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Dandelions
Tessa Morgan yearned to be an average teenage girl. She had a protective mother who loved her, a stepdad who annoyed her and two spirited younger brothers who entertained her and started a bit of trouble. She didn't have friends, a social life or a boyfriend.
The summer of her 16th birthday, all of that changed. When her feet hit the sand of Clowder Beach, she believed she finally had the chance to be normal. Suddenly, she had friends and maybe even a boyfriend.
Luke Decker had lived in Kilkenny his whole life. He'd experienced great loss, had no family except for his best friend Chase and his grandmother who had taken him in as their own, and had an overwhelming responsibility no teenager should ever carry. Luke was no ordinary teen and when he met Tessa, he knew she wasn't either. She had no idea how different she really was and he would have to reveal the truth to her.
She wanted friends. She wanted adventure. She wanted excitement. What she discovered was a family secret that changed her destiny and threatened her life.
The summer of her 16th birthday, all of that changed. When her feet hit the sand of Clowder Beach, she believed she finally had the chance to be normal. Suddenly, she had friends and maybe even a boyfriend.
Luke Decker had lived in Kilkenny his whole life. He'd experienced great loss, had no family except for his best friend Chase and his grandmother who had taken him in as their own, and had an overwhelming responsibility no teenager should ever carry. Luke was no ordinary teen and when he met Tessa, he knew she wasn't either. She had no idea how different she really was and he would have to reveal the truth to her.
She wanted friends. She wanted adventure. She wanted excitement. What she discovered was a family secret that changed her destiny and threatened her life.
320 pages, ebook
First published July 22, 2012
5 people want to read
About the author
Darby Rae
2 books14 followersDarby Rae is the author of the Romantic Suspense novel, Merciful Law, and Young Adult novel, Dandelions. She lives in Indiana with her 4 teens and multiple creatures & critters including her dog, cat, ferret, and reptiles. She is a social medial neophyte, word-nerd, data junkie and future beach bum..
Merciful Law has received several 5 star reviews. Read the first chapter http://www.darbyrae.com/library/
Merciful Law has received several 5 star reviews. Read the first chapter http://www.darbyrae.com/library/
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 18, 2012
3.5 stars
I was asked to be a part of this book tour and i liked the sound of it so agreed, I also LOVE the book cover, it's gorgeous. And I was really intrigued by it.
When I started this book it read a little bit like your typical YA novel, lots of angst and stroppy teenage behaviour. Then of course the 'hot' young man turns up and throws a spanner in the works.
I knew all of this would be building up to something, I just wondered what exactly that would be. I enjoyed getting to know the characters but for me it did go on a bit too long, I started hoping it would just get to the exciting part, explain all the mysteries and let us move on.
The characters are well described and have a great relationship with each other, The awkwardness with her step dad could really be felt and I loved her little brothers, so cheeky, so cute. And Luke was a character I wanted to know more about, but I did find it all a bit slow.
Then just past halfway everything picks up. It's like you are running a marathon with this book, the first half is slow and steady ambling along, then you see that marker saying your almost there and you sprint to the finish. I was really getting into the story when it ended, now I am desperately wanting the next book to see what will happen. I suppose that was done deliberately so you would be hooked and come back, but I found it quite frustrating. I really want to know what that ending leads to!!!
Although I say this book was quite slow to start with, it's only 320 pages anyway so even so it didn't take long to read. It's also the sort of book you can dip in and out of. As I am doing NaNoWriMo this month I haven't had much time to read so having to dip in when I can and this book allowed me to do that.
This book is well worth checking out, as once you get past the set up the ending is explosive and you'll be flipping through the pages or flicking the screen of your e-reader desperate for the next page.
I was asked to be a part of this book tour and i liked the sound of it so agreed, I also LOVE the book cover, it's gorgeous. And I was really intrigued by it.
When I started this book it read a little bit like your typical YA novel, lots of angst and stroppy teenage behaviour. Then of course the 'hot' young man turns up and throws a spanner in the works.
I knew all of this would be building up to something, I just wondered what exactly that would be. I enjoyed getting to know the characters but for me it did go on a bit too long, I started hoping it would just get to the exciting part, explain all the mysteries and let us move on.
The characters are well described and have a great relationship with each other, The awkwardness with her step dad could really be felt and I loved her little brothers, so cheeky, so cute. And Luke was a character I wanted to know more about, but I did find it all a bit slow.
Then just past halfway everything picks up. It's like you are running a marathon with this book, the first half is slow and steady ambling along, then you see that marker saying your almost there and you sprint to the finish. I was really getting into the story when it ended, now I am desperately wanting the next book to see what will happen. I suppose that was done deliberately so you would be hooked and come back, but I found it quite frustrating. I really want to know what that ending leads to!!!
Although I say this book was quite slow to start with, it's only 320 pages anyway so even so it didn't take long to read. It's also the sort of book you can dip in and out of. As I am doing NaNoWriMo this month I haven't had much time to read so having to dip in when I can and this book allowed me to do that.
This book is well worth checking out, as once you get past the set up the ending is explosive and you'll be flipping through the pages or flicking the screen of your e-reader desperate for the next page.
August 8, 2012
Darby Rae is a great writer. In her latest novel, Dandelions, we are introduced to Tessa, a mild-mannered, slightly schizoid, family-orientated teenager whose family must move every few months for her stepfather's employment. Tessa is home schooled and socially blunted. However, as she moves toward her middle teenage years, she begins to feel slighted by her cloistered upbringing and the need to be social. What follows becomes a coming of age on steroids.
The author's skill is evident in that she paints such a vivid picture of a normal teenager's reaction to a rather odd family environment. Tessa's complaints are appropriate and genuinely realistic. Only after the main character begins to experience some "normal" teenage interactions, does Ms. Rae begin to slowly introduce the extra normal. As revelations unfold, so does the tension. Pretty soon the reader realizes there is little "normal" about Tessa.
This is a first class read. I highly recommend this book.
The author's skill is evident in that she paints such a vivid picture of a normal teenager's reaction to a rather odd family environment. Tessa's complaints are appropriate and genuinely realistic. Only after the main character begins to experience some "normal" teenage interactions, does Ms. Rae begin to slowly introduce the extra normal. As revelations unfold, so does the tension. Pretty soon the reader realizes there is little "normal" about Tessa.
This is a first class read. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews