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Fascination Island #1
Emerald Isle
To escape a bad break-up and fighting parents Audyn takes a job as a lifeguard at Fascination Island. The posh five-star resort lives up to its name in every way, including the strange rules the owner has about entering the water at night. Despite declaring it a boy-free summer, it isn’t long before the shy, endearing Levi and the mysterious, tattooed Tristan begin vying for her attention. When Levi tries to push his advantage and Tristan comes to the rescue, Audyn realizes there is more to both these boys and the island they inhabit. Suddenly, she’s forced to acknowledge a reality she’d never considered and to pick a side in the conflict that has been waging for decades.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2012
About the author
Kate Hinderer
3 books10 followersKate is a journalist by profession. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications. She started writing stories and novelettes in 7th grade. Her teachers thought she was copiously taking notes, but really she was penning stories about her classmates. That passion only increased in high school. The stories became longer and the passion for writing was deeply ingrained. As a junior she resurrected her school's student-run newspaper and opted to pursue a journalism career to harness her love for writing into a payable profession. Still, the stories never stopped flowing.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 4, 2013
Few books really surprise me. This one did. I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but I am so glad I decided to review this book.
First off, this is probably young adult. Our main character is in her teens. But, it's doesn't read like most YA's. That's not to say the topic is overly mature, just that the writing doesn't seem to target the age group. Audyn is also very mature for age in many ways, although she's not in others. The job she takes on Fascination Island, is basically an excuse to run away from her problems. Although, I really admired her need to take a job at such a high profile location were she has previously stayed as a guest. She wants to be treated just like all the other staff. I can't say many rich kids would escape their problems this way.
The storyline is definitely interesting and honestly one of the best ones for this type of book. I've read quite a few of them, both good and bad. I didn't take me long to figure out what was going on, but I don't want to give it away! The explanations given in the story were great too. There were so many intricate details woven in.
The romance was a little off for me for part of the book. There was one guy, and then a triangle, and then the other. For a girl who swore off guys during the summer, she sure was drowning in them for the get go. I think I also had a hard time with it because I never really liked Levi.
Overall, a good book with some interesting lore in it. Well worth the low kindle price.
First off, this is probably young adult. Our main character is in her teens. But, it's doesn't read like most YA's. That's not to say the topic is overly mature, just that the writing doesn't seem to target the age group. Audyn is also very mature for age in many ways, although she's not in others. The job she takes on Fascination Island, is basically an excuse to run away from her problems. Although, I really admired her need to take a job at such a high profile location were she has previously stayed as a guest. She wants to be treated just like all the other staff. I can't say many rich kids would escape their problems this way.
The storyline is definitely interesting and honestly one of the best ones for this type of book. I've read quite a few of them, both good and bad. I didn't take me long to figure out what was going on, but I don't want to give it away! The explanations given in the story were great too. There were so many intricate details woven in.
The romance was a little off for me for part of the book. There was one guy, and then a triangle, and then the other. For a girl who swore off guys during the summer, she sure was drowning in them for the get go. I think I also had a hard time with it because I never really liked Levi.
Overall, a good book with some interesting lore in it. Well worth the low kindle price.
July 20, 2012
This is more of a 4.5 rating for me, but rounding up is always good. :)
Audyn runs from her home in New York to spend the summer on an island near Fiji as a lifeguard. This is a resort Island where the famous or wealthy come to play.
She just found out that her latest boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend. She decided that calling in a favor from a family friend and having a boyfriend-free summer is just what she needs.
She does well at first. She is able to fend off the best of the flirting young men. That is until she meets two of they guys who are "local" guys. Tristan and Levi break all of the rules. First is that there are no local boys allowed. It is a private Island and the closest Island is 10 miles away.
There are a few rules that employees have to adhere to. One is not to become friends with the guests. They are there to help and serve them only. The second is no swimming after sunset. There have been a few mysterious deaths for those who did not obey the rule. Another rule is to stick to your work schedule. To break any of the rules could find you on a helicopter headed home. There was one rule that no one thought to mention, do not get involved in a feud between clans. There is a possibility of death or exposing age old secrets.
I enjoyed this book. It is fun to read. There were a few grammatical errors that were minor and didn't distract from the content of the story.
Audyn runs from her home in New York to spend the summer on an island near Fiji as a lifeguard. This is a resort Island where the famous or wealthy come to play.
She just found out that her latest boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend. She decided that calling in a favor from a family friend and having a boyfriend-free summer is just what she needs.
She does well at first. She is able to fend off the best of the flirting young men. That is until she meets two of they guys who are "local" guys. Tristan and Levi break all of the rules. First is that there are no local boys allowed. It is a private Island and the closest Island is 10 miles away.
There are a few rules that employees have to adhere to. One is not to become friends with the guests. They are there to help and serve them only. The second is no swimming after sunset. There have been a few mysterious deaths for those who did not obey the rule. Another rule is to stick to your work schedule. To break any of the rules could find you on a helicopter headed home. There was one rule that no one thought to mention, do not get involved in a feud between clans. There is a possibility of death or exposing age old secrets.
I enjoyed this book. It is fun to read. There were a few grammatical errors that were minor and didn't distract from the content of the story.
August 17, 2012
**There may be some mild spoilers in this review**
In a genre that is wildly saturated with vampires, werewolves, zombies and dystopian hierarchies that make armys out of their offspring and/or send them to fight for survival; I am always on the lookout for something different to keep my imagination entertained. And so I was relieved to find that Emerald Isle by Kate Hinderer is about a different race of mythological creatures. Welcome to the world of the Mermaids.
Or, Mermen to be precise. Two of them. And they are both vying for the attention of our protagonist, Audyn.
Audyn is working on Fascination Island – a high brow exclusive holiday resort – as a lifeguard, having run from her life in New York after finding her boyfriend in a compromising position with her so called best friend. She throws herself into her work with a new resolve – no boys, no distractions and no serious relationship. To put it simply, Audyn is a woman scorned. So when she learns from Linley, a girl who introduces herself one day, that her brother Tristan has taken a liking to her, Audyn is not pleased. In fact, she’s down right outraged as it intervenes with her ‘no boys’ plan. Enter Levi, who is shy, sweet and everything Tristan is not and Audyn quickly makes up her mind which of the boys she wants to be friends with.
But like everything, all is not as it seems and she soon finds out that first impressions aren’t always the right impressions; Audyn quickly realises that shy and endearing does not necessarily mean safe and trusting. When Levi leads Audyn to danger, it is Tristan that comes to her rescue but not before revealing the true nature of both the boys’ heritage – one that is meant to be kept hidden from human eyes…
Tristan and Levi are mermen from rival tribes that pretty much hate each other. While one tries their hardest to protect Audyn, the other does everything he can to change her into one of them. But when a bigger danger emerges all three have to join forces to save the merpeople from a fate that isn’t worth thinking about.
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I found it very hard to like Audyn because she came across as being pretty mean and rude to any member of the opposite sex who tried to be friends with her. There’s having a ‘no boys’ rule and there’s having a ‘don’t even try it or I’ll stab your eyes out’ attitude and Audyn fell into the latter. Not that it stopped Levi or Tristan who seemed to enjoy her ‘treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen’ attitude.
I wasn’t sold on how the relationship between Audyn and Tristan developed. One minute she hated him, the next she loved him and it was only towards the latter part of the book that I was convinced about Audyn’s feelings towards him.
Storywise, however, this book fared better. Whilst there are hints very early on that merpeople would play a key part in this story, the build up to the climax – and ultimately the root of why Levi and Tristan despised each other – was nicely told. In fact once the drama started to unfold, what started off as an okay read turned into quite the page-turner.
For fans of YA paranormal thrillers with a hint of romance, this has everything: A feisty protagonist; the tall, brooding boy who falls head over heels for our lead female; the threat of a love rival; together with the thrill of a whole tribe of people being in danger; finishing with the sad redemption of one character. Whilst The Emerald Isle does seem to follow this pattern, it holds its own by bringing in a tribe of mythical creatures that hasn’t really been touched on before.
The Emerald Isle has a mix of predictable romance and unpredictable drama and for that reason I would recommend adding this book to your reading list for some escapism on a rainy day.
In a genre that is wildly saturated with vampires, werewolves, zombies and dystopian hierarchies that make armys out of their offspring and/or send them to fight for survival; I am always on the lookout for something different to keep my imagination entertained. And so I was relieved to find that Emerald Isle by Kate Hinderer is about a different race of mythological creatures. Welcome to the world of the Mermaids.
Or, Mermen to be precise. Two of them. And they are both vying for the attention of our protagonist, Audyn.
Audyn is working on Fascination Island – a high brow exclusive holiday resort – as a lifeguard, having run from her life in New York after finding her boyfriend in a compromising position with her so called best friend. She throws herself into her work with a new resolve – no boys, no distractions and no serious relationship. To put it simply, Audyn is a woman scorned. So when she learns from Linley, a girl who introduces herself one day, that her brother Tristan has taken a liking to her, Audyn is not pleased. In fact, she’s down right outraged as it intervenes with her ‘no boys’ plan. Enter Levi, who is shy, sweet and everything Tristan is not and Audyn quickly makes up her mind which of the boys she wants to be friends with.
But like everything, all is not as it seems and she soon finds out that first impressions aren’t always the right impressions; Audyn quickly realises that shy and endearing does not necessarily mean safe and trusting. When Levi leads Audyn to danger, it is Tristan that comes to her rescue but not before revealing the true nature of both the boys’ heritage – one that is meant to be kept hidden from human eyes…
Tristan and Levi are mermen from rival tribes that pretty much hate each other. While one tries their hardest to protect Audyn, the other does everything he can to change her into one of them. But when a bigger danger emerges all three have to join forces to save the merpeople from a fate that isn’t worth thinking about.
I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I found it very hard to like Audyn because she came across as being pretty mean and rude to any member of the opposite sex who tried to be friends with her. There’s having a ‘no boys’ rule and there’s having a ‘don’t even try it or I’ll stab your eyes out’ attitude and Audyn fell into the latter. Not that it stopped Levi or Tristan who seemed to enjoy her ‘treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen’ attitude.
I wasn’t sold on how the relationship between Audyn and Tristan developed. One minute she hated him, the next she loved him and it was only towards the latter part of the book that I was convinced about Audyn’s feelings towards him.
Storywise, however, this book fared better. Whilst there are hints very early on that merpeople would play a key part in this story, the build up to the climax – and ultimately the root of why Levi and Tristan despised each other – was nicely told. In fact once the drama started to unfold, what started off as an okay read turned into quite the page-turner.
For fans of YA paranormal thrillers with a hint of romance, this has everything: A feisty protagonist; the tall, brooding boy who falls head over heels for our lead female; the threat of a love rival; together with the thrill of a whole tribe of people being in danger; finishing with the sad redemption of one character. Whilst The Emerald Isle does seem to follow this pattern, it holds its own by bringing in a tribe of mythical creatures that hasn’t really been touched on before.
The Emerald Isle has a mix of predictable romance and unpredictable drama and for that reason I would recommend adding this book to your reading list for some escapism on a rainy day.
August 27, 2012
This review is part of the Emerald Isle BLOG TOUR
Working as a lifeguard in Fascination Island was Audyn’s way of dealing with a cheating boyfriend. She whisks herself away from the busy life of New York, calling in a favour to work for a family friend. She establishes a “no boys” rule over the duration of this job/vacation. Things seem fine until she sees herself caught in between Levi and Tristan, and a feud she only discovered when they came into picture. Just as suddenly, things are getting all crazy around Fascination Island, and it’s up to Audyn to fix it...
What’s my first impression of Emerald Isle? I thought it was just a simple chick lit about a typical love triangle over the summer. Little did I know, there was more than just that involved. I don’t know why it didn’t click on me that this was a story with mermaids in it. Somehow it happened to slip my mind until recent events in the book gave the hint of it. Well, that was unexpectedly a good kind of surprise for me. Not that I haven’t read any mermaid books recently (I have. Quite a few in fact), but catching me off guard over book plots is a rare thing as of the moment (let’s just say after having read a number of books, I tend to easily guess what a book’s about. I’m sure most of you booklovers there can relate to what I feel), so kudos to that!
I’d have to say I like Audyn’s thoughts and the way they were expressed through the Kate Hinderer’s writing. However, I find it hard to relate with Audyn most of the time. As much as I like her voice, I don’t like the way she makes choices. Sometimes she says one thing but does another, like she can’t stand firm on her own decision. She also comes out a bit full of herself (she drop dead gorgeous, with a rockin’ body to boot, and she knows it) that I’m not really keen of, but I welcome the change in a protagonist’s self-esteem. They don’t always have to meek and modest.
I didn’t buy Audyn’s and Tristan’s relationship, something just feels odd over how it progressed; one time Audyn’s telling Tristan to get off her case and the next thing you know they’re kissing each other passionately. I don’t mind the love story, but I question the development.
Now speaking of Tristan, I find him too cheesy with his words. That had me puzzling over if his “bad boy” image is even appropriate for the setting. I mean, I know bad boys fall in love too, but his lines just seem too much. Levi seems to have won personality-wise, he may have been deceiving and all in the beginning but his loyalty to Audyn is seen in the end. Although, I’m not picking a team over these two at all, and quite frankly I’m leaning more on Falcon over all this. Teehee!
What caught my interest the most is the feud between Tristan and Levi’s mer tribes. I was both agitated and excited over what exactly was the enemy’s plan. I love it when I couldn’t guess how it would turn out! Summing things up, I think Emerald Isle is a good and pleasing book to read. It has less than 200 pages or so you can finish in a few short hours that leave you smiling at the end.
*Thank you, Ms. Kate Hinderer for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of Emerald Isle.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @ www.theblairbookproject.blogspot.com
August 29, 2012
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this novel with no expectations. I had read the synopsis which sounded good but other than that I really didn't know what to expect.
From the very first page, Kate Hinderer convinced me that accepting this novel for review was a great decision. Her characters were compelling and cast in a realistic light. Nothing annoys me more than characters who are perfect or are clearly molds of character types.
Her characters brought the story to life for me. I can't think of one character that I didn't adore. Levi and Tristan were both so intriguing. While I was rooting for Tristan from the beginning, I will not deny that Levi had his charm and proved to be a very complex character.
Then there was Audyn. Kate did a fantastic job at revealing the mind of a teenage girl who has been burned one too many times. She had trust issues and relationship problems, and yet she was a great protagonist to read about. I found myself sympathizing with her and rooting her on.
Then on top of that all the supporting characters were incredible. I loved hearing about each and every one of them. I could delve into a long paragraph about each of them but I don't think you would appreciate that. So let me just say one of my all-time favorite characters was Falcon, which really surprised me. I definitely hope we get to hear more of his story.
Now as for the writing, Kate had a simple yet eloquent writing style that I loved. It was perfect in its simplicity. When I say "simple," I do not mean unrefined or poorly written. I meant that the writing didn't draw undue attention to itself but provided the perfect backdrop to her novel. The dialog was realistic and engaging. It never felt forced which I know is a big deal to many readers.
In Summary:On the whole, Hinderer's novel will leave you shaking your head at the characters' stupidity, cheering when they triumph, and hurting when they hurt. A brilliantly written novel that I definitely recommend.
Warnings/Side-notes: This novel is actually really clean which I greatly appreciated. I love it when that happens. I'd have no qualms about recommending this to even the most sensitive reader.
The Wrap-up/Other Business: An intensely enjoyable read that I loved reading. I read this one in one sitting and felt very involved. Any book that makes me stop and talk to my roommate about it in the middle of reading it...automatically makes it a book I love.
If you love the young adult genre, read this one. It is a paranormal read (but there are no vampires, werewolves, witches, etc). It is a very refreshing read that is different than any I have read in awhile. That is always an extra bonus.
Basically, this novel is very enjoyable and if you get a chance to read it, you should.
Kate can be reached through her email kate.hinderer@gmail.com, her blog, or her twitter account. You can also find out more aobut her book by clicking this link. For more reviews of this book or guest posts, check out her blog tour schedule.
Love,
Danica Page
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this novel with no expectations. I had read the synopsis which sounded good but other than that I really didn't know what to expect.
From the very first page, Kate Hinderer convinced me that accepting this novel for review was a great decision. Her characters were compelling and cast in a realistic light. Nothing annoys me more than characters who are perfect or are clearly molds of character types.
Her characters brought the story to life for me. I can't think of one character that I didn't adore. Levi and Tristan were both so intriguing. While I was rooting for Tristan from the beginning, I will not deny that Levi had his charm and proved to be a very complex character.
Then there was Audyn. Kate did a fantastic job at revealing the mind of a teenage girl who has been burned one too many times. She had trust issues and relationship problems, and yet she was a great protagonist to read about. I found myself sympathizing with her and rooting her on.
Then on top of that all the supporting characters were incredible. I loved hearing about each and every one of them. I could delve into a long paragraph about each of them but I don't think you would appreciate that. So let me just say one of my all-time favorite characters was Falcon, which really surprised me. I definitely hope we get to hear more of his story.
Now as for the writing, Kate had a simple yet eloquent writing style that I loved. It was perfect in its simplicity. When I say "simple," I do not mean unrefined or poorly written. I meant that the writing didn't draw undue attention to itself but provided the perfect backdrop to her novel. The dialog was realistic and engaging. It never felt forced which I know is a big deal to many readers.
In Summary:On the whole, Hinderer's novel will leave you shaking your head at the characters' stupidity, cheering when they triumph, and hurting when they hurt. A brilliantly written novel that I definitely recommend.
Warnings/Side-notes: This novel is actually really clean which I greatly appreciated. I love it when that happens. I'd have no qualms about recommending this to even the most sensitive reader.
The Wrap-up/Other Business: An intensely enjoyable read that I loved reading. I read this one in one sitting and felt very involved. Any book that makes me stop and talk to my roommate about it in the middle of reading it...automatically makes it a book I love.
If you love the young adult genre, read this one. It is a paranormal read (but there are no vampires, werewolves, witches, etc). It is a very refreshing read that is different than any I have read in awhile. That is always an extra bonus.
Basically, this novel is very enjoyable and if you get a chance to read it, you should.
Kate can be reached through her email kate.hinderer@gmail.com, her blog, or her twitter account. You can also find out more aobut her book by clicking this link. For more reviews of this book or guest posts, check out her blog tour schedule.
Love,
Danica Page
March 31, 2016
Emerald Isle is such an intriguing story that once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I don't even know what I liked more- the actual plot line and twists and turns or the wonderful romance. All I know is that this was a book that I just did not want to end. Ever.
Audyn got on my nerves at first. Not something you thought I would say since I just proclaimed my love for Emerald Isle, huh? Just hear me out. She knew she was hot stuff and she seemed almost cocky about it at the start of the book. She declared a "boys free summer" and right away all the guys at the resort were falling all over her. Not only was she not surprised that they all liked her- she expected it. Then she met Levi and another layer of herself was revealed. I liked her more. Then she met Tristan and I really got to know the true Audyn and she is nothing like my initial impression of her! I really liked her. She can be vulnerable and sweet and nice and she is such a selfless person. I loved watching her character develop and unfold as the story went on.
Let's be honest- with all the guys at the resort liking her and then with Levi and Tristan showing up out of no where, I knew this book was not going to be anything near a boy free summer. And I was right. There are guys galore, but I only had eyes for Tristan. I liked him almost immediately. Same thing with his little sister. She sure is a spitfire!
I thought the plot twist- this war that the summary speaks about was awesome! I loved learning about the history and about everything really. I'm not going to tell you what it is but it really wasn't some big secret- I had it figured out pretty early on. Well, the basics anyways.
The best thing about Emerald Isle is that it just keeps getting better and better as you read it. It just keeps growing and growing. I'm not sure if there is going to be another book or not, but I really hope there is. The romance in this book is one of my favorites of the year. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I was just hopping it would go another way. The ending that happened was nice and I liked it, but I would have liked something else a lot more. And the problem is that I had it in my head that I wanted "X" to happen and then "Y" happened. I am still holding out hope that there is going to be another book and I will get my way with how the story will go. Really, I just want to experience the magical romance that Kate Hinderer created! I loved it!
Has anyone else read the book? Do you know what kind of ending I was hoping for? I just don't want to be alone in this haha Let me know!
Audyn got on my nerves at first. Not something you thought I would say since I just proclaimed my love for Emerald Isle, huh? Just hear me out. She knew she was hot stuff and she seemed almost cocky about it at the start of the book. She declared a "boys free summer" and right away all the guys at the resort were falling all over her. Not only was she not surprised that they all liked her- she expected it. Then she met Levi and another layer of herself was revealed. I liked her more. Then she met Tristan and I really got to know the true Audyn and she is nothing like my initial impression of her! I really liked her. She can be vulnerable and sweet and nice and she is such a selfless person. I loved watching her character develop and unfold as the story went on.
Let's be honest- with all the guys at the resort liking her and then with Levi and Tristan showing up out of no where, I knew this book was not going to be anything near a boy free summer. And I was right. There are guys galore, but I only had eyes for Tristan. I liked him almost immediately. Same thing with his little sister. She sure is a spitfire!
I thought the plot twist- this war that the summary speaks about was awesome! I loved learning about the history and about everything really. I'm not going to tell you what it is but it really wasn't some big secret- I had it figured out pretty early on. Well, the basics anyways.
The best thing about Emerald Isle is that it just keeps getting better and better as you read it. It just keeps growing and growing. I'm not sure if there is going to be another book or not, but I really hope there is. The romance in this book is one of my favorites of the year. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I was just hopping it would go another way. The ending that happened was nice and I liked it, but I would have liked something else a lot more. And the problem is that I had it in my head that I wanted "X" to happen and then "Y" happened. I am still holding out hope that there is going to be another book and I will get my way with how the story will go. Really, I just want to experience the magical romance that Kate Hinderer created! I loved it!
Has anyone else read the book? Do you know what kind of ending I was hoping for? I just don't want to be alone in this haha Let me know!
August 13, 2012
Title: Emerald Isle (A Fascination Island Book)
Author: Kate Hinderer
Date of Release: July 16th, 2012
Source: Author for honest review as part of a tour.
Summary from Goodreads:
To escape a bad break-up and fighting parents Audyn takes a job as a lifeguard at Fascination Island. The posh five-star resort lives up to its name in every way, including the strange rules the owner has about entering the water at night. Despite declaring it a boy-free summer, it isn’t long before the shy, endearing Levi and the mysterious, tattooed Tristan begin vying for her attention. When Levi tries to push his advantage and Tristan comes to the rescue, Audyn realizes there is more to both these boys and the island they inhabit. Suddenly, she’s forced to acknowledge a reality she’d never considered and to pick a side in the conflict that has been waging for decades.
Review: So at first glimpse of the storyline I was a bit weary. I thought the main character would just be an overdramatic teenage girl that I couldn’t relate to. I was wrong. While the first few pages were hard to get into, because they were building the intensity and conflict, about half way in things started to fly for me, or swim ;p! Kate Hinderer has created the perfect summer read for readers.
Audyn is a new name for me, I love characters with original names as long as they aren’t pretentious. This one worked for me. I really thought Audyn was going to have a boy free summer and was cruising along in the story and BAM not one but two boys. Levi fooled me I thought he was just this hesitant guy but than he had to go and, you know you should read the book to find out. Anyways enter Tristan who at this point even though he was Audyn’s hero I was fooled once with Levi and I was a bit weary of falling in love with him.
With the title of the book and summary I had a guess already of what paranormal creature was going to enter the picture. Audyn handled the revelation quite well considering and I loved her for it. She had to grow as a character to be able to handle both sides of a world she was never meant to be a part of. Enter the fact that she still has responsibilities and a job with weird rules and the intensity spikes. If your looking for something new and a bit different to read grab Emerald Isle!
Author: Kate Hinderer
Date of Release: July 16th, 2012
Source: Author for honest review as part of a tour.
Summary from Goodreads:
To escape a bad break-up and fighting parents Audyn takes a job as a lifeguard at Fascination Island. The posh five-star resort lives up to its name in every way, including the strange rules the owner has about entering the water at night. Despite declaring it a boy-free summer, it isn’t long before the shy, endearing Levi and the mysterious, tattooed Tristan begin vying for her attention. When Levi tries to push his advantage and Tristan comes to the rescue, Audyn realizes there is more to both these boys and the island they inhabit. Suddenly, she’s forced to acknowledge a reality she’d never considered and to pick a side in the conflict that has been waging for decades.
Review: So at first glimpse of the storyline I was a bit weary. I thought the main character would just be an overdramatic teenage girl that I couldn’t relate to. I was wrong. While the first few pages were hard to get into, because they were building the intensity and conflict, about half way in things started to fly for me, or swim ;p! Kate Hinderer has created the perfect summer read for readers.
Audyn is a new name for me, I love characters with original names as long as they aren’t pretentious. This one worked for me. I really thought Audyn was going to have a boy free summer and was cruising along in the story and BAM not one but two boys. Levi fooled me I thought he was just this hesitant guy but than he had to go and, you know you should read the book to find out. Anyways enter Tristan who at this point even though he was Audyn’s hero I was fooled once with Levi and I was a bit weary of falling in love with him.
With the title of the book and summary I had a guess already of what paranormal creature was going to enter the picture. Audyn handled the revelation quite well considering and I loved her for it. She had to grow as a character to be able to handle both sides of a world she was never meant to be a part of. Enter the fact that she still has responsibilities and a job with weird rules and the intensity spikes. If your looking for something new and a bit different to read grab Emerald Isle!
August 12, 2012
Audyn's life has taken a sour turn. Her latest boyfriend cheated on her with a best friend. She's feeling down in the dumps. What else is there to do but get out of town? Calling in a favor, Audyn runs from her home in New York to Fascination Island. A land where the wealthy come to play, and she can just get away. Little does Audyn know what awaits her there!
It's a little hard to review this book fully without giving anything away, but I'll do my best! Audyn is a likable character. The thing that made me like her most was watching her grow during the book. Learning to accept things from both sides, it was this growth that helped her ultimately in the story. I also rather enjoyed her job on the island. The rules made things interesting, and kind of added an element of suspense to the story line. I was always waiting to see what would happen next.
Unfortunately the book moved a little slow for me. At only 180+ pages, I was surprised that I felt that way. I honestly believe it was due to the fact that there is a lot of dialogue between characters. It tends to eat up the pages. The twist in this story intrigued me, and I liked the feud, but the boys themselves really didn't draw me in. Since I didn't feel much for either one, I wasn't really committed to their struggle. Only my opinion, as you know! I know that other readers will find plenty to love.
The good part about it all though is that Audyn shines the farther into the story that she gets. The more that she learns, the further she delves into the secrets surrounding Fascination Island, the more I liked her. Hers is a character that has heart. It's so nice to see a girl who can be a hero! So ultimately, despite what I mentioned above, I did enjoy the overall story. I just wish that it had drawn me in a little bit more.
At the end of the day, Emerald Isle was a book that I did actually end up reading the whole way through and enjoying. I'd recommend it to readers who like a lighter read, with a slight paranormal twist. You won't get more out of me than that. If you want to know what happens, you'll have to find out for yourself!
It's a little hard to review this book fully without giving anything away, but I'll do my best! Audyn is a likable character. The thing that made me like her most was watching her grow during the book. Learning to accept things from both sides, it was this growth that helped her ultimately in the story. I also rather enjoyed her job on the island. The rules made things interesting, and kind of added an element of suspense to the story line. I was always waiting to see what would happen next.
Unfortunately the book moved a little slow for me. At only 180+ pages, I was surprised that I felt that way. I honestly believe it was due to the fact that there is a lot of dialogue between characters. It tends to eat up the pages. The twist in this story intrigued me, and I liked the feud, but the boys themselves really didn't draw me in. Since I didn't feel much for either one, I wasn't really committed to their struggle. Only my opinion, as you know! I know that other readers will find plenty to love.
The good part about it all though is that Audyn shines the farther into the story that she gets. The more that she learns, the further she delves into the secrets surrounding Fascination Island, the more I liked her. Hers is a character that has heart. It's so nice to see a girl who can be a hero! So ultimately, despite what I mentioned above, I did enjoy the overall story. I just wish that it had drawn me in a little bit more.
At the end of the day, Emerald Isle was a book that I did actually end up reading the whole way through and enjoying. I'd recommend it to readers who like a lighter read, with a slight paranormal twist. You won't get more out of me than that. If you want to know what happens, you'll have to find out for yourself!
August 14, 2012
Different from what I read, I was not expecting for it to be a, well I don't want to give it away. But, it's awesome!
The best part about the book is the amazing plot line. It's written well, fast-paced, as well as it's keeps the reader on their toes. I thought for sure I knew where this book is going, instead it swept me away to something entirely different. Each chapter the reader gains new information on what really goes on on Emerald Isle has a list of rules and restrictions. And all I wanted to do is break them all!
The love interest in this book is inviting and exciting. Even though things happen fast, the author makes the guys so irresistible. I couldn't help but smirk at his antics. And if anything, he made me want to follow him like a puppy!! It was the things he did, the mysteriousness to him, the cryptic questions and his crazy ways. IDK, but for some reason, he really drew me in.
Once the big reveal happens, the rest of the plot falls in nicely. I admired the secrecy and the way the reader is kept out of the loop as well. I guess at so many options. Secret society, a crazy cult, etc. None of what I imagined it would be. Still, I am satisfied with the answer.
Emerald Isle keeps all doors open when it comes to the readers imagination. Truly loaded with schemes of girl looking for answers, she unknowingly falls into a war. It rages back and forth blowing up in the readers heads. The intense climax of action leads to an great ending. Emerald Isle is great!
The best part about the book is the amazing plot line. It's written well, fast-paced, as well as it's keeps the reader on their toes. I thought for sure I knew where this book is going, instead it swept me away to something entirely different. Each chapter the reader gains new information on what really goes on on Emerald Isle has a list of rules and restrictions. And all I wanted to do is break them all!
The love interest in this book is inviting and exciting. Even though things happen fast, the author makes the guys so irresistible. I couldn't help but smirk at his antics. And if anything, he made me want to follow him like a puppy!! It was the things he did, the mysteriousness to him, the cryptic questions and his crazy ways. IDK, but for some reason, he really drew me in.
Once the big reveal happens, the rest of the plot falls in nicely. I admired the secrecy and the way the reader is kept out of the loop as well. I guess at so many options. Secret society, a crazy cult, etc. None of what I imagined it would be. Still, I am satisfied with the answer.
Emerald Isle keeps all doors open when it comes to the readers imagination. Truly loaded with schemes of girl looking for answers, she unknowingly falls into a war. It rages back and forth blowing up in the readers heads. The intense climax of action leads to an great ending. Emerald Isle is great!
October 29, 2012
I'm not into YA novels. I get this feeling in my mouth like I stuffed too much honey, peanut butter, and banana in my mouth. Too sticky, too sweet.
But halfway through Emerald Isle, I changed my mind about this particular YA novel. Audyn ends up being a likable and dynamic character. The journey of her learning to see different sides of a situation ends up making her a hero. While this book has some fluff, it also has actual heart.
But halfway through Emerald Isle, I changed my mind about this particular YA novel. Audyn ends up being a likable and dynamic character. The journey of her learning to see different sides of a situation ends up making her a hero. While this book has some fluff, it also has actual heart.
June 25, 2013
Great book!
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