA. I can see why some readers would project on him as "ideal boyfriend" material and didn't find the romantic plot in this to feel superficial or forced.
The adolescent characters - specifically Paige and her friends - spoke in a way that was consistent to their ages, expected maturity and lifestyles. I'm sure some readers might find it grating or lackluster but I felt there was an authenticity there that might go under appreciated. Teenagers aren't as complicated or self-aware as adults so there was sincerity to their tones and motivations at times.
I'm sure some people will complain about the grammar or typos in this but they weren't so numerous or jarring that it pulled me out of the novel. I don't think it's fair to deduct a star from a self-published book that lacked the same editing as one from a publishing house, especially if it the story compensates for the oversights.
I feel BEYOND THE EYES is an entertaining read for anyone who is a fan of the YA genre and paranormal romance.
BEYOND THE EYES was reaffirming that I made a good decision there. It is a solid YA paranormal romance that is developing an intriguing mythos and characters with personality. The first book is obviously setting some things in motion for readers to follow into next books while offering some resolution within the novel itself.
I think Nathan, the love interest in this book comes off as attentive without being overbearing or creepy - which sometimes unintentionally manifests in YA. I can see why some readers would project on him as "ideal boyfriend" material and didn't find the romantic plot in this to feel superficial or forced.
The adolescent characters - specifically Paige and her friends - spoke in a way that was consistent to their ages, expected maturity and lifestyles. I'm sure some readers might find it grating or lackluster but I felt there was an authenticity there that might go under appreciated. Teenagers aren't as complicated or self-aware as adults so there was sincerity to their tones and motivations at times.
I'm sure some people will complain about the grammar or typos in this but they weren't so numerous or jarring that it pulled me out of the novel. I don't think it's fair to deduct a star from a self-published book that lacked the same editing as one from a publishing house, especially if it the story compensates for the oversights.
I feel BEYOND THE EYES is an entertaining read for anyone who is a fan of the YA genre and paranormal romance.
January 3, 2014
One of my New Year's resolution for 2014 is to give indie authors a shot and see what good books are hiding in self-publishing, if not obscurity.
Beyond the Eyes was reaffirming that I made a good decision there. It is a solid YA paranormal romance that is developing an intriguing mythos and characters with personality. The first book is obviously setting some things in motion for readers to follow into next books while offering some resolution within the novel itself.
I think Nathan, the love interest in this book comes off as attentive without being overbearing or creepy - which sometimes unintentionally manifests in YA. I can see why some readers would project on him as "ideal boyfriend" material and didn't find the romantic plot in this to feel superficial or forced.
The adolescent characters - specifically Paige and her friends - spoke in a way that was consistent to their ages, expected maturity and lifestyles. I'm sure some readers might find it grating or lackluster but I felt there was an authenticity there that might go under appreciated. Teenagers aren't as complicated or self-aware as adults so there was sincerity to their tones and motivations at times.
I'm sure some people will complain about the grammar or typos in this but they weren't so numerous or jarring that it pulled me out of the novel. I don't think it's fair to deduct a star from a self-published book that lacked the same editing as one from a publishing house, especially if it the story compensates for the oversights.
I feel Beyond the Eyes is an entertaining read for anyone who is a fan of the YA genre and paranormal romance.
Beyond the Eyes was reaffirming that I made a good decision there. It is a solid YA paranormal romance that is developing an intriguing mythos and characters with personality. The first book is obviously setting some things in motion for readers to follow into next books while offering some resolution within the novel itself.
I think Nathan, the love interest in this book comes off as attentive without being overbearing or creepy - which sometimes unintentionally manifests in YA. I can see why some readers would project on him as "ideal boyfriend" material and didn't find the romantic plot in this to feel superficial or forced.
The adolescent characters - specifically Paige and her friends - spoke in a way that was consistent to their ages, expected maturity and lifestyles. I'm sure some readers might find it grating or lackluster but I felt there was an authenticity there that might go under appreciated. Teenagers aren't as complicated or self-aware as adults so there was sincerity to their tones and motivations at times.
I'm sure some people will complain about the grammar or typos in this but they weren't so numerous or jarring that it pulled me out of the novel. I don't think it's fair to deduct a star from a self-published book that lacked the same editing as one from a publishing house, especially if it the story compensates for the oversights.
I feel Beyond the Eyes is an entertaining read for anyone who is a fan of the YA genre and paranormal romance.
January 6, 2013
Beyond the Eyes is the first book in Rebekkah Ford's first series, and I loved it! I have read other reviews on this book, and honestly I don't think this book deserves any lower than a 4 out of 5 stars. I personally give it a 5 out of 5 (4 out of 5 if I factored in grammatical errors - but I like to review the story, not the editing). The majority of the reviewers agree with me, which makes me very happy!
I love that her story is unique. The paranormal world that she created is a first, for me at least. I love that it isn't vampires and werewolves. It's different and hasn't been repeated over and over again.
Paige is a 17 year old girl who has cryptic premonitions that he is having a hard time understanding. She lost her father at the young age of four. Her mother is a traveling nurse, and isn't around much. She keeps herself busy with school and hanging out with her friends: Carrie, Tree, and Matt. She meets swoon-worthy Nathan very early in the book, and I find him very interesting and I ached to get to know him better ;-)
Thankfully, we get to know him quite well! One of the highlights of this YA Paranormal Romance is the romantic relationship with Paige and Nathan. They do progress at a bit of a faster rate than in other novels, but I don't feel that it was too fast. He is old and knows what he wants (I'm not going to say how old because I'm not into spoilers - just know that he's old enough!), and she had to grow up at a young age due to her mom's job keeping her away from home; she also has been in a serious relationship in the past that lasted a few years. Paige knows how a relationship works and I would even venture to say that she was able to make an educated decision in regards to Nathan.
While I missed the butterflies of experiencing the growth of their relationship, it didn't take anything away from the story for me at all. With that in mind, I love that she wrote their relationship in a realistic way - and I got plenty of warm fuzzies from that! I'm so sick of YA novels pretending that these couples aren't having some kind of romantic "shenanigans!" Things are different now than they were when even I was a teenager. And it isn't written in a way that it is inappropriate for even a 14 or 15 year old to read - don't worry moms! They've seen worse on MTV than they'll read in this book. It was actually refreshing. If you want something to compare the "Hotness Factor," I would say it is more hot than Breaking Dawn, and much colder than Fifty Shades of Grey (like an ice cube compared to that series)...
Here is what confuses me about other reviews I have read about this book:
One reviewer said that she felt the main character, Paige, was too whiny and cried a lot. There were a few times that she did cry; we, as adults, have to remember that she is a hormonal 17 year old, who suffers a great loss (fair warning - you'll need a bit of tissue)! Her mother is very flighty. She is a travelling nurse who is never around (which we find out later is because it hurts her to be around her daughter because she reminds her too much of her dead husband - and she tells Paige this!), so Paige has been, basically, raising herself. And the last, most common issue among reviewers who rated less than 4 - Paige is selfish. Again, Paige is 17 years old. If she was selfless and wasn't hormonal, I would be giving the book a much lower rating - because it wouldn't be believable. Considering the circumstances surrounding Paige's life, I find nothing odd about her personality. I agree that she is all of these things, and even some more that I could add to the list, but I see nothing out of the ordinary with her behavior in comparison to any other teenage girl her age.
I, for one, am very excited to continue on Paige's journey. I can't wait to read the second book, Dark Spirits, to see her growth. Also, for those Grammar Nazi's: there were a few mistakes, but none that just screamed at you; more than mass market books, but much less than most self published books I've read (and there have been a lot).
I love that her story is unique. The paranormal world that she created is a first, for me at least. I love that it isn't vampires and werewolves. It's different and hasn't been repeated over and over again.
Paige is a 17 year old girl who has cryptic premonitions that he is having a hard time understanding. She lost her father at the young age of four. Her mother is a traveling nurse, and isn't around much. She keeps herself busy with school and hanging out with her friends: Carrie, Tree, and Matt. She meets swoon-worthy Nathan very early in the book, and I find him very interesting and I ached to get to know him better ;-)
Thankfully, we get to know him quite well! One of the highlights of this YA Paranormal Romance is the romantic relationship with Paige and Nathan. They do progress at a bit of a faster rate than in other novels, but I don't feel that it was too fast. He is old and knows what he wants (I'm not going to say how old because I'm not into spoilers - just know that he's old enough!), and she had to grow up at a young age due to her mom's job keeping her away from home; she also has been in a serious relationship in the past that lasted a few years. Paige knows how a relationship works and I would even venture to say that she was able to make an educated decision in regards to Nathan.
While I missed the butterflies of experiencing the growth of their relationship, it didn't take anything away from the story for me at all. With that in mind, I love that she wrote their relationship in a realistic way - and I got plenty of warm fuzzies from that! I'm so sick of YA novels pretending that these couples aren't having some kind of romantic "shenanigans!" Things are different now than they were when even I was a teenager. And it isn't written in a way that it is inappropriate for even a 14 or 15 year old to read - don't worry moms! They've seen worse on MTV than they'll read in this book. It was actually refreshing. If you want something to compare the "Hotness Factor," I would say it is more hot than Breaking Dawn, and much colder than Fifty Shades of Grey (like an ice cube compared to that series)...
Here is what confuses me about other reviews I have read about this book:
One reviewer said that she felt the main character, Paige, was too whiny and cried a lot. There were a few times that she did cry; we, as adults, have to remember that she is a hormonal 17 year old, who suffers a great loss (fair warning - you'll need a bit of tissue)! Her mother is very flighty. She is a travelling nurse who is never around (which we find out later is because it hurts her to be around her daughter because she reminds her too much of her dead husband - and she tells Paige this!), so Paige has been, basically, raising herself. And the last, most common issue among reviewers who rated less than 4 - Paige is selfish. Again, Paige is 17 years old. If she was selfless and wasn't hormonal, I would be giving the book a much lower rating - because it wouldn't be believable. Considering the circumstances surrounding Paige's life, I find nothing odd about her personality. I agree that she is all of these things, and even some more that I could add to the list, but I see nothing out of the ordinary with her behavior in comparison to any other teenage girl her age.
I, for one, am very excited to continue on Paige's journey. I can't wait to read the second book, Dark Spirits, to see her growth. Also, for those Grammar Nazi's: there were a few mistakes, but none that just screamed at you; more than mass market books, but much less than most self published books I've read (and there have been a lot).
January 24, 2013
Paige Reed, a high school girl on the cusp of her eighteenth birthday, has been bottling up the pain of her father’s death, and the loneliness caused by her absentee mother, for years.
On a routine night out with her best friends, she suddenly has an out of body experience before passing out. Upon awakening, she finds herself face-to-face with a handsome stranger. In the days that follow, she becomes more and more enthralled with the mysterious Nathan Caswell. As their attraction to one another blooms into intense love, she becomes entangled in a world of dark spirits, danger, and ancients secrets. Her life is thrown into a tail spin when she learns that the dark spirits have a particular interest in her, which may be the only thing keeping her alive…for now. Furthermore, not only must she face the truth of her father’s death, she must also make a decision that will change her life forever.
This is a novel that kept me turning pages and left me wishing for more. Thankfully, that wish will be granted with the upcoming follow-up novel, Dark Spirits. Ms. Ford’s characters are lovable and engaging, and I can hardly wait to continue their journey.
On a routine night out with her best friends, she suddenly has an out of body experience before passing out. Upon awakening, she finds herself face-to-face with a handsome stranger. In the days that follow, she becomes more and more enthralled with the mysterious Nathan Caswell. As their attraction to one another blooms into intense love, she becomes entangled in a world of dark spirits, danger, and ancients secrets. Her life is thrown into a tail spin when she learns that the dark spirits have a particular interest in her, which may be the only thing keeping her alive…for now. Furthermore, not only must she face the truth of her father’s death, she must also make a decision that will change her life forever.
This is a novel that kept me turning pages and left me wishing for more. Thankfully, that wish will be granted with the upcoming follow-up novel, Dark Spirits. Ms. Ford’s characters are lovable and engaging, and I can hardly wait to continue their journey.
June 13, 2012
I loved this 24 chapter book. It had everything: drama, action, mystery, romance, and suspense. The story was told through Paige’s first person point-of-view. I appreciated that Rebekkah Ford made an effort to get readers caring about all the characters.
She had an amazing talent with characterization and plot. All the people in the story–heroes, villains, main, supporting–were three-dimensional. Even though Paige was the main one, it didn’t feel like just her story. Everyone got a chance to show their personalities–like an ensemble cast. Jack (a.k.a. Tree) was my favorite. The entire novel was interesting–no boring parts at all. The action flowed well, and the mystery, suspense had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It kept me motivated to continue reading to the end.
The author was also brilliant with the emotional aspect of the story. I fell in love with all the drama. In fact, towards the ending, every time Paige’s mother was mentioned, I shed a tear. This story really tugged at my heartstrings. I thought it was cute how Carrie had a crush on Matt, then just like that, I felt bad for Tree because he had feelings for her. It broke my heart that Paige’s mother avoided her company (said it hurt too much). The way Rebekkah Ford described things had me lost in the story. I felt what they felt. I understood their struggles, heartache, butterflies of falling in love, and living life the best they could.
The characters were definitely relatable, and that’s why it was easy for me to root for them to have a happy ending.
I can’t discuss Beyond the Eyes without talking about the sweet romance. I loved the beautiful imagery. If you’re a hopeless romantic, then you’ll fall in love with most of the scenes in the book. There was a love triangle between Carrie, Tree, and Matt (all best friends with Paige). Nathan and Paige fell in love at first sight. So cute! Then later, Brayden (love the name) came in the picture to form another love triangle. Nathan and Brayden were both intense with their feelings for Paige, so you can imagine all the conflict and tension involved. The saddest of all, Paige’s parents love for one another. Her mom had been heartbroken since her dad passed away.
I also enjoyed the friendship relationships. Even though they were only teens, they had been through so much pain that they bonded as a family. I respected their group and appreciated how they had each other’s back no matter what. Being a loner, I don’t know what that feels like, so it felt good to get a glimpse of it.
My favorite scenes were: the funeral/wake scene, Nathan and Paige’s first date, when Paige plays Celtic music for her mom and Nathan, and the classroom scene where her teacher finally shows a softer side.
The story was great with providing subtle clues about something that just wasn’t ordinary. For example, I knew right away that something was up with Mr. Kitty. If Paige’s ears rang, watch out! The cliffhanger ended perfectly, and I can’t wait to read the next set of books. Paige summed it up perfectly: “Bring it on!”
I just wanted to add that the author’s family grew up believing in the supernatural world, which I think is awesome. That’s a cool thing to find inspiration from.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
She had an amazing talent with characterization and plot. All the people in the story–heroes, villains, main, supporting–were three-dimensional. Even though Paige was the main one, it didn’t feel like just her story. Everyone got a chance to show their personalities–like an ensemble cast. Jack (a.k.a. Tree) was my favorite. The entire novel was interesting–no boring parts at all. The action flowed well, and the mystery, suspense had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It kept me motivated to continue reading to the end.
The author was also brilliant with the emotional aspect of the story. I fell in love with all the drama. In fact, towards the ending, every time Paige’s mother was mentioned, I shed a tear. This story really tugged at my heartstrings. I thought it was cute how Carrie had a crush on Matt, then just like that, I felt bad for Tree because he had feelings for her. It broke my heart that Paige’s mother avoided her company (said it hurt too much). The way Rebekkah Ford described things had me lost in the story. I felt what they felt. I understood their struggles, heartache, butterflies of falling in love, and living life the best they could.
The characters were definitely relatable, and that’s why it was easy for me to root for them to have a happy ending.
I can’t discuss Beyond the Eyes without talking about the sweet romance. I loved the beautiful imagery. If you’re a hopeless romantic, then you’ll fall in love with most of the scenes in the book. There was a love triangle between Carrie, Tree, and Matt (all best friends with Paige). Nathan and Paige fell in love at first sight. So cute! Then later, Brayden (love the name) came in the picture to form another love triangle. Nathan and Brayden were both intense with their feelings for Paige, so you can imagine all the conflict and tension involved. The saddest of all, Paige’s parents love for one another. Her mom had been heartbroken since her dad passed away.
I also enjoyed the friendship relationships. Even though they were only teens, they had been through so much pain that they bonded as a family. I respected their group and appreciated how they had each other’s back no matter what. Being a loner, I don’t know what that feels like, so it felt good to get a glimpse of it.
My favorite scenes were: the funeral/wake scene, Nathan and Paige’s first date, when Paige plays Celtic music for her mom and Nathan, and the classroom scene where her teacher finally shows a softer side.
The story was great with providing subtle clues about something that just wasn’t ordinary. For example, I knew right away that something was up with Mr. Kitty. If Paige’s ears rang, watch out! The cliffhanger ended perfectly, and I can’t wait to read the next set of books. Paige summed it up perfectly: “Bring it on!”
I just wanted to add that the author’s family grew up believing in the supernatural world, which I think is awesome. That’s a cool thing to find inspiration from.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
June 6, 2012
This is a new, exciting young adult series that will captivate teens and adults alike. If you enjoy paranormal stories with a good dose of romance, then this one is for you.
Paige has premonitions. Other than that she is a normal teenage girl with high school to worry about and friendships to maintain. But the premonitions are becoming stronger and stronger, demanding more attention. This is where we meet her, as she is trying to figure out how to manage her life. Paige is a fun character to read about. She is no damsel in distress, which definitely is a relief. She is spunky, with a strong personality that is not dimmed by any other character. Nathan, her love interest, is a good contrast to her. He is more staid, more cautious, and he and Paige develop a relationship that is much healthier than the ones we usually see in the young adult genre.
The writing is fresh and there is a good sense of rhythm to the prose, making it a pleasant read, even for the more finicky teens out there. I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, different read. And since this is just the beginning of the series, they’ll be more books to come!
Paige has premonitions. Other than that she is a normal teenage girl with high school to worry about and friendships to maintain. But the premonitions are becoming stronger and stronger, demanding more attention. This is where we meet her, as she is trying to figure out how to manage her life. Paige is a fun character to read about. She is no damsel in distress, which definitely is a relief. She is spunky, with a strong personality that is not dimmed by any other character. Nathan, her love interest, is a good contrast to her. He is more staid, more cautious, and he and Paige develop a relationship that is much healthier than the ones we usually see in the young adult genre.
The writing is fresh and there is a good sense of rhythm to the prose, making it a pleasant read, even for the more finicky teens out there. I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, different read. And since this is just the beginning of the series, they’ll be more books to come!
June 16, 2012
I laughed. I cried. My heart soared. My heart broke. I fell in love. I felt hatred. There was romance, heartache, longing, friendship, and distress. This book would be a great movie and should be on the Best Seller’s list!
Do you love a paranormal romance with a much deeper story? Beyond the Eyes is a story of an ultimate fight between light and dark, good and evil, black and white. Rebekkah Ford brought such depth to each of the characters, that I was completely enthralled from the first page. Paige really draws you into her life, making you feel all the emotions she does as wild events spiral on around her. I can’t wait until the sequel is released!! I will definitely be reading more of Rebekkah’s work when it is released.
Do you love a paranormal romance with a much deeper story? Beyond the Eyes is a story of an ultimate fight between light and dark, good and evil, black and white. Rebekkah Ford brought such depth to each of the characters, that I was completely enthralled from the first page. Paige really draws you into her life, making you feel all the emotions she does as wild events spiral on around her. I can’t wait until the sequel is released!! I will definitely be reading more of Rebekkah’s work when it is released.
December 10, 2012
An engaging and fast-paced debut, with a memorable and realistic protagonist. I was quickly sucked into the story and felt a real connection with the main character, Paige. Her dad is dead, her mom is never around, and she keeps getting cryptic messages from beyond. Things get more complicated (and much steamier) when she meets Nathan, mysterious, mature, and undeniably hot.
A few reviewers note that Paige is naive and overly emotional, but I remember seventeen -- there were a lot of tears involved, even without the sort of major trauma that Paige faces. And if you listen in on almost any teen couple in the first throes of passion, you'll hear those "three little words" so often that you'll think you're in an echo chamber. :)
I would agree that this is best for older teens, but that's a plus from my perspective, because the older YA market is underserved these days. There's some language and sex, but again very much reflective of real teens, and not the whitewashed variety we often see in young adult books. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series!
A few reviewers note that Paige is naive and overly emotional, but I remember seventeen -- there were a lot of tears involved, even without the sort of major trauma that Paige faces. And if you listen in on almost any teen couple in the first throes of passion, you'll hear those "three little words" so often that you'll think you're in an echo chamber. :)
I would agree that this is best for older teens, but that's a plus from my perspective, because the older YA market is underserved these days. There's some language and sex, but again very much reflective of real teens, and not the whitewashed variety we often see in young adult books. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series!
April 30, 2014
Beyond the Eyes by author Rebekkah Ford has a real pull. I loved not knowing what was going to happen next. This action packed story caught my attention with the mystery and the romantic aspect. The characters were interesting, quirky in an original way. I can see how people can get addicted to these books as I was very entertained.
I loved the coming of age aspect and Paige’s naiveté. It was relatable which brought me back to a more innocent time.
This is an enjoyable escape of the most paranormal kind. So creative! Not sure how the author was able to come up with it all but I have to give her credit for creating such a mysterious “other” world. Not at all predictable and not a dull moment.
“My heart was slamming against my chest, but I refused to back down. If she was going to kill me, fine, but I’d fight her till the very end. And yeah, she was way stronger but so what? I’d rather die standing than cowering on my knees and could probably whack her a good one before she killed me. But hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. I had to stick to my plan.”
I loved the coming of age aspect and Paige’s naiveté. It was relatable which brought me back to a more innocent time.
This is an enjoyable escape of the most paranormal kind. So creative! Not sure how the author was able to come up with it all but I have to give her credit for creating such a mysterious “other” world. Not at all predictable and not a dull moment.
“My heart was slamming against my chest, but I refused to back down. If she was going to kill me, fine, but I’d fight her till the very end. And yeah, she was way stronger but so what? I’d rather die standing than cowering on my knees and could probably whack her a good one before she killed me. But hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. I had to stick to my plan.”
August 27, 2013
What I want to tell you about this book and what I'm going to tell you are two very different things. What I will tell you is this, absolutely riveting! I never wanted the book to end. I was glued to my seat never moved until the last page. I was totally encased in this story! Beyond the Eyes is a definite thrill ride. Rebekkah Ford does an amazing job in this the first of her trilogy. Now to what I won't tell you is any secrets about the book. No, I will leave it up to you to get a copy and read for yourself. Enjoy I know I did!
January 24, 2013
This book is absolutely thrilling,and beautifully written. I believe that it's Fords first, and what a debut. I'll be keeping an eye on this lady's writing career, and reading everything she writes in the future.
May 4, 2015
Author – Rebekkah Ford
Star rating – ★★★★★
Would I read it again – Yes! Definitely
Plot – excellent, unique and well developed
Characters – funny, intriguing, unique and talented
Movie Potential – ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read.
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK BY THE PUBLISHER, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
First of all, let me just say that this book has an amazing, beautiful cover. I was a little hesitant to start reading this story at first, because the cover had me convinced it was going to be really creepy, and I always do my reading before bed. I put it off for a few days, sure that it would give me nightmares. But, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it up. The cover still accurately represented what goes on in the story, but it isn’t nearly as scary as I thought. Creepy, yes. Intriguing, yes. Scared-out-of-my-wits-terrifying, no. Thankfully.
Secondly, something really odd happened to me while I was reading this book. No, nothing supernatural, nothing freaky or awkward. It has to do with my eyesight. Somewhere in my reading, I magically lost the heading for Chapter 2 (and many more chapters after that). I started reading the book late on, after having a lot of things to finish up first. I sat down, planning to only read Chapter 1 until I had more time. Somehow, the next thing I knew, I was looking at Chapter 3 and I had been so engrossed in the story that I completely never noticed Chapter 2′s heading passing me by. That, to me, is the mark of a great book. If I can lose track of time, forget how late it is and not notice a chapter break, then the story has to be pretty great.
And that was just the first few chapters.
So let’s get into what I liked about this book. First of all, I completely love the main character Paige. She’s funny, insightful and sweet, but she’s not one of those perfect girl’s you see so often in YA novels. She’s not perfect. She’s an ordinary teenage girl, with flaws and insecurities, just like the rest of us. To be quite honest, I could live in her head for more than the 3 books of this trilogy. (Unlike some books I’ve read where being in the main character has me bordering on a mental breakdown.) There’s this really authentic teenage embarrassment with her that is so refreshing -
*** HERE BE SPOILERS – (LITTLE ONES) ***
AKA, when Paige gets embarrassed about admitting she’s on her period, the totally embarrassing, but completely teenage way that she and her friends act when they stand up to Ashley, and yes, even Nathan’s cringe-worthy moment during food shopping with the frozen apple pie. All things that silly teenagers would do and then be completely embarrassed about, but laugh at, when they’re older.
*** SPOILERS ARE OVER! WooHoo! ***
Let me just say that I love, love, love Nathan. Yes, he’s hot and funny and sweet and kind. But he’s mysterious too. He’s charming and I really get the sense that he’s trying to look out for Paige, while she’s dealing with things she doesn’t understand. And as I write this, I’m only a few chapters in, so let me also say that I am totally intrigued by the cat! I want to know more about it. I’ve never once said that about a cat before, but it’s true. It’s interesting, it’s twisty, like it’s going to have a real impact on the story and I can’t wait to find out more. I have my suspicions about what (aka. who) it might be, but I’m not going to say. I don’t want to give anything away, if I’m right. But I also don’t want to give you ideas, if I’m wrong. Read the book and you can make up your own mind, as you read it.
Update: After reading more, and finding out what the cat and Nathan are really about, I’m only loving it even more. I was wrong, I’ll admit that, but I don’t care. I absolutely hate to put this book down. To be honest, I don’t like Matt. I don’t think I’m supposed to, which is great, because no matter how I tried, I am never going to like him. I’m with Nathan and Tree on this, I’d happily kick his ass any time of the day. I have to say though that I really find the bad Matt, aka The Old One ridiculously funny and interesting. He’s not your typical bad boy, but he’s also not one of those dual personality people either. If it weren’t for Nathan being so incredible delicious, I’d have a book crush on The Old One, no matter how gross it might turn out to be later.
I also have to mention the awesomeness of Nathan and Paige’s relationship. I knew from the get-go that they would end up together, but it’s so refreshing to see a relationship between the two Main Characters that isn’t perfect or sunshine and daisies. They argue, seriously and have disagreements like every normal couple in the world. (Except those in romance novels, apparently.) I also really like the dynamic the story takes on once they’re together. The relationship doesn’t seem separate from the plot or just a touch of romance to lighten the mood. It’s really a driving force that carries the story on, gives you information and causes trouble. It’s great.
This book is funny, light, but serious too. Insightful, intriguing and overall a page turner. There isn’t anything I don’t like about this book. (No, not even Matt. Every book needs a bad guy.) I’m interested to see how the whole Carrie and Tree story is going to go. I have a feeling it’s going to be important, even if it’s only to introduce how evil Matt can really be. I’m also very much liking the hint that there’s something more going on with him than it seems; it’s a little bit of suspense to keep us interested in this only infrequently seen character. I love the history of his background, and the story, and the archaeological aspect that is introduced because of him. It’s a real hook for me, a history lover, to see real history wound so well with imagination in a believable way.
The fact that I can be completely convinced that Dark Spirits are real, that immortality is possible and that it all revolves around Solomon is the mark of a great author, telling a great, realistic story in the most unique, imaginative book I’ve read in this genre for a long time.
Star rating – ★★★★★
Would I read it again – Yes! Definitely
Plot – excellent, unique and well developed
Characters – funny, intriguing, unique and talented
Movie Potential – ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read.
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK BY THE PUBLISHER, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
First of all, let me just say that this book has an amazing, beautiful cover. I was a little hesitant to start reading this story at first, because the cover had me convinced it was going to be really creepy, and I always do my reading before bed. I put it off for a few days, sure that it would give me nightmares. But, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it up. The cover still accurately represented what goes on in the story, but it isn’t nearly as scary as I thought. Creepy, yes. Intriguing, yes. Scared-out-of-my-wits-terrifying, no. Thankfully.
Secondly, something really odd happened to me while I was reading this book. No, nothing supernatural, nothing freaky or awkward. It has to do with my eyesight. Somewhere in my reading, I magically lost the heading for Chapter 2 (and many more chapters after that). I started reading the book late on, after having a lot of things to finish up first. I sat down, planning to only read Chapter 1 until I had more time. Somehow, the next thing I knew, I was looking at Chapter 3 and I had been so engrossed in the story that I completely never noticed Chapter 2′s heading passing me by. That, to me, is the mark of a great book. If I can lose track of time, forget how late it is and not notice a chapter break, then the story has to be pretty great.
And that was just the first few chapters.
So let’s get into what I liked about this book. First of all, I completely love the main character Paige. She’s funny, insightful and sweet, but she’s not one of those perfect girl’s you see so often in YA novels. She’s not perfect. She’s an ordinary teenage girl, with flaws and insecurities, just like the rest of us. To be quite honest, I could live in her head for more than the 3 books of this trilogy. (Unlike some books I’ve read where being in the main character has me bordering on a mental breakdown.) There’s this really authentic teenage embarrassment with her that is so refreshing -
*** HERE BE SPOILERS – (LITTLE ONES) ***
AKA, when Paige gets embarrassed about admitting she’s on her period, the totally embarrassing, but completely teenage way that she and her friends act when they stand up to Ashley, and yes, even Nathan’s cringe-worthy moment during food shopping with the frozen apple pie. All things that silly teenagers would do and then be completely embarrassed about, but laugh at, when they’re older.
*** SPOILERS ARE OVER! WooHoo! ***
Let me just say that I love, love, love Nathan. Yes, he’s hot and funny and sweet and kind. But he’s mysterious too. He’s charming and I really get the sense that he’s trying to look out for Paige, while she’s dealing with things she doesn’t understand. And as I write this, I’m only a few chapters in, so let me also say that I am totally intrigued by the cat! I want to know more about it. I’ve never once said that about a cat before, but it’s true. It’s interesting, it’s twisty, like it’s going to have a real impact on the story and I can’t wait to find out more. I have my suspicions about what (aka. who) it might be, but I’m not going to say. I don’t want to give anything away, if I’m right. But I also don’t want to give you ideas, if I’m wrong. Read the book and you can make up your own mind, as you read it.
Update: After reading more, and finding out what the cat and Nathan are really about, I’m only loving it even more. I was wrong, I’ll admit that, but I don’t care. I absolutely hate to put this book down. To be honest, I don’t like Matt. I don’t think I’m supposed to, which is great, because no matter how I tried, I am never going to like him. I’m with Nathan and Tree on this, I’d happily kick his ass any time of the day. I have to say though that I really find the bad Matt, aka The Old One ridiculously funny and interesting. He’s not your typical bad boy, but he’s also not one of those dual personality people either. If it weren’t for Nathan being so incredible delicious, I’d have a book crush on The Old One, no matter how gross it might turn out to be later.
I also have to mention the awesomeness of Nathan and Paige’s relationship. I knew from the get-go that they would end up together, but it’s so refreshing to see a relationship between the two Main Characters that isn’t perfect or sunshine and daisies. They argue, seriously and have disagreements like every normal couple in the world. (Except those in romance novels, apparently.) I also really like the dynamic the story takes on once they’re together. The relationship doesn’t seem separate from the plot or just a touch of romance to lighten the mood. It’s really a driving force that carries the story on, gives you information and causes trouble. It’s great.
This book is funny, light, but serious too. Insightful, intriguing and overall a page turner. There isn’t anything I don’t like about this book. (No, not even Matt. Every book needs a bad guy.) I’m interested to see how the whole Carrie and Tree story is going to go. I have a feeling it’s going to be important, even if it’s only to introduce how evil Matt can really be. I’m also very much liking the hint that there’s something more going on with him than it seems; it’s a little bit of suspense to keep us interested in this only infrequently seen character. I love the history of his background, and the story, and the archaeological aspect that is introduced because of him. It’s a real hook for me, a history lover, to see real history wound so well with imagination in a believable way.
The fact that I can be completely convinced that Dark Spirits are real, that immortality is possible and that it all revolves around Solomon is the mark of a great author, telling a great, realistic story in the most unique, imaginative book I’ve read in this genre for a long time.
January 3, 2013
I'm a big fan of the paranormal and YA books. The cover art of Beyond the Eyes caught my attention, and after I read the description, I just had to buy it.
I thought the character of Paige Reed was very refreshing. I like characters who experience growth. At the start of the book this character is a very vulnerable 17 year-old who really has no family in her life. She relies upon friends to fill this void, and I absolutely love that. The friends were different and quirky, but also very supportive - which is a good combination to have.
Rebekkah Ford does a wonderful job of conveying daily life of teenagers. We follow Paige through a school day, on a date, chatting with friends, etc. It has been a long time since I’ve been in high school, but I felt like the naivety and purity of the young teenage experience is captured in such a beautiful way in this book, that it felt like I was in high school again (in a good way).
Without giving any spoilers away, the story follows a young girl during a huge loss in her life. It is at a time where an underlying truth is told to her and she has a huge decision to make. Throw on a first love, a love triangle, an enchanted object, premonitions, and attempts on her life, and you have one fabulous story that just begs for a part 2 and (hopefully) a part 3.
I was really excited about the love triangle aspect and I am hoping to see more of Brayden in the next book. I think Rebekkah Ford has really set up the sequel nicely for this character. The love interest, Nathan, is portrayed as the sweet, ever-caring, gorgeous boyfriend (and heck, who wouldn't fall instantly in love with him?) and I think Nathan and Brayden play well off of each other. I'm hoping the next book really expands upon the conflict of these three characters. Sorry, I can't share more due to spoilers.
Given how much turmoil is in her life, and at such a young age that Paige is experiencing it, I think the character was quite strong. She would tell herself not to cry during stressful times, but then would cry and fall apart (like any teenage girl with no family support) would afterwards. I found her weaknesses to be believable, and I loved the growth she had throughout the story. The Paige at the start of the book is not the same young woman we find at the end. My hope is that she continues to grow in the following books since I do plan on buying them.
I thought the character of Paige Reed was very refreshing. I like characters who experience growth. At the start of the book this character is a very vulnerable 17 year-old who really has no family in her life. She relies upon friends to fill this void, and I absolutely love that. The friends were different and quirky, but also very supportive - which is a good combination to have.
Rebekkah Ford does a wonderful job of conveying daily life of teenagers. We follow Paige through a school day, on a date, chatting with friends, etc. It has been a long time since I’ve been in high school, but I felt like the naivety and purity of the young teenage experience is captured in such a beautiful way in this book, that it felt like I was in high school again (in a good way).
Without giving any spoilers away, the story follows a young girl during a huge loss in her life. It is at a time where an underlying truth is told to her and she has a huge decision to make. Throw on a first love, a love triangle, an enchanted object, premonitions, and attempts on her life, and you have one fabulous story that just begs for a part 2 and (hopefully) a part 3.
I was really excited about the love triangle aspect and I am hoping to see more of Brayden in the next book. I think Rebekkah Ford has really set up the sequel nicely for this character. The love interest, Nathan, is portrayed as the sweet, ever-caring, gorgeous boyfriend (and heck, who wouldn't fall instantly in love with him?) and I think Nathan and Brayden play well off of each other. I'm hoping the next book really expands upon the conflict of these three characters. Sorry, I can't share more due to spoilers.
Given how much turmoil is in her life, and at such a young age that Paige is experiencing it, I think the character was quite strong. She would tell herself not to cry during stressful times, but then would cry and fall apart (like any teenage girl with no family support) would afterwards. I found her weaknesses to be believable, and I loved the growth she had throughout the story. The Paige at the start of the book is not the same young woman we find at the end. My hope is that she continues to grow in the following books since I do plan on buying them.
September 25, 2013
Reviewer: Brittany
Rating: 4 out of 5 Fairies
***May contain small spoilers***
This book was so good. The synopsis intrigued me so I thought I would like it. But I didn't. I flippin' loved it. I read this book while on a bus and sitting in a bus station. I felt so many emotions while reading this from sympathy, laughter, and even swooned a few times. In fact at points I laughed so hard I had to bite my cheek to not make a complete fool of myself.
The love that Paige and Nathaniel have is down right kismet. I knew from the beginning that these two were soul mates. Not only because the book said so, but also because their characters screamed it. From the very beginning at the club, you could almost feel the connection that these two had. The many times that he was there supporting, encouraging, and grounding Paige only made the characters that more lovable. I love his character.
The other characters are just as lovable but the two that stick out the most to me are Tree and Brayden. I keep asking myself if Tree will play a bigger role in these books, other than just being an amazing best friend to Paige and Nathaniel. He seems like an extremely intuitive character and it even states in the book that he can easily read people.
Now for Brayden. He's gonna be a pain in the hiney. I just know it. His devotion that HE is Paige's soul mate is almost frightening. Like stalker scary. And the fact that he is marked for immortality, not to mention the fact that he said that he would wait FOREVER for her to realize that she's meant to be with him straight up puts a chill up my spine. And not the good kind either. Like I said. Stalker scary. Kinda funny how he jumps out as being a bad guy to me, when really he's a good guy. Hopefully I'm just misunderstanding his character. Hopefully.
I hate how Paige was turned, but I LOVE that it was Nathaniel that changed her. There was plenty of action, romance, cliffhangers, and supernatural to keep me coming back for more. I loved every aspect of this book and I can't wait to see what comes next.
Disclosure: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Fairies
***May contain small spoilers***
This book was so good. The synopsis intrigued me so I thought I would like it. But I didn't. I flippin' loved it. I read this book while on a bus and sitting in a bus station. I felt so many emotions while reading this from sympathy, laughter, and even swooned a few times. In fact at points I laughed so hard I had to bite my cheek to not make a complete fool of myself.
The love that Paige and Nathaniel have is down right kismet. I knew from the beginning that these two were soul mates. Not only because the book said so, but also because their characters screamed it. From the very beginning at the club, you could almost feel the connection that these two had. The many times that he was there supporting, encouraging, and grounding Paige only made the characters that more lovable. I love his character.
The other characters are just as lovable but the two that stick out the most to me are Tree and Brayden. I keep asking myself if Tree will play a bigger role in these books, other than just being an amazing best friend to Paige and Nathaniel. He seems like an extremely intuitive character and it even states in the book that he can easily read people.
Now for Brayden. He's gonna be a pain in the hiney. I just know it. His devotion that HE is Paige's soul mate is almost frightening. Like stalker scary. And the fact that he is marked for immortality, not to mention the fact that he said that he would wait FOREVER for her to realize that she's meant to be with him straight up puts a chill up my spine. And not the good kind either. Like I said. Stalker scary. Kinda funny how he jumps out as being a bad guy to me, when really he's a good guy. Hopefully I'm just misunderstanding his character. Hopefully.
I hate how Paige was turned, but I LOVE that it was Nathaniel that changed her. There was plenty of action, romance, cliffhangers, and supernatural to keep me coming back for more. I loved every aspect of this book and I can't wait to see what comes next.
Disclosure: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2013
Having once been a teenage girl myself, I found myself relating with Paige, the main character of this really interesting story. Not that I ever had premonitions or was hunted by dark spirits, mind you, but if I were, I think I would feel just like Paige did. Being a teenager is never easy, but being a teenager whose father died when she was very young and whose mother is seldom around (not to mention the mysterious and troubling premonitions) would take its toll on any teenager. And don't forget the raging hormones... The author wrote this character to be realistic. She cries, she doubts, she is understandably affected in realistic ways by the events she's experiencing. The often-seen impossibly brave and strong protagonist is always fun, don't get me wrong. But this one's “realness” is, in my opinion, actually her strength.
I loved the relationship between Paige and Nathan. Thank you to Ms. Ford for reminding me of how intense feelings can be at that age, how you can be so drawn to another person so swiftly and so completely! Love this quote from Paige to Nathan: “I want to be with you for eternity, and if I were to die, heaven wouldn't be heaven without you.” And the enduring friendships between Paige, Tree and Carrie were beautiful, too.
The story builds gradually, letting the reader get to know the characters before the real action happens. But when it does, I found that I was so attached to them that I was really invested in what happened to them.
As a fan of paranormal, the idea of being marked for immortality really intrigued me. When we find out a little bit about Paige's father's history as well as Nathan's, it adds another interesting layer. I'm hoping we find out more about that in the second book. I'm looking forward to connecting with the characters again too. By the end, they felt like friends to my own inner seventeen-year-old. It'll be fun to meet up with them again!
Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the relationship between Paige and Nathan. Thank you to Ms. Ford for reminding me of how intense feelings can be at that age, how you can be so drawn to another person so swiftly and so completely! Love this quote from Paige to Nathan: “I want to be with you for eternity, and if I were to die, heaven wouldn't be heaven without you.” And the enduring friendships between Paige, Tree and Carrie were beautiful, too.
The story builds gradually, letting the reader get to know the characters before the real action happens. But when it does, I found that I was so attached to them that I was really invested in what happened to them.
As a fan of paranormal, the idea of being marked for immortality really intrigued me. When we find out a little bit about Paige's father's history as well as Nathan's, it adds another interesting layer. I'm hoping we find out more about that in the second book. I'm looking forward to connecting with the characters again too. By the end, they felt like friends to my own inner seventeen-year-old. It'll be fun to meet up with them again!
Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2015
I struggled through some parts of this book. I really wanted to fall in love with it and stay up all hours of the night to read it. However, it just was not the case. There were parts of the book that I loved and parts that I loathed. Beyond The Eyes brought me back to high school in a sense. The beginning of the book starts out in a cafe, full of high school students, all of different types of cliques. Every type of cliché you can think of is in this book and that is a real turn-off for me.
I would consider Beyond The Eyes a YA Paranormal romance. The term "paranormal" is used loosely, as I am not sure what the characters in the book are. There is talk of evil spirits, soul-less ones, the “old one” and immortality. However, it is not ever mentioned specifically what they are.
I did not feel drawn to any of the characters. Paige was annoying, whiney and cried nonstop. Nathan was very odd and a little too forward, to be completely honest. Within days of these two characters meeting, their living together and saying, ‘I love you’. Paige’s home life is weird too. Her father passed away when she was very young and her mother is a “traveling” nurse, who is never at the home, leaving a seventeen-ish female teenager to fend for herself and does not care when her boyfriend starts to basically live there.
When it comes to the writing in this book, there are some issues. There are some grammar and punctuation issues. To me at least this entire book felt very rushed and repetitive, as well as a little unrealistic. If maybe you actually got to know the characters, it wouldn’t feel so rushed.
There is a second book to Beyond The Eyes, however, I don't think I would really be interested in finding out what really happens. Normally, with series, I am all for finding out what happens. This book was not for me, but I won’t not recommend it, as everyone likes different things.
I would consider Beyond The Eyes a YA Paranormal romance. The term "paranormal" is used loosely, as I am not sure what the characters in the book are. There is talk of evil spirits, soul-less ones, the “old one” and immortality. However, it is not ever mentioned specifically what they are.
I did not feel drawn to any of the characters. Paige was annoying, whiney and cried nonstop. Nathan was very odd and a little too forward, to be completely honest. Within days of these two characters meeting, their living together and saying, ‘I love you’. Paige’s home life is weird too. Her father passed away when she was very young and her mother is a “traveling” nurse, who is never at the home, leaving a seventeen-ish female teenager to fend for herself and does not care when her boyfriend starts to basically live there.
When it comes to the writing in this book, there are some issues. There are some grammar and punctuation issues. To me at least this entire book felt very rushed and repetitive, as well as a little unrealistic. If maybe you actually got to know the characters, it wouldn’t feel so rushed.
There is a second book to Beyond The Eyes, however, I don't think I would really be interested in finding out what really happens. Normally, with series, I am all for finding out what happens. This book was not for me, but I won’t not recommend it, as everyone likes different things.
February 19, 2013
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I liked this book, but I did not like the cover. I found it to be too dark and scary for this book. This debut novel was a quick read and it held my attention. This book encompassed different aspects that I found unique, such as King Solomon's Ring. I liked the mystery that this book had about Paige and her father. That is what really kept me reading. Just like any good book, there were twists and turns. Also there was an insta- love present, but there were reasons for that so i didn't mind it.
The characters were well planned out and meshed well together. I could really connect with the main character Paige. I felt her pain. And I know what it feels like to be a "freak" . But I am glad that she was able to overcome it all and become a great character. Nathan was also enjoyable to read about. I could tell his feelings for Paige were genuine. His anger did scare me sometimes, so hopefully in book two he figure that business out and deals with it accordingly. My favourite character was Tree ( Jack). I would totally date him. He was and all around great guy. CArrie and MAtt made things interesting. The whole Tree, Matt and Carrie love triangle is intense. Then Braydan comes along and creates another love triangle. But Braydan creeped me out. Like Paige better lock her doors at night or he might kidnap her kind of way.
So all in all, this was a great read and I will be continuing on with the series. I would recommend this book to paranormal lovers and those who don't mind a bit of romance. . Or to those readers who like uniqueness.
The characters were well planned out and meshed well together. I could really connect with the main character Paige. I felt her pain. And I know what it feels like to be a "freak" . But I am glad that she was able to overcome it all and become a great character. Nathan was also enjoyable to read about. I could tell his feelings for Paige were genuine. His anger did scare me sometimes, so hopefully in book two he figure that business out and deals with it accordingly. My favourite character was Tree ( Jack). I would totally date him. He was and all around great guy. CArrie and MAtt made things interesting. The whole Tree, Matt and Carrie love triangle is intense. Then Braydan comes along and creates another love triangle. But Braydan creeped me out. Like Paige better lock her doors at night or he might kidnap her kind of way.
So all in all, this was a great read and I will be continuing on with the series. I would recommend this book to paranormal lovers and those who don't mind a bit of romance. . Or to those readers who like uniqueness.
August 25, 2013
FAIRY THOUGHTS
Favorite Line(s) “I mean, we’d just met and the whole love-at-first-sight thing seemed kind of silly to me”
“Then it will be for eternity.”
“It touched me to see them having a good time together, but I felt a hollow space where my father should be and thought if he were here, everything would be perfect”
“If they don’t get rid of dis negative energy, their lives are only half lived. But if they face their demons, seek understanding and grow from it, a new world will open up to them”
Have I mentioned how much I love books? Man every book I read shows me something different!
Paige has premonitions and she really doesn't like them! Lately whenever her friend Matt comes around here ears start ringing and his eyes flash read she doesn't understand why. Then one day while out with her friends she meets them sexy and handsome Nathan. He shares with her something's that blow her mind! Matt has a dark spirit that has taken over his body!
Oh did I mention Nathan is immortal and tells Paige she has been chosen to be immortal too?!
It was a really great story! I loved how these Charchters had not only MY name but, one was named Tree and they were different and just great!
The writing was great and breezed through it and before I knew it I was done and wanting to read the next one!
This is something I haven't read before and I really enjoyed it!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (GHB)
FOUR SPIRIT FAIRIES
Favorite Line(s) “I mean, we’d just met and the whole love-at-first-sight thing seemed kind of silly to me”
“Then it will be for eternity.”
“It touched me to see them having a good time together, but I felt a hollow space where my father should be and thought if he were here, everything would be perfect”
“If they don’t get rid of dis negative energy, their lives are only half lived. But if they face their demons, seek understanding and grow from it, a new world will open up to them”
Have I mentioned how much I love books? Man every book I read shows me something different!
Paige has premonitions and she really doesn't like them! Lately whenever her friend Matt comes around here ears start ringing and his eyes flash read she doesn't understand why. Then one day while out with her friends she meets them sexy and handsome Nathan. He shares with her something's that blow her mind! Matt has a dark spirit that has taken over his body!
Oh did I mention Nathan is immortal and tells Paige she has been chosen to be immortal too?!
It was a really great story! I loved how these Charchters had not only MY name but, one was named Tree and they were different and just great!
The writing was great and breezed through it and before I knew it I was done and wanting to read the next one!
This is something I haven't read before and I really enjoyed it!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (GHB)
FOUR SPIRIT FAIRIES
August 20, 2015
This was the very first book that I read from Rebekkah Ford and right away I was in love. *i do not do spoilers in any of my comments.
This book took me into an amazing world of the paranormal and young romance. Paige the teenage girl has a rough childhood and this book shows how her gift becomes stronger. I love Paige. She doesn't act like she deserves sympathy for what she has gone through. She has a group of friends that she helps. Plus, a love interest which is awesome.
I know that the second book is going to be better. I can't wait to read the next book. I know it will be filled with more paranormal things.
Becki is an amazing author and I can tell by the way she writes her writing will just keep getting better and better!!!
Thank you for an amazing journey and I am so glad that the journey doesn't stop here!!
This book took me into an amazing world of the paranormal and young romance. Paige the teenage girl has a rough childhood and this book shows how her gift becomes stronger. I love Paige. She doesn't act like she deserves sympathy for what she has gone through. She has a group of friends that she helps. Plus, a love interest which is awesome.
I know that the second book is going to be better. I can't wait to read the next book. I know it will be filled with more paranormal things.
Becki is an amazing author and I can tell by the way she writes her writing will just keep getting better and better!!!
Thank you for an amazing journey and I am so glad that the journey doesn't stop here!!
June 23, 2013
I got this book on a read to review basis and I am glad I did, I loved it. Immediately you are drawn in by the tragic life of this exceptionally lonely girl Paige, who your heart bleeds for, abandoned and alone in the world with an absent mother and deceased father she relies on her friends for companionship and support. Then she meets Nathan, wow, his feelings for her are evident from the moment they meet and as the story progresses, you'd be mistaken to think you were reading just another teen novel, this is far from it. With engaging strong characters and a mysterious storyline, I couldn't put it down, well except to sleep. Fantastic read, will definitely read the next book in the series and indeed, other work by this author.
January 12, 2014
Amazing debut for this series. Normally I'm skeptical of fantasy-type books i.e. it's hard for me to suspend my belief at times--this is not the case for Beyond the Eyes. The characters are very real to me. I experienced true emotion throughout as the story progressed. I cared about the characters and the outcome. The plot is intriguing and does not go stale--it moves the reader right along. The relationships among the characters are real to me and not stereotypical. There are elements of romance, suspense, action, and of course the paranormal. Overall a fascinating read.
May 1, 2014
Wow, this was a great read. It moved along at the perfect pace not to fast nor to slow, has amazing characters that grab you and don't let go and an amazing story that will keep you entertained from beginning to end.
A great read.
A great read.
March 7, 2013
I love this book!!!!! It had me addicted from the start! I highly recommend this book!!!!
March 10, 2014
Ford nails it with this creepy and original, paranormal novel. This is the first in the series. This author has much to offer and should be added to your to-read list.
January 21, 2014
Very intriguing
loved this book. been a long time since I had been so captivated. would recommend to anyone who loves a good romance/mystery
loved this book. been a long time since I had been so captivated. would recommend to anyone who loves a good romance/mystery
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February 16, 2015See this review and others like it in a more awesome format at Ramblings On Readings
This is so disappointing because the first chapter of Beyond the Eyes really drew me in. I was 100% on board with everything. And then by the time we reach chapter 5, we have a romance that I just could not continue to stomach.
This is so disappointing because the first chapter of Beyond the Eyes really drew me in. I was 100% on board with everything. And then by the time we reach chapter 5, we have a romance that I just could not continue to stomach.
And that is really saying something, since I’m a hopeless romantic.
So there’s some paranormal hocus pocus that goes on in the first few chapters, but it is vastly overshadowed by the suffocating and cringe-inducing romance. The main character Paige has these premonitions, rather, she hears voices that tell her things like YOU’RE GOING TO DIE VERY SOON. What a great way to start a book, am I right? And then she starts seeing freaky things in people’s eyes. These are all great things to have at the beginning of a book. They are intriguing, and made me want to know more.
And then Nathan shows up. And Paige is all
At least in Twilight they had known each for a good amount of time before declaring their love for each other. In Beyond the Eyes it was like
Because lets not forget Nathan and Paige have known each other for TWO DAYS before things start getting serious. I stopped reading when he asked to spend the night at her house. I don’t care that he wasn’t trying to sleep with her. You don’t let a strange boy sleep at your house (Especially when your mom goes away for months at a time—but really, where the heck is CPS?). Come on Paige.
This kind of behavior is acceptable once you’ve known the guy for a while and you actually know something about him. Like, you should probably be a little worried about his paranormal secrets that you know he has, but you don’t know what they are.
I really am quite sad about this. Especially because Beyond the Eyes was a review request and I HATE not finishing a review request. I try extra hard to keep reading them, but at some point, if you just hate what you’re reading, there’s really no point to keep going, right? It’s really a shame for this book because the writing, from a technical standpoint, is quite good. Ford just needed to push her love story timeline back a few chapters.
So if intense insta-love doesn’t bother you (and it obviously doesn’t bother many Good Reads users since this book has quite a good rating), then you’ll probably like Beyond the Eyes. The paranormal stuff seemed like it was going in a really good direction, but unfortunately, I just couldn’t wade through the mess of love at first sight.
August 12, 2012
I received a free copy of Beyond the Eyes from the author in exchange for an honest review. Paige has come to the realization that she is facing a huge problem. She is hearing ominous voices that no one else can hear. She loves her friends but knows that she can't tell them what is going on without sounding crazy. She keeps this information to herself until she meets Nathan Caswell. She feels an instant connection to him and soon finds out that he tracks dark spirits, who have recently decided to target Paige. Paige has to dig into the painful memories of her father's death in order to appease these dark spirits.. or figure out how to beat them.
Good
- I liked Paige's friends. Although she couldn't tell them about hearing voices, they obviously have had a long history together. They seem determined to keep their friendship strong.
- I liked the whole paranormal world that this story focuses on. It isn't something that is super overdone.
- Paige's father's story was interesting. I liked how it tied in to the present story.
Bad
- I think my biggest pet peeve in this story was Paige herself. She cried (and puked/felt nauseous) a lot. I wanted to reach in to the story and tell her to get a grip!
- I didn't like how Paige and Nathan's relationship played out. I mean, she went on one date and then "broke up" with him? It all seemed way too rushed. I didn't feel any butterflies or giddiness when I thought about their love story.
Overall I give this book 2 stars because it really was just okay for me. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I think I would have liked it more if I didn't dislike Paige so much. Her character really irritated me. She was waaay emotional and the love story wasn't believable to me. Sometimes it just boils down to whether or not you like the main character and I just couldn't connect with her.
Good
- I liked Paige's friends. Although she couldn't tell them about hearing voices, they obviously have had a long history together. They seem determined to keep their friendship strong.
- I liked the whole paranormal world that this story focuses on. It isn't something that is super overdone.
- Paige's father's story was interesting. I liked how it tied in to the present story.
Bad
- I think my biggest pet peeve in this story was Paige herself. She cried (and puked/felt nauseous) a lot. I wanted to reach in to the story and tell her to get a grip!
- I didn't like how Paige and Nathan's relationship played out. I mean, she went on one date and then "broke up" with him? It all seemed way too rushed. I didn't feel any butterflies or giddiness when I thought about their love story.
Overall I give this book 2 stars because it really was just okay for me. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I think I would have liked it more if I didn't dislike Paige so much. Her character really irritated me. She was waaay emotional and the love story wasn't believable to me. Sometimes it just boils down to whether or not you like the main character and I just couldn't connect with her.
December 3, 2013
This was given to me for free in exchange for a review
THIS is a GREAT book! I do look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!!
I give it four stars and the only reason that I do not give it five is because it took me about four chapters to figure out what was going on, but after that, it was a "no put downer"
Paige is a teenage girl living her life as any other with one small difference. She has been hearing voices in her head since she was about four years old.One day she hear,s a message about herself and things start to get a little wild!
She meets Nathan who becomes the love of her life, who is different than most, and finds that the boy she has been very close to isn't who he seems to be either!
Paige is drawn into a world that she never knew existed untill now! There are dark and light spirits and people born without a soul who have taken a very big interest in her and Natan finds he must tell her what they have in commom and why they are so drawn together. As the dark spirits seek her more and more, Paige finds she must make a decision that will change her life forever and save the world!
With each chapter the mystery just grows more and more! The start was a little slow but beleave me, if you love intrigue,suspence and a story that drives you crazy trying to unravel the bottom line(with a little romance thrown in for good measure)then this one is for you!
Lets not forget the dark and Light spirits and a lot of paranormal episodes that just keep getting more and more frequent!
Rebekkah Ford did great with this one! A story that keeps you hooked untill the end and still does not give away all of its secrets! what do you do? Start the next in her series,Dark Spirits!
Young and old alike will love it!
THIS is a GREAT book! I do look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!!
I give it four stars and the only reason that I do not give it five is because it took me about four chapters to figure out what was going on, but after that, it was a "no put downer"
Paige is a teenage girl living her life as any other with one small difference. She has been hearing voices in her head since she was about four years old.One day she hear,s a message about herself and things start to get a little wild!
She meets Nathan who becomes the love of her life, who is different than most, and finds that the boy she has been very close to isn't who he seems to be either!
Paige is drawn into a world that she never knew existed untill now! There are dark and light spirits and people born without a soul who have taken a very big interest in her and Natan finds he must tell her what they have in commom and why they are so drawn together. As the dark spirits seek her more and more, Paige finds she must make a decision that will change her life forever and save the world!
With each chapter the mystery just grows more and more! The start was a little slow but beleave me, if you love intrigue,suspence and a story that drives you crazy trying to unravel the bottom line(with a little romance thrown in for good measure)then this one is for you!
Lets not forget the dark and Light spirits and a lot of paranormal episodes that just keep getting more and more frequent!
Rebekkah Ford did great with this one! A story that keeps you hooked untill the end and still does not give away all of its secrets! what do you do? Start the next in her series,Dark Spirits!
Young and old alike will love it!
February 22, 2016
DNF at 19%. To me the MC (Paige) is written in such a way that she seems very naive about EVERYTHING. How the heck did this book get so many 4 and 5 star reviews?
Nathan - "...I don't think you should be alone with Matt."
Paige - "Carrie is alone with him, and she's fine. In fact, he kissed her twice yesterday."
Great argument there Paige. Clearly a guy is safe and cares for your well being if he will kiss your best friend twice in one day. Zero possibility of manipulation or secret agendas. *eye roll*
Paige - "I don't think we should see each other again."
Yet twelve pages later they are making-out. Again. Another two pages later she agrees to go out to breakfast the next day. (But will still be thinking about if they should continue this relationship.)
Nathan - (After making-out with Paige) "I'm sorry Paige. I can't do this right now."
Paige - "Don't you want me?"
Nathan - "That's the problem, I want you too much."
Paige - "Then I don't-"
"Understand. I know"..."refrain from kissing like that because I don't think I can stop myself the next time."
*slams book shut*
If there is one thing I do NOT need it is a main character who cannot be decisive and demand solid answers instead of kissing and wanting to have sex with a guy she met 48 hours ago.
This book does not have the strong MC a book should always have. Paige seems very easily manipulated and influenced by both friends and strangers. I can already guess where this book is heading and I have a feeling Paige is going to be very confused, lost, and scared and need Nathan to help her feel brave and protect her.
I could be completely and totally wrong but I am not going to read another 50 pages of similar scenes waiting for her to finally grow up and be a big girl.
Nathan - "...I don't think you should be alone with Matt."
Paige - "Carrie is alone with him, and she's fine. In fact, he kissed her twice yesterday."
Great argument there Paige. Clearly a guy is safe and cares for your well being if he will kiss your best friend twice in one day. Zero possibility of manipulation or secret agendas. *eye roll*
Paige - "I don't think we should see each other again."
Yet twelve pages later they are making-out. Again. Another two pages later she agrees to go out to breakfast the next day. (But will still be thinking about if they should continue this relationship.)
Nathan - (After making-out with Paige) "I'm sorry Paige. I can't do this right now."
Paige - "Don't you want me?"
Nathan - "That's the problem, I want you too much."
Paige - "Then I don't-"
"Understand. I know"..."refrain from kissing like that because I don't think I can stop myself the next time."
*slams book shut*
If there is one thing I do NOT need it is a main character who cannot be decisive and demand solid answers instead of kissing and wanting to have sex with a guy she met 48 hours ago.
This book does not have the strong MC a book should always have. Paige seems very easily manipulated and influenced by both friends and strangers. I can already guess where this book is heading and I have a feeling Paige is going to be very confused, lost, and scared and need Nathan to help her feel brave and protect her.
I could be completely and totally wrong but I am not going to read another 50 pages of similar scenes waiting for her to finally grow up and be a big girl.
August 18, 2012
Beyond the Eyes follows the life of Paige Reed. A girl who has to deal with mysterious premonitions that usually ends up dealing with death. Her life gets even stranger when she has a premonition of her own death. This premonition leads her on a path that will lead her to do great things, combat the darkness of the world and of course find true love.
Rebekkah Ford writes a great story with characters that you start to care for rather quickly. Paige is a good character to follow though towards the end she gets a little tiring with trying to keep her life as it was when clearly it cannot. The character of Nathan is charming and a great other half to Paige. Her friends known as Tree and Carrie round out the group and provided a great sense of reality to Paige as she tries to figure out her destiny.
I would have liked the book even more if the beginning of a love triangle wasn’t introduced towards the end of the book. I don’t think the story really needed it as it was very interesting up until that point. It didn’t help that the boy in question was a disrespectful jerk. After Paige’s constant refusals he keeps harassing her and tries to attack her under the guise of if she would let him what he wanted she would fall in love with him instead. That really threw me off especially since it seems he will play a larger role in the continuation of the series. He isn’t like able and really ruins the scenes he is in. I actually would have rated higher if it weren’t for this plot development.
All in all it was a good read and a good first book for a series, which is why it gets a 3 trees rating from me.
Rebekkah Ford writes a great story with characters that you start to care for rather quickly. Paige is a good character to follow though towards the end she gets a little tiring with trying to keep her life as it was when clearly it cannot. The character of Nathan is charming and a great other half to Paige. Her friends known as Tree and Carrie round out the group and provided a great sense of reality to Paige as she tries to figure out her destiny.
I would have liked the book even more if the beginning of a love triangle wasn’t introduced towards the end of the book. I don’t think the story really needed it as it was very interesting up until that point. It didn’t help that the boy in question was a disrespectful jerk. After Paige’s constant refusals he keeps harassing her and tries to attack her under the guise of if she would let him what he wanted she would fall in love with him instead. That really threw me off especially since it seems he will play a larger role in the continuation of the series. He isn’t like able and really ruins the scenes he is in. I actually would have rated higher if it weren’t for this plot development.
All in all it was a good read and a good first book for a series, which is why it gets a 3 trees rating from me.
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