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Lakeview #1
Hush
For small-town girl Blakely Henry, any hope of finding her biological parents died when she stopped believing in fairy tales and Disney princesses. That is, until she spots her boarding school’s new British exchange student, Max Ryder, staring at her. Why would a boy who looks like he stepped out of the pages of a magazine be looking at her? Because Max knows something Blakely doesn’t.
Following the tragic demise of one of Europe’s most beloved royal families, Max has stumbled upon information he thinks may lead to a lost royal heir, and now he is on a quest halfway around the world to see if he’s right.
Sworn to secrecy by his university professor and the headmaster of Lakeview Academy, Max is admitted into an exchange program with the sole purpose of finding out the truth. But will his personal feelings for Blakely get in the way?
When a stolen email surfaces, Blakely and her friends’ lives are threatened, and Max starts to question what he is really after.
From the exclusive rolling lawns of Canada’s most prestigious boarding school to the University of Saint Andrews’ hallowed grounds, Blakely’s quiet, unassuming life is turned upside down. Is she really who she thinks she is? Can she survive long enough to help Max unearth the truth?
Following the tragic demise of one of Europe’s most beloved royal families, Max has stumbled upon information he thinks may lead to a lost royal heir, and now he is on a quest halfway around the world to see if he’s right.
Sworn to secrecy by his university professor and the headmaster of Lakeview Academy, Max is admitted into an exchange program with the sole purpose of finding out the truth. But will his personal feelings for Blakely get in the way?
When a stolen email surfaces, Blakely and her friends’ lives are threatened, and Max starts to question what he is really after.
From the exclusive rolling lawns of Canada’s most prestigious boarding school to the University of Saint Andrews’ hallowed grounds, Blakely’s quiet, unassuming life is turned upside down. Is she really who she thinks she is? Can she survive long enough to help Max unearth the truth?
278 pages, ebook
First published November 15, 2012
5 people are currently reading
939 people want to read
About the author
Stacey R. Campbell
14 books131 followersStacey R. Campbell lives in the Washington State with her husband and three daughters. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and a dyslexic writer that believes there is no such thing as a bad reader. She is the author of the young adult novels Hush and Whisper and the highly acclaimed middle grade swashbuckling pirate book ARRGH!
When not at her desk writing she can be found hiking, sailing, or skiing. She enjoys chocolate in any shape or size, too many cups of coffee and laughing (often too loudly as her daughters say) with her friends and family.
Stacey is available for classroom visits and loves working with writers and readers of any age; especially those with learning disabilities like her own.
Learn more about Stacey R. Campbell and her up coming releases by visiting her website at www.staceyrcampbell.com.
When not at her desk writing she can be found hiking, sailing, or skiing. She enjoys chocolate in any shape or size, too many cups of coffee and laughing (often too loudly as her daughters say) with her friends and family.
Stacey is available for classroom visits and loves working with writers and readers of any age; especially those with learning disabilities like her own.
Learn more about Stacey R. Campbell and her up coming releases by visiting her website at www.staceyrcampbell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
June 17, 2013
Romance, suspense, mystery, this book has everything. Hush is a light enjoyable beach read I wrote for my 15 year old daughter, Blakely, when she went away to boarding school.
Fun for the middle schooler on up.
The first of 4 novels. All but the last, taking place on the the Lakeview campus. Each a complete story linked together through setting and family with different character leads.
For questions or interviews please contact me at Staceyrcampbell.com.
Fun for the middle schooler on up.
The first of 4 novels. All but the last, taking place on the the Lakeview campus. Each a complete story linked together through setting and family with different character leads.
For questions or interviews please contact me at Staceyrcampbell.com.
March 30, 2013
Review from
Shaytastic Books
I received a copy from NetGalley for a honest review.
Blakely is just a regular girl with no idea that she could possibly be a princess... for real.
Max is an exchange student sent to do his investigation/project of finding out if blakely is a princess or not.
Beginning of this book pulled me in so fast!!! The mystery of Blakely may not be a new concept but I like my fairy tale stories so I invested myself into these characters.
The story was so easy going, flowed well with a good chemistry between the two main characters. I really enjoyed Max and his ways of wooing Blakely. He needed to get close to her to find out if she is the princess or not but his feelings for her grew and I liked their relationship.
The setting of the book is mainly in western Canada which was perfect for me as in I live here so I had such a wonderful time going through all the Canadian traditions that the author wrote about. :)
One thing about this book was that it just was too easy. It was like boom boom boom then done. I would have liked a better emphasis on Max asking her to the winter festival but that I can deal with it.
The biggest issue that bugged me is that there was a lot of talk about Blakely not being able to handle the hectic personal life that came with being a princess. I thought that she would have a freak out but nothing happened. She accepted it and that was that. A little disappointing. :(
Over all it was a good book and if your looking for just an easy read to get away from your heavy reading then I recommend this book!!!
I received a copy from NetGalley for a honest review.
Blakely is just a regular girl with no idea that she could possibly be a princess... for real.
Max is an exchange student sent to do his investigation/project of finding out if blakely is a princess or not.
Beginning of this book pulled me in so fast!!! The mystery of Blakely may not be a new concept but I like my fairy tale stories so I invested myself into these characters.
The story was so easy going, flowed well with a good chemistry between the two main characters. I really enjoyed Max and his ways of wooing Blakely. He needed to get close to her to find out if she is the princess or not but his feelings for her grew and I liked their relationship.
The setting of the book is mainly in western Canada which was perfect for me as in I live here so I had such a wonderful time going through all the Canadian traditions that the author wrote about. :)
One thing about this book was that it just was too easy. It was like boom boom boom then done. I would have liked a better emphasis on Max asking her to the winter festival but that I can deal with it.
The biggest issue that bugged me is that there was a lot of talk about Blakely not being able to handle the hectic personal life that came with being a princess. I thought that she would have a freak out but nothing happened. She accepted it and that was that. A little disappointing. :(
Over all it was a good book and if your looking for just an easy read to get away from your heavy reading then I recommend this book!!!
May 8, 2013
Side Note: Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book through Netgalley.
Review: As much as I love the modern fairy tale aspect, it’s hard to find a book that really offers a good take to the world of happily ever after and Hush was not an exception.
Hush offered a potentially good story. A young boy discovers the princess his aunt had worked for when he was growing up may have had a child in secret and she was hidden away by being adopted. A girl discovers her family is history is filled with royalty and her life changes forever. Mind you, it sounds very Princess Diaries meets Disney’s Anastasia, but it sounds like a cute story.
The problem with Hush—er, well, the main problem—was the lack of ANY emotional depth to either the characters or plot. The ENTIRE book is TOLD to the reader. The reader never gets a chance to EXPERIENCE the story or connect with the characters. Everything is dictated to the reader and what’s worse it’s dictated in a monotone voice. Think of your friend who can’t stop talking and is telling you a story but after the first two minutes, you space out and start playing Angry Birds on your phone while mumbling “Uh-huh” every few seconds so your friend thinks you’re listening. That’s what your experience would feel like while reading this book.
There’s never a moment that offers any sort of depth to the plot, to the world building, or to the characters. The lack of details that mattered, the lack of character development, the lack of any type of emotional arc or climax made reading feel heavy and boring.
The so-called romance never felt real. Since all the characters fell flat, the romance never had any heart to it. But I suppose that had more to do with the fact that the book had nothing of real importance going on for most of it. Even when the quote on quote action kicked in, it was so quickly and easily resolved, it was pointless to even place into the story. The villains were so inept and so useless, there isn’t a second readers can take them serious (even though they are supposed to be trained assassins).
The transitions from one scene to another were horrible because the point of view would suddenly and abruptly change from one character to another, sometimes right in the middle of a scene! It was the same way with the transitions from one chapter to another. They would end without an actual wrap up and just stopped mid-scene then the next chapter would open to a totally different scene. The dialogue and humor often felt forced. The pacing was so INCREDIBLY choppy because the chapters would jump from scene to scene quickly, resolve everything in an instant, then move to the next scene but nothing of SIGNIFICANCE happened throughout much of those scenes.
Hush is an easily forgettable book. The plot doesn’t really exist. The characters, the romance, and the humor are all bland. As much as I loved the concept behind the book and the setting taking place in Canada, it wasn’t anywhere near enough to save the story.
http://teamnerdreviews.blogspot.com/2...
Review: As much as I love the modern fairy tale aspect, it’s hard to find a book that really offers a good take to the world of happily ever after and Hush was not an exception.
Hush offered a potentially good story. A young boy discovers the princess his aunt had worked for when he was growing up may have had a child in secret and she was hidden away by being adopted. A girl discovers her family is history is filled with royalty and her life changes forever. Mind you, it sounds very Princess Diaries meets Disney’s Anastasia, but it sounds like a cute story.
The problem with Hush—er, well, the main problem—was the lack of ANY emotional depth to either the characters or plot. The ENTIRE book is TOLD to the reader. The reader never gets a chance to EXPERIENCE the story or connect with the characters. Everything is dictated to the reader and what’s worse it’s dictated in a monotone voice. Think of your friend who can’t stop talking and is telling you a story but after the first two minutes, you space out and start playing Angry Birds on your phone while mumbling “Uh-huh” every few seconds so your friend thinks you’re listening. That’s what your experience would feel like while reading this book.
There’s never a moment that offers any sort of depth to the plot, to the world building, or to the characters. The lack of details that mattered, the lack of character development, the lack of any type of emotional arc or climax made reading feel heavy and boring.
The so-called romance never felt real. Since all the characters fell flat, the romance never had any heart to it. But I suppose that had more to do with the fact that the book had nothing of real importance going on for most of it. Even when the quote on quote action kicked in, it was so quickly and easily resolved, it was pointless to even place into the story. The villains were so inept and so useless, there isn’t a second readers can take them serious (even though they are supposed to be trained assassins).
The transitions from one scene to another were horrible because the point of view would suddenly and abruptly change from one character to another, sometimes right in the middle of a scene! It was the same way with the transitions from one chapter to another. They would end without an actual wrap up and just stopped mid-scene then the next chapter would open to a totally different scene. The dialogue and humor often felt forced. The pacing was so INCREDIBLY choppy because the chapters would jump from scene to scene quickly, resolve everything in an instant, then move to the next scene but nothing of SIGNIFICANCE happened throughout much of those scenes.
Hush is an easily forgettable book. The plot doesn’t really exist. The characters, the romance, and the humor are all bland. As much as I loved the concept behind the book and the setting taking place in Canada, it wasn’t anywhere near enough to save the story.
http://teamnerdreviews.blogspot.com/2...
May 5, 2013
Hush es la historia que te envuelve desde el primer párrafo. Escrita en tercera persona, Hush inicia con el nacimiento de una pequeña y especial niña, Blakely, quién por sucesos que leeremos, es separada de sus padres biológicos y adoptada por una nueva familia, los Henry. Este libro me llamó la atención por su sinopsis, en la sinopsis original en inglés, la primera oración empieza con “For small-town girl”, recordándome a la famosa canción del grupo Journey, “Don’t stop believing”.
El libro está dividido en capítulos, cada capítulo es nombrado con un número, y al inicio de estos se encuentra el nombre del lugar donde se llevará a cabo la acción. Aunque la historia se basa en Blakley, la historia no siempre es contada desde su punto de vista, sino también del de Max Ryder. Ahora bien, ¿quién es Max? Es un chico con la misma edad que Blakely que vive en Escocia, y gracias a unas viejas fotos que eran de su abuela, descubre quién es Blakely en verdad.
Nos enteramos de todo el planteamiento en cuestión de unos tres capítulos, los cuales duran exactamente tres páginas cada uno, súper cortos. La historia es contada cronológicamente y la autora utiliza un lenguaje informal. Como ya dije, los capítulos son muy cortos y el libro es de apenas 157 páginas. Pude haberlo acabado la misma tarde en que lo empecé a leer, pero por cosas del colegio no pude ja! Es un libro que recomiendo para preadolescentes (no sé si el término en verdad exista, pero aproximadamente sería de los 9-12 años supongo) porque es la típica historia de la chica popular que resulta ser importante o famosa por algún motivo, de la cual se enamora el chico guapo con acento sexy.
La historia se desarrolla casi en su totalidad en la Universidad Saint Andrews, universidad a la que asisten Blakely y sus amigos. A esa universidad llega Max por varios motivos, ahí conoce a Blakely y por azares del destino se enamoran. Blakely como saben es adoptada, y mientras Max intenta averiguar más sobre sus padres biológicos, las cosas se salen de control, accidentes, persecuciones y romance es lo que podrás encontrar en esta primera entrega de la serie Lakeview.
En lo personal me gustó, y de hecho bastante. Me alegro mi tarde y en verdad nunca llega un momento en el que puedas aburrirte, la historia avanza con rapidez y al final te deja un buen sabor de boca. Como ya he dicho en otras reseñas, las historias sencillas son excelentes para pasar una tarde tranquila leyendo un libro corto, de tamaño exacto para empezar y terminar de leer el mismo día.
Hush va a tener una segunda parte, Whisper, que saldrá en otoño de este año 2013.
Geek Marloz
El libro está dividido en capítulos, cada capítulo es nombrado con un número, y al inicio de estos se encuentra el nombre del lugar donde se llevará a cabo la acción. Aunque la historia se basa en Blakley, la historia no siempre es contada desde su punto de vista, sino también del de Max Ryder. Ahora bien, ¿quién es Max? Es un chico con la misma edad que Blakely que vive en Escocia, y gracias a unas viejas fotos que eran de su abuela, descubre quién es Blakely en verdad.
Nos enteramos de todo el planteamiento en cuestión de unos tres capítulos, los cuales duran exactamente tres páginas cada uno, súper cortos. La historia es contada cronológicamente y la autora utiliza un lenguaje informal. Como ya dije, los capítulos son muy cortos y el libro es de apenas 157 páginas. Pude haberlo acabado la misma tarde en que lo empecé a leer, pero por cosas del colegio no pude ja! Es un libro que recomiendo para preadolescentes (no sé si el término en verdad exista, pero aproximadamente sería de los 9-12 años supongo) porque es la típica historia de la chica popular que resulta ser importante o famosa por algún motivo, de la cual se enamora el chico guapo con acento sexy.
La historia se desarrolla casi en su totalidad en la Universidad Saint Andrews, universidad a la que asisten Blakely y sus amigos. A esa universidad llega Max por varios motivos, ahí conoce a Blakely y por azares del destino se enamoran. Blakely como saben es adoptada, y mientras Max intenta averiguar más sobre sus padres biológicos, las cosas se salen de control, accidentes, persecuciones y romance es lo que podrás encontrar en esta primera entrega de la serie Lakeview.
En lo personal me gustó, y de hecho bastante. Me alegro mi tarde y en verdad nunca llega un momento en el que puedas aburrirte, la historia avanza con rapidez y al final te deja un buen sabor de boca. Como ya he dicho en otras reseñas, las historias sencillas son excelentes para pasar una tarde tranquila leyendo un libro corto, de tamaño exacto para empezar y terminar de leer el mismo día.
Hush va a tener una segunda parte, Whisper, que saldrá en otoño de este año 2013.
Geek Marloz
March 3, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It's got everything a good YA novel needs: romance, a girl finding out she's a princess, interesting characters, and a really good ending. It takes place, for the most part, in a Hogwarts-like boarding school setting (minus the magic), and the author nods to this by acknowledging the similarities. That said, what teenager wouldn't like an adventure while away at a boarding school that sounds like every kid's dream?
Yes, this story has been done before, but this book is well written and sweet. The pacing is very good and the characters are well-developed and really likable, especially our two main characters. There are a few editing issues, but overall, for a first book, it's in really good shape.
I'm glad I got the opportunity to read Hush, and I'd definitely recommend it as a quick, sweet read for my fellow YA-loving adult friends and their teenager daughters.
I really enjoyed this book. It's got everything a good YA novel needs: romance, a girl finding out she's a princess, interesting characters, and a really good ending. It takes place, for the most part, in a Hogwarts-like boarding school setting (minus the magic), and the author nods to this by acknowledging the similarities. That said, what teenager wouldn't like an adventure while away at a boarding school that sounds like every kid's dream?
Yes, this story has been done before, but this book is well written and sweet. The pacing is very good and the characters are well-developed and really likable, especially our two main characters. There are a few editing issues, but overall, for a first book, it's in really good shape.
I'm glad I got the opportunity to read Hush, and I'd definitely recommend it as a quick, sweet read for my fellow YA-loving adult friends and their teenager daughters.
May 1, 2013
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
Hush had all the right elements that made it a great read. It was able to pull me into it from the very beginning. It started of with a bit of mystery and includes a strong female lead, romance and a somewhat predictable but altogether fun plot. This book alternates POV's so that everything comes together.
All of Blakely’s relationships, with family/friends are easy… nothing seemed forced and the romantic tension was coy and realistic.
There are definitely more exciting books of this genre out there, it was almost too simple a read, but everything about it was enjoyable.
The ending could leave this book as a stand alone, but with a lot of unanswered questions, so I hope there is more. Definitely more of Max… and Blakely.
Hush had all the right elements that made it a great read. It was able to pull me into it from the very beginning. It started of with a bit of mystery and includes a strong female lead, romance and a somewhat predictable but altogether fun plot. This book alternates POV's so that everything comes together.
All of Blakely’s relationships, with family/friends are easy… nothing seemed forced and the romantic tension was coy and realistic.
There are definitely more exciting books of this genre out there, it was almost too simple a read, but everything about it was enjoyable.
The ending could leave this book as a stand alone, but with a lot of unanswered questions, so I hope there is more. Definitely more of Max… and Blakely.
June 7, 2013
Reviewed by my 15yr old daughter, Janessa
This book was an exciting rush filled with new twists and turns page after page. I have found that there are rarely any good YA mystery novels, and Hush was a fresh breath of air. Unlike so many books for young readers, the characters in this book were perfectly sculpted to be realistic, people you could actually run into and their tales could hold truth... Full review can be read here
This book was an exciting rush filled with new twists and turns page after page. I have found that there are rarely any good YA mystery novels, and Hush was a fresh breath of air. Unlike so many books for young readers, the characters in this book were perfectly sculpted to be realistic, people you could actually run into and their tales could hold truth... Full review can be read here
February 18, 2013
Great book with a gripping plot line with twists and turns that make this book and the themes within it unique. It's definitely a page turner and will keep you reading at any age. I wish this book was written while I was a teenager! I will definitely recommend it to all the teenage/pre-teen girls that I know!
April 18, 2013
Amazing book! This author is truly gifted in many ways! She spins a suspenceful tale with just the right amount of romance! Strong character profiles and interesting details made for an incredible read. Not exactly a hard core novel, but more of a light hearted read that keeps you entertained for ages and ages!
December 19, 2012
A light, breezy, Young Adult title perfect for teens. With familiar themes of abandonment, lost heritage, and in the grand tradition of boarding school tales, Hush does what it set out to do: entertain.
March 25, 2013
4.5/5 stars
For my full review, click here
For my full review, click here
February 17, 2015
I throughly enjoyed reading this book. However, I feel as though this type of story has been explored over and over again through the years, and sad to say, this book had little more to offer. Sometimes, the romance between the two main characters were adorable, whereas sometimes I thought that they were being too cheesy. Being oddly reminiscent to the Disney Channel Original Movie "Princess Protection Program" there were some points at which the plot was strong, and there were some points where things were all too familiar, and dare I say it, borderline cliché.
April 30, 2013
First off, I'd like to express my gratitude towards the publisher for giving this copy to me on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I did find myself enjoying this book. The writing was done well, and the characters were flat but likable in their own respects, and ohmylanta, the setting was beautiful. However, despite these nice things, there were also some things that felt a bit too rushed and unrealistic.
Blakely Henry knows that she was adopted and is comfortable with not knowing who her real parents are. It's doesn't seem so important when she has wonderful adoptive parents who love her as if she were truly theirs, in fact, she feels like she's got everything she could ever need. That is, until Max shows up at her prestigious boarding school and seemingly turns her world upside down for the better. What she doesn't know is that Max is really there to investigate her apparent link to the recently deceased Tamura family. With a semester full of friendship, love and a bit of danger, it's difficult not to root for Blakely there in the end.
I've seen this book be compared to The Princess Diaries so many times. Personally, I don't see it that way. Sure, one of the names is a bit close (Renaldo / Renaldi) but even that isn't too big of an issue. I thought that the writing was well done and descriptive. I only had two small problems with it. The first was the fact that things seemed to progress too quickly and without warning. For instance, whenever Max comes to the boarding school, he seems to instantly become best friends with Blakely. We don't get to see very much as to how this friendship developed, and it really confused me. There were also a few other awkward time jumps throughout the book, but they weren't as deterring as this one.
Secondly, the way that it was written let on that we knew everybody's mindset. Not only did we know our main characters when it was their chapter point of views, but we knew what their friends were thinking as well. For the chapter headings to state that it was from a specific person's point of view, it just felt odd that she knew what her friends were thinking.
As far as the pacing went, I didn't have any problems with it. Things progressed well, besides the little time jumps.
Character-wise I found everybody to be sufficient. They all seemed to be flat and a bit too perfect, but still likable. We don't really get to delve very deep into anybody's life, besides Blakely, but perhaps that was for a specific reason.
Our lead; Blakely was popular and beautiful and everybody knew and at one point has wanted to date her. That's fine, because sometimes it does happen, but kindly don't rub it in my face. Her intelligence and grace made up for this in my mind.
Next, our lead male; Max was a bit too cocky for my liking. I dunno, he just seemed to rush and jump to so many conclusions that I was still trying to figure out. Truthfully, he just really didn't impress me that much.
The big violence scene towards the end just kind of seemed sprung on us. Also, why didn't anybody think to call the police?
Also, I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to read much about her life being a princess. This will come in future books?
Overall, Hush was a light read. The setting was amazing, as was the overall story, and the characters were likable. Even though some things felt a bit rushed, it was still a nice story overall. For those of you going into this believing that it's going to be like The Princess Diaries, this isn't true. Blakely is nothing like Mia, and vice versa. This was a fun, short read and I feel like I might recommend it to some people.
☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you're searching for a light read.
I did find myself enjoying this book. The writing was done well, and the characters were flat but likable in their own respects, and ohmylanta, the setting was beautiful. However, despite these nice things, there were also some things that felt a bit too rushed and unrealistic.
Blakely Henry knows that she was adopted and is comfortable with not knowing who her real parents are. It's doesn't seem so important when she has wonderful adoptive parents who love her as if she were truly theirs, in fact, she feels like she's got everything she could ever need. That is, until Max shows up at her prestigious boarding school and seemingly turns her world upside down for the better. What she doesn't know is that Max is really there to investigate her apparent link to the recently deceased Tamura family. With a semester full of friendship, love and a bit of danger, it's difficult not to root for Blakely there in the end.
I've seen this book be compared to The Princess Diaries so many times. Personally, I don't see it that way. Sure, one of the names is a bit close (Renaldo / Renaldi) but even that isn't too big of an issue. I thought that the writing was well done and descriptive. I only had two small problems with it. The first was the fact that things seemed to progress too quickly and without warning. For instance, whenever Max comes to the boarding school, he seems to instantly become best friends with Blakely. We don't get to see very much as to how this friendship developed, and it really confused me. There were also a few other awkward time jumps throughout the book, but they weren't as deterring as this one.
Secondly, the way that it was written let on that we knew everybody's mindset. Not only did we know our main characters when it was their chapter point of views, but we knew what their friends were thinking as well. For the chapter headings to state that it was from a specific person's point of view, it just felt odd that she knew what her friends were thinking.
As far as the pacing went, I didn't have any problems with it. Things progressed well, besides the little time jumps.
Character-wise I found everybody to be sufficient. They all seemed to be flat and a bit too perfect, but still likable. We don't really get to delve very deep into anybody's life, besides Blakely, but perhaps that was for a specific reason.
Our lead; Blakely was popular and beautiful and everybody knew and at one point has wanted to date her. That's fine, because sometimes it does happen, but kindly don't rub it in my face. Her intelligence and grace made up for this in my mind.
Next, our lead male; Max was a bit too cocky for my liking. I dunno, he just seemed to rush and jump to so many conclusions that I was still trying to figure out. Truthfully, he just really didn't impress me that much.
The big violence scene towards the end just kind of seemed sprung on us. Also, why didn't anybody think to call the police?
Also, I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to read much about her life being a princess. This will come in future books?
Overall, Hush was a light read. The setting was amazing, as was the overall story, and the characters were likable. Even though some things felt a bit rushed, it was still a nice story overall. For those of you going into this believing that it's going to be like The Princess Diaries, this isn't true. Blakely is nothing like Mia, and vice versa. This was a fun, short read and I feel like I might recommend it to some people.
☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you're searching for a light read.
April 28, 2013
Kat's Review
I have to admit that I'm not big on the whole regular-girl-turns-princess type story. I was intrigued by this novel because the focus of the story isn't about the transition to beautiful princess, but rather the journey that Max takes to find out if Blakely is in fact the lost princess of the fictional European country Tamura. I also liked that the story is set at a boarding school in Canada. This is the second book I've read this week set in Canada, both in British Columbia, and I'm enjoying it.
There is a lot to like in this book. It's a YA book that is appropriate for even younger teens. There is a little bit of romance and a few scenes with mild violence, but nothing explicit or too violent. It's also a story that shows adoption in a positive light. Blakely has a great relationship with her parents and sister, and is a confident, accomplished young woman who is curious about her past, but not crippled by the lack of knowledge surrounding her birth family. A really big plus for me.
There are a few storylines at work, and the chapters flip back and forth, which can get confusing if you're not paying attention. There's Max, who is pretending to be an exchange student in an attempt to verify Blakely's identity as the princess, and Max's professor, helping from behind the scenes. Then there's the secondary storyline of the vacated throne of Tamura following an explosion that killed the Royal Family during a family reunion. A faction within the government will do anything to ensure that an heir to the throne isn't found, putting Blakely at risk.
I found the transitions between the storylines to sometimes be abrupt or a bit stilted. I also sometimes felt the same way about the way the characters inner monologues developed. Some of the situations were resolved too neatly without much tension or suspense, all wrapping up neatly without the messiness I often enjoy in novels.
Rating: Worth A Look
This book will appeal to younger teens, as well as some older ones. The love story is cute and develops gradually, but doesn't take over the entire story. The storyline is a bit mystery, a bit puppy love, and a bit teen drama, but it's a good, fun read.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley and Green Darner Press in return for an honest review.
I have to admit that I'm not big on the whole regular-girl-turns-princess type story. I was intrigued by this novel because the focus of the story isn't about the transition to beautiful princess, but rather the journey that Max takes to find out if Blakely is in fact the lost princess of the fictional European country Tamura. I also liked that the story is set at a boarding school in Canada. This is the second book I've read this week set in Canada, both in British Columbia, and I'm enjoying it.
There is a lot to like in this book. It's a YA book that is appropriate for even younger teens. There is a little bit of romance and a few scenes with mild violence, but nothing explicit or too violent. It's also a story that shows adoption in a positive light. Blakely has a great relationship with her parents and sister, and is a confident, accomplished young woman who is curious about her past, but not crippled by the lack of knowledge surrounding her birth family. A really big plus for me.
There are a few storylines at work, and the chapters flip back and forth, which can get confusing if you're not paying attention. There's Max, who is pretending to be an exchange student in an attempt to verify Blakely's identity as the princess, and Max's professor, helping from behind the scenes. Then there's the secondary storyline of the vacated throne of Tamura following an explosion that killed the Royal Family during a family reunion. A faction within the government will do anything to ensure that an heir to the throne isn't found, putting Blakely at risk.
I found the transitions between the storylines to sometimes be abrupt or a bit stilted. I also sometimes felt the same way about the way the characters inner monologues developed. Some of the situations were resolved too neatly without much tension or suspense, all wrapping up neatly without the messiness I often enjoy in novels.
Rating: Worth A Look
This book will appeal to younger teens, as well as some older ones. The love story is cute and develops gradually, but doesn't take over the entire story. The storyline is a bit mystery, a bit puppy love, and a bit teen drama, but it's a good, fun read.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley and Green Darner Press in return for an honest review.
August 27, 2015
This was a terrific book! I was not expecting to like it as much as I did and am extremely glad I chose to read it. One of my favorite parts about this story was the royalty. The book centers around the last heir to the royal thrown of Tamura. (Not a real country, already checked.) The characters from Tamura - and more specifically the government - seemed almost medieval to me and while some people may not have liked this, I actually really enjoyed it. It was cool to see how they acted and spoke. I also loved learning about the royal family’s past and found it extremely interesting.
While the MCs Blakely and Max were a little cliche at points, I really did like them and found myself rooting for them to be together! Some parts of this story seemed rushed but - personally - I was looking for a quick, easy read and this was exactly what I wanted.
The only thing I would say about this book if I was an editor was that, rather than having this book be in the young adult section, I would suggest it to be middle grade. I think that if some of the language was cleaned up it would make a fantastic book for younger readers. It was a lighthearted and quick read that I couldn’t have been more please with!
On a side note, I did a little research on the author and the second book - while not listed on Goodreads yet - will be out in October of 2013. The title is Whisper and involves Blakely’s little sister Halle and a hundred year old mystery. Not sure if I’ll end up getting it but sounds interesting and, if given the opportunity, would definitely check it out. Plus, look at that pretty cover!!
A free copy of this book was provided to me from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
While the MCs Blakely and Max were a little cliche at points, I really did like them and found myself rooting for them to be together! Some parts of this story seemed rushed but - personally - I was looking for a quick, easy read and this was exactly what I wanted.
The only thing I would say about this book if I was an editor was that, rather than having this book be in the young adult section, I would suggest it to be middle grade. I think that if some of the language was cleaned up it would make a fantastic book for younger readers. It was a lighthearted and quick read that I couldn’t have been more please with!
On a side note, I did a little research on the author and the second book - while not listed on Goodreads yet - will be out in October of 2013. The title is Whisper and involves Blakely’s little sister Halle and a hundred year old mystery. Not sure if I’ll end up getting it but sounds interesting and, if given the opportunity, would definitely check it out. Plus, look at that pretty cover!!
A free copy of this book was provided to me from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
February 16, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Gemelli Press LLC and Netgalley.)
17-year-old Blakely is the daughter of a foreign Princess; as a result of an affair with her chauffer’s son. Blakely has no idea that this is the case though, and instead believes herself to be a regular American teenager, even if she was adopted.
Max is intent on graduating top of his class, and when he finds information that leads him to discover Blakely’s true identity; he goes undercover to find out the truth.
Is Blakely really royalty? And will Max want her to be once he gets to know her?
This was an okay story, but it was a little slow in places.
Blakely was an interesting character, and she was pretty down-to-earth about things. I have to say that I liked her a lot more than Max, who seemed a bit conceited at times! I really wanted him to get over himself when he was complaining that she wasn’t falling all over him, and that he hadn’t had this problem before.
The storyline in this was fairly straightforward ‘girl who doesn’t know she’s really a princess’ sort of story. We did have some bad guys, and they did try their best to dispose of Blakely, but to be honest I almost thought that Max was the worst of the lot because if it wasn’t for him, nobody would ever have worked out Blakely’s heritage.
There was some romance, although I just couldn’t like Max. I thought he was pretty conceited and arrogant, and when he started wishing that Blakely wasn’t a princess, just so he could have his way with her, I was again less than impressed.
The ending to this was pretty good. The story was quite slow up until the 75% mark, but thankfully we got a bit of action after that. I can’t say I was 100% impressed with the outcome in terms of the romance. If her mother wasn’t allowed to date her chauffer’s son, I very much doubt that Blakely would be allowed to date whomever she wanted!
Overall; an okay ‘lost princess’ story,
6.25 out of 10.
17-year-old Blakely is the daughter of a foreign Princess; as a result of an affair with her chauffer’s son. Blakely has no idea that this is the case though, and instead believes herself to be a regular American teenager, even if she was adopted.
Max is intent on graduating top of his class, and when he finds information that leads him to discover Blakely’s true identity; he goes undercover to find out the truth.
Is Blakely really royalty? And will Max want her to be once he gets to know her?
This was an okay story, but it was a little slow in places.
Blakely was an interesting character, and she was pretty down-to-earth about things. I have to say that I liked her a lot more than Max, who seemed a bit conceited at times! I really wanted him to get over himself when he was complaining that she wasn’t falling all over him, and that he hadn’t had this problem before.
The storyline in this was fairly straightforward ‘girl who doesn’t know she’s really a princess’ sort of story. We did have some bad guys, and they did try their best to dispose of Blakely, but to be honest I almost thought that Max was the worst of the lot because if it wasn’t for him, nobody would ever have worked out Blakely’s heritage.
There was some romance, although I just couldn’t like Max. I thought he was pretty conceited and arrogant, and when he started wishing that Blakely wasn’t a princess, just so he could have his way with her, I was again less than impressed.
The ending to this was pretty good. The story was quite slow up until the 75% mark, but thankfully we got a bit of action after that. I can’t say I was 100% impressed with the outcome in terms of the romance. If her mother wasn’t allowed to date her chauffer’s son, I very much doubt that Blakely would be allowed to date whomever she wanted!
Overall; an okay ‘lost princess’ story,
6.25 out of 10.
August 20, 2013
Hush is an adorable story about a young girl who is more than meets the eye in several ways. The book starts out and grabs you right away where we find ourselves being present at Blakely's birth on an island where her mother has been hiding for 7 months because she is secretly the crown princess of Tamura. After Blakely's birth she is whisked off to adoptive parents in the state of Washington in the US. Flash forward 17 years and we have Blakely who is getting ready to head back to bordering school for her school term.
Blakely's life seems to be rather normal with normal friends and a normal life.
Max Ryder is working on trying to determine his school project and runs across a locked draw at his aunt's estate after her death. He comes to find pictures and address information for a family in Washington and puts pieces together that there may have been an illegitmate child between the then crown princess and the drivers son. While this isn't big news for current events and times (think of all the royal scandals we have all heard of the years) it is a big issue as the royal family yacht sank and all members were lost in a tragic boating accident.
Max then makes it his project to find this lost heir and finds himself falling for Blakely head over heels.
The book was adorable and cute, although some what predictable. It was still a well put together book and I enjoyed the character development throughout the piece.
This honest review was completed in exchange for an ARC through NetGalley.
Blakely's life seems to be rather normal with normal friends and a normal life.
Max Ryder is working on trying to determine his school project and runs across a locked draw at his aunt's estate after her death. He comes to find pictures and address information for a family in Washington and puts pieces together that there may have been an illegitmate child between the then crown princess and the drivers son. While this isn't big news for current events and times (think of all the royal scandals we have all heard of the years) it is a big issue as the royal family yacht sank and all members were lost in a tragic boating accident.
Max then makes it his project to find this lost heir and finds himself falling for Blakely head over heels.
The book was adorable and cute, although some what predictable. It was still a well put together book and I enjoyed the character development throughout the piece.
This honest review was completed in exchange for an ARC through NetGalley.
August 20, 2015
Hush is the first book in the Lakeview series and is about Blakely who is adopted and isn’t aware that she’s from a Royal family and is the last living member. That’s not a secret as her birth is the beginning of the book. So while this is sort of a mystery, it’s not really done in the traditional sense.
The first quarter of the book is getting to know Blakely and Max and watching as their friendship, and then romance, grows. Then more stuff starts happening and the book really speeds up. At that point it was hard to put it down as I wanted to see how things unfolded. How Blakely finds out, where things go.
I liked Blakely but I actually like Max more. I get that he was a little secretive about things but I feel he had a good reason for keeping quiet. I like how protective he was of her even though she was strong on her own she didn’t really realize what she was up against or that she was in any real danger because as far as she knew, she had no reason to be. I connected with his personality a lot as well and how he interacted with people.
The concept of this was pretty good. I suppose it’s not real realistic but it’s one I can suspend disbelief over cause it could happen. You never know. ;)
Each book in this series does pretty well standing on it’s own and I’m really glad there wasn’t a cliffhanger. It’s nice to get the answers to things and have a good conclusion. I definitely recommend!
You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
The first quarter of the book is getting to know Blakely and Max and watching as their friendship, and then romance, grows. Then more stuff starts happening and the book really speeds up. At that point it was hard to put it down as I wanted to see how things unfolded. How Blakely finds out, where things go.
I liked Blakely but I actually like Max more. I get that he was a little secretive about things but I feel he had a good reason for keeping quiet. I like how protective he was of her even though she was strong on her own she didn’t really realize what she was up against or that she was in any real danger because as far as she knew, she had no reason to be. I connected with his personality a lot as well and how he interacted with people.
The concept of this was pretty good. I suppose it’s not real realistic but it’s one I can suspend disbelief over cause it could happen. You never know. ;)
Each book in this series does pretty well standing on it’s own and I’m really glad there wasn’t a cliffhanger. It’s nice to get the answers to things and have a good conclusion. I definitely recommend!
You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
May 30, 2013
Hush is a bit of fun. A lost princess, an evil villain trying to take over the throne, a hapless journalist going undercover to discover the princess' true identity. It's never going to be deep and moving, but it is an enjoyable bit of escapism which makes a nice change.
Blakeley is the sort of loveable character who can do no wrong. She has plenty of friends, she's pretty, outgoing, happy in herself, secure in her home life and she's a genuinely nice person. Is it too rude to yawn now? Okay, I'll suppress it. Like I said, I've been reading a lot of NA lately, and the contrast between the tortured, messed-up souls that reside in the pages of NA books, and the fluffy, happy-go-lucky characters of Hush, is hard to accept. I did enjoy Hush, honestly I did, I'm just finding it hard to write about. It's a light, fun romp, pleasant to read. It's well-paced, has a good flow, the characters interact well with one another. It's not going to set the world alight, it's not going to pull you in an make you get all emotionally attached, but that's okay. It is what it is.
Full review at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk...
Blakeley is the sort of loveable character who can do no wrong. She has plenty of friends, she's pretty, outgoing, happy in herself, secure in her home life and she's a genuinely nice person. Is it too rude to yawn now? Okay, I'll suppress it. Like I said, I've been reading a lot of NA lately, and the contrast between the tortured, messed-up souls that reside in the pages of NA books, and the fluffy, happy-go-lucky characters of Hush, is hard to accept. I did enjoy Hush, honestly I did, I'm just finding it hard to write about. It's a light, fun romp, pleasant to read. It's well-paced, has a good flow, the characters interact well with one another. It's not going to set the world alight, it's not going to pull you in an make you get all emotionally attached, but that's okay. It is what it is.
Full review at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk...
August 2, 2014
I really enjoyed this story. I recieved this book from Netgalley. The storyline was very different from what I normally read. A story about adoptions, Kings and Queens, Princesses. Also some bad guys too. I didnt know I would enjoy it as much as I did. Because it was different. But everything came together nicely. It was so good. Some mystery along with teen romance.
I really enjoyed the characters Blakely and Max. Blakely was like every other teen girl. All the drama and emotional upheaval like all girls go through. When Max came into the picture, he just made it that much better.
It had great background stories to all the characters. This author really did excellent research. Living in Canada then learning everything she did. And moving across the country. It made it all the better.
It was really a joy to read this. Situations like this can always turn on awesome.
I really enjoyed the characters Blakely and Max. Blakely was like every other teen girl. All the drama and emotional upheaval like all girls go through. When Max came into the picture, he just made it that much better.
It had great background stories to all the characters. This author really did excellent research. Living in Canada then learning everything she did. And moving across the country. It made it all the better.
It was really a joy to read this. Situations like this can always turn on awesome.
December 31, 2013
I got an ARC of this from NetGalley. I was enticed by the synopsis and not realizing this was a contemporary romance young adult novel. I had no regrets. It turned out to be an excellent read, most importantly the hero was British. That was definitely a plus. The story was straight-forward, in which made my reading fast and enjoyable for me...no beating around the bush and frustration free. The author created great supporting characters that spiced up the story even more. I was so thankful that i didn't need to wait for the next installment in order for me to find out the ending. Recommendable to those who love a chick flick (e. g. Princess Diary kind of story).
February 16, 2015
I received a free ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I quite enjoyed reading Hush as I kept wanting to read and the story stopped me from putting my book (it was really my kindle) down. I absolutely loved that the author mentioned Hogwarts; I found these parts to be the best! I also liked how the book ended as it can sort of be read as a stand-alone novel. Although I really hope that we find out more about Blakeley's father.
Overall, I really liked reading this book, it was a quick read and I now look forward to getting my hands on the next one!
I quite enjoyed reading Hush as I kept wanting to read and the story stopped me from putting my book (it was really my kindle) down. I absolutely loved that the author mentioned Hogwarts; I found these parts to be the best! I also liked how the book ended as it can sort of be read as a stand-alone novel. Although I really hope that we find out more about Blakeley's father.
Overall, I really liked reading this book, it was a quick read and I now look forward to getting my hands on the next one!
July 4, 2013
A big thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me have access to this galley. I don't think this is one I would have picked up on my own off a shelf, and I'm glad that I read it. There was nothing earth shatteringly new here, but in some ways that was a large part of its charm. I really enjoyed the characters and was cheering for both Max and Blakely well before they even were in a relationship. I'm extremely happy to find out that there are more books coming with these characters!
April 8, 2013
I am writing this review after receiving a free copy to read from Net Gallery.
Pleasant YA story that teenage girls will love. An unknown teenage princess, romance, bad guys what isn't there to like? The story flows easily and the characters are friendly and likeable.
Pleasant YA story that teenage girls will love. An unknown teenage princess, romance, bad guys what isn't there to like? The story flows easily and the characters are friendly and likeable.
June 5, 2013
I LOVED this book! I could totally relate to the characters. Who doesn't want to be a princess? From the opening paragraph I was hooked. The story sped along at a great clip and by the time I got to the end I didn't want it to finish. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!
June 5, 2013
Fun, light, and fast paced. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Heard it was even being optioned for a movie.
April 2, 2014
When I started reading this I thought it had kind of a "Princess Diaries" feel about it. Which I mean in a good way because I LOVED "Princess Diaries". This book is so much better than that though.
Blakely is the MC, and I love her. She is an athletic, sporty girl with a wonderful family. She was adopted, and tried to search for her birth parents at one point, but there wasn't any information on them...
Meanwhile at St. Andrews Max, want to be an investigative reporter. He finds some pictures in a locked drawer in his Aunt Rose's desk after she passes away. When he looks at them he realizes that they are pictures of the Royal family that had just been killed in a yacht accident. Max finds a name and an address in the pile of things that lead him to believe that there is a child still out there that belongs to the royal family. He takes his information to his professor and he embarks on a journey he isn't quite ready for.
Max goes to Canada where he meets Blakely. He is suppose to find out if she is the lost princess. He wasn't prepared for how he would come to feel about her!
The love story in this is so much fun. I am a sucker for Princesses and love stories. What little girl didn't wish she was a Princess???
When information is stolen about the true identity of Blakely life gets a little more interesting for the poor girl.
There are so many great characters in this book. Blakely is such a sweet girl with a sweet and loving family. She has loyal friends who watch out for her. The setting in this book is amazing also. The author did a great job of putting me "in" the book. The book got quite intense at the end. I couldn't go to sleep last night until I finished it. I cannot tell you how much I love it when a book does that for me.
Toward the end of the book my hands were starting to sweat (I know TMI) because I was so anxious to see what was going to happen. It was actually a little amusing...hehe! It is always so much fun for me when a book can pull me in as much or MORE than a movie can.
There are some great villains in this book as well. Yes, I said great villains. It's easy to like the "likable" characters, but when there are well written villains it's awesome.
Okay, now this is kind of a personal note on the book. When you get to the end of this book there is a little interview with the author. I already loved the book, but after reading the interview I loved it even more. The author states that she has Dyslexia. I have a son who was just given some testing and told he has Dyslexia also. He has struggled with reading for so long, that when we finally had a diagnosis it was a relief. Ever since then I have tried to tell him that having Dyslexia doesn't mean he cannot be just as successful as any one else. Whenever I find a celebrity or anyone that will come out and say they have Dyslexia I point it out to him. When it is a writer with Dyslexia I am even more impressed. I know for a fact what a struggle it is for my son to write and read, so the fact that an author can write a work of beauty with Dyslexia really makes me so proud. This author inspires me!
Okay, enough of the personal stuff. I LOVED this book. I am starting the second book today. I am very excited.
Content: there is a little language, but not a lot. The "f" word is used just a few times, at the very end. I considered this book pretty clean (and fabulous).
Source: I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. I am not affiliated with Netgalley in anyway, and was not compensated for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
Blakely is the MC, and I love her. She is an athletic, sporty girl with a wonderful family. She was adopted, and tried to search for her birth parents at one point, but there wasn't any information on them...
Meanwhile at St. Andrews Max, want to be an investigative reporter. He finds some pictures in a locked drawer in his Aunt Rose's desk after she passes away. When he looks at them he realizes that they are pictures of the Royal family that had just been killed in a yacht accident. Max finds a name and an address in the pile of things that lead him to believe that there is a child still out there that belongs to the royal family. He takes his information to his professor and he embarks on a journey he isn't quite ready for.
Max goes to Canada where he meets Blakely. He is suppose to find out if she is the lost princess. He wasn't prepared for how he would come to feel about her!
The love story in this is so much fun. I am a sucker for Princesses and love stories. What little girl didn't wish she was a Princess???
When information is stolen about the true identity of Blakely life gets a little more interesting for the poor girl.
There are so many great characters in this book. Blakely is such a sweet girl with a sweet and loving family. She has loyal friends who watch out for her. The setting in this book is amazing also. The author did a great job of putting me "in" the book. The book got quite intense at the end. I couldn't go to sleep last night until I finished it. I cannot tell you how much I love it when a book does that for me.
Toward the end of the book my hands were starting to sweat (I know TMI) because I was so anxious to see what was going to happen. It was actually a little amusing...hehe! It is always so much fun for me when a book can pull me in as much or MORE than a movie can.
There are some great villains in this book as well. Yes, I said great villains. It's easy to like the "likable" characters, but when there are well written villains it's awesome.
Okay, now this is kind of a personal note on the book. When you get to the end of this book there is a little interview with the author. I already loved the book, but after reading the interview I loved it even more. The author states that she has Dyslexia. I have a son who was just given some testing and told he has Dyslexia also. He has struggled with reading for so long, that when we finally had a diagnosis it was a relief. Ever since then I have tried to tell him that having Dyslexia doesn't mean he cannot be just as successful as any one else. Whenever I find a celebrity or anyone that will come out and say they have Dyslexia I point it out to him. When it is a writer with Dyslexia I am even more impressed. I know for a fact what a struggle it is for my son to write and read, so the fact that an author can write a work of beauty with Dyslexia really makes me so proud. This author inspires me!
Okay, enough of the personal stuff. I LOVED this book. I am starting the second book today. I am very excited.
Content: there is a little language, but not a lot. The "f" word is used just a few times, at the very end. I considered this book pretty clean (and fabulous).
Source: I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. I am not affiliated with Netgalley in anyway, and was not compensated for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
June 15, 2013
Is Hush by Stacey R. Campbell a modern day fairy tale? I think so, it has all of the elements:
1. A girl who is kind and fun to be with, loved by all of her friends, unaware of who she truly is
2. She doesn’t know her true family, she was adopted under a veil of secrecy
3. A charming young man on a mission to find the princess
4. A dastardly power-hungry villain who will stop at nothing to take over the princess’s true country
5. Secrets withheld
6. Love that blooms between the princess and the young man
7. Dangerous waters ahead, both heart-breaking and life-threatening
8. The Big Rescue and Revelations
9. Life altering changes
Will there be a Happy Ever After? Can love conquer all? Is that possible in a modern fairy tale?
Stacey R. Campbell has written a delightful light read, sure, there are some dark edges, but all in all, I’m calling this a fun read! Her ability to cobble together a variety of characters and the little subplots of intrigue do NOT weigh down the “missing/unknown/found” princess theme. While not a deep read, it does read like a modern fairy tale, complete with DNA testing, hired killers, and young love. Ms. Campbell’s style flows smoothly and creates some almost dream-like scenes.
A review copy was provided by NetGalley and Gemelli Press LLC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: January 23, 2013 (paperback edition)
Publisher: Gemelli Press LLC
Series: The Lakeview Series
ISBN: 9780988478404
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: YA
My Rating: 4 stars
Available at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Number of Pages: 252
1. A girl who is kind and fun to be with, loved by all of her friends, unaware of who she truly is
2. She doesn’t know her true family, she was adopted under a veil of secrecy
3. A charming young man on a mission to find the princess
4. A dastardly power-hungry villain who will stop at nothing to take over the princess’s true country
5. Secrets withheld
6. Love that blooms between the princess and the young man
7. Dangerous waters ahead, both heart-breaking and life-threatening
8. The Big Rescue and Revelations
9. Life altering changes
Will there be a Happy Ever After? Can love conquer all? Is that possible in a modern fairy tale?
Stacey R. Campbell has written a delightful light read, sure, there are some dark edges, but all in all, I’m calling this a fun read! Her ability to cobble together a variety of characters and the little subplots of intrigue do NOT weigh down the “missing/unknown/found” princess theme. While not a deep read, it does read like a modern fairy tale, complete with DNA testing, hired killers, and young love. Ms. Campbell’s style flows smoothly and creates some almost dream-like scenes.
A review copy was provided by NetGalley and Gemelli Press LLC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: January 23, 2013 (paperback edition)
Publisher: Gemelli Press LLC
Series: The Lakeview Series
ISBN: 9780988478404
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: YA
My Rating: 4 stars
Available at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Number of Pages: 252
August 7, 2015
In ‘Hush’ we meet Blakely Henry, a seventeen year old who is in her last year on Lakeview Academy, a boarding school in Canada. Blakely has always known that she was adopted. But who her real parents are, are a big mystery. Blakely has given up her search and now only wants to focus on school. That also means no boys.
Max Ryder is a student of the University of Saint Andrews. One day he finds some pictures that suggest that there is a unknown royal heir to the throne of Tamura. A throne, people are fighting over because every heir was supposedly dead. Now Max is an exchange student on Lakeview Academy, on a guest to finding out the truth. But unfortunately Max isn’t the only one who’s trying to find out who Blakely really is.
I was really excited to start reading this book and I must say it didn’t disappoint. This book is easy to read and definitely a feel-good book. You easily get pulled into this story and I was really interested in the characters and what was going on. The characters are easy to love and most of all I loved the whole lost-princess part. The romance was also very adorable and definitely made me want to keep on reading.
This book made me think a little of the Princess Diaries, and it definitely is just as good if you ask me. The one thing that bothered me at times was the way this book went very fast. For example when Max tried to catch Blakely’s interest. One page of the book would be about three different days. Time went by really fast at times. It just felt a little rushed. But fortunately this didn’t bother me too much.
What I also really enjoyed about this book was that it was written through different Point of Views. I loved reading what Blakely and Max where thinking separately.
Overall this book was a very nice relaxing read and it definitely made me interested in reading the next books in this series. I would especially recommend this book to the younger YA reading crowd. I would have adored this book in my teens!!
Max Ryder is a student of the University of Saint Andrews. One day he finds some pictures that suggest that there is a unknown royal heir to the throne of Tamura. A throne, people are fighting over because every heir was supposedly dead. Now Max is an exchange student on Lakeview Academy, on a guest to finding out the truth. But unfortunately Max isn’t the only one who’s trying to find out who Blakely really is.
I was really excited to start reading this book and I must say it didn’t disappoint. This book is easy to read and definitely a feel-good book. You easily get pulled into this story and I was really interested in the characters and what was going on. The characters are easy to love and most of all I loved the whole lost-princess part. The romance was also very adorable and definitely made me want to keep on reading.
This book made me think a little of the Princess Diaries, and it definitely is just as good if you ask me. The one thing that bothered me at times was the way this book went very fast. For example when Max tried to catch Blakely’s interest. One page of the book would be about three different days. Time went by really fast at times. It just felt a little rushed. But fortunately this didn’t bother me too much.
What I also really enjoyed about this book was that it was written through different Point of Views. I loved reading what Blakely and Max where thinking separately.
Overall this book was a very nice relaxing read and it definitely made me interested in reading the next books in this series. I would especially recommend this book to the younger YA reading crowd. I would have adored this book in my teens!!
July 10, 2013
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http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
If you enjoyed any of the Disney princess movies along the lines of The Princess Diaries, then you’ll like Campbell’s novel, Hush. While the story of a lost princess unaware of her heritage is nothing new, this novel presents a different perspective in which no one knows that an heir even exists, but when a young man studying journalism stumbles upon documents that hint at a secret birth, the sleuthing begins. I liked the fact that we knew the truth about Blakely’s heritage from the very beginning as Campbell sets the stage, allowing readers a birds eye view of everything happening in both Canada and the UK. As the reader, we are privy to everyone’s thoughts, giving us the advantage of knowing what’s going to come next. While I usually like to be surprised, I thoroughly enjoyed this omniscient narrative style as it worked well for the story and flowed much like a movie in which viewers are whisked from continent to continent and are able to see witness the “bad guys” hashing out their plans before they even begin. While I might have enjoyed a more mysterious take of the situation, I honestly don’t think it would have worked as well had Campbell attempted it.
The characters were real in their own rights and I enjoyed them, but I didn’t connect with them on a very personal level as I never felt they were completely fleshed out. The story also seemed to speed up a lot towards the end, glossing over months at a time, and I’d really have liked to know more about what happened during that time between the climax and resolution. But, overall, it’s a good story that I think most MG and YA readers will like due to its fast nature and amusing topic.
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
If you enjoyed any of the Disney princess movies along the lines of The Princess Diaries, then you’ll like Campbell’s novel, Hush. While the story of a lost princess unaware of her heritage is nothing new, this novel presents a different perspective in which no one knows that an heir even exists, but when a young man studying journalism stumbles upon documents that hint at a secret birth, the sleuthing begins. I liked the fact that we knew the truth about Blakely’s heritage from the very beginning as Campbell sets the stage, allowing readers a birds eye view of everything happening in both Canada and the UK. As the reader, we are privy to everyone’s thoughts, giving us the advantage of knowing what’s going to come next. While I usually like to be surprised, I thoroughly enjoyed this omniscient narrative style as it worked well for the story and flowed much like a movie in which viewers are whisked from continent to continent and are able to see witness the “bad guys” hashing out their plans before they even begin. While I might have enjoyed a more mysterious take of the situation, I honestly don’t think it would have worked as well had Campbell attempted it.
The characters were real in their own rights and I enjoyed them, but I didn’t connect with them on a very personal level as I never felt they were completely fleshed out. The story also seemed to speed up a lot towards the end, glossing over months at a time, and I’d really have liked to know more about what happened during that time between the climax and resolution. But, overall, it’s a good story that I think most MG and YA readers will like due to its fast nature and amusing topic.
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