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Hell's Hollow
When Seraphina was younger, she healed her best friend's injured hand. Terrified by the inexplicable cure, the girl shunned her. From that day on, Seraphina found herself without friends, a freak and an oddity. And so she obeyed her mother’s rule to refrain from using her innate ability, heeded her mother's warning that its use could land her in the local mental health facility alongside her aunt and grandmother.
But when sixteen-year-old Seraphina finds a mysterious, wounded boy hiding in the hollow in the woods behind her house, she can't hold out against the overpowering urge to help him. She is drawn to him each night, and as they come to know one another, their irresistible attraction blooms.
She longs to uncover his secrets — where he comes from and why he's hiding and how he came to be so wounded — and to share her own, though she knows it's forbidden. And while her healing touch seems to be helping him, it's hurting her. When the symptoms of psychosis — experienced by the women in her bloodline who used their powers — begin to plague Seraphina, she is faced with the unbearable choice of saving her sanity or the boy she’s come to love.
But when sixteen-year-old Seraphina finds a mysterious, wounded boy hiding in the hollow in the woods behind her house, she can't hold out against the overpowering urge to help him. She is drawn to him each night, and as they come to know one another, their irresistible attraction blooms.
She longs to uncover his secrets — where he comes from and why he's hiding and how he came to be so wounded — and to share her own, though she knows it's forbidden. And while her healing touch seems to be helping him, it's hurting her. When the symptoms of psychosis — experienced by the women in her bloodline who used their powers — begin to plague Seraphina, she is faced with the unbearable choice of saving her sanity or the boy she’s come to love.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2013
4 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
About the author
Summer Stone
5 books23 followersSummer Stone loves immersing herself in the worlds that live inside her mind. When she's in the real world, she likes kicking back on the beach, exploring new places, reading (of course) and eating rich, gooey chocolate. She loves spending time with her husband and kids, which she does as much as she can. Summer writes young adult and women's fiction, both supernatural and contemporary, realistic and looks forward to sharing her novels with you!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 28, 2013
This book sure is special, I can honestly say I haven't read anything like it at all. It had this supernatural girl, who is afraid of her ability, and by using it and become insane, and this seemingly normal boy, who is anything but.
Seraphina (how cool is that name?!) is such a strong, beautifull girl, kids her age avoids her, because she is 'different' and they are afraid of her and her ability.
She heals people, on the expens of her sanity, when she finds a very hurt and scarred boy in the woods, how can she resist helping him, when every fiber in her soul knows she needs to heal him.
Then there is the mystery of Zach, the boy in the woods, no one knows heexist or haveever seen him, Seraphina is afraid that she has finally lost it and conjured him up.
The sweet and innocent relationship between Zach and Sera is so pure and loving that it nearly shatteres your heart inot gazillion pieces, and when we read what Sera is going thourgh alone, the hallucinations, the angst of never seeing Zach because she will be locked up forever, and the guilt she knows he will feel, when he finds out that the consequences of healing him and making him normal is what caused her to lose her sanity, it breaks her heart, and definitely broke mine too.
There were many times where I emotionally thought 'please, no more, I can't take anymore, something good must happen!'
This book is a hidden treasure, that you want to hide a special place in your heart and only take out when you most need to reaffirm that there exist something good in this world, and when you have lost faith and need to believe in something. This book is what you should read, again and again, until you have every line memorized.
Summer has captured my heart, and i give her my permission to keep as long as she keeps delivering, beautiful, enchanting, heartfelt, andamazing stories like this one.
Definitely recommended!
Seraphina (how cool is that name?!) is such a strong, beautifull girl, kids her age avoids her, because she is 'different' and they are afraid of her and her ability.
She heals people, on the expens of her sanity, when she finds a very hurt and scarred boy in the woods, how can she resist helping him, when every fiber in her soul knows she needs to heal him.
Then there is the mystery of Zach, the boy in the woods, no one knows heexist or haveever seen him, Seraphina is afraid that she has finally lost it and conjured him up.
The sweet and innocent relationship between Zach and Sera is so pure and loving that it nearly shatteres your heart inot gazillion pieces, and when we read what Sera is going thourgh alone, the hallucinations, the angst of never seeing Zach because she will be locked up forever, and the guilt she knows he will feel, when he finds out that the consequences of healing him and making him normal is what caused her to lose her sanity, it breaks her heart, and definitely broke mine too.
There were many times where I emotionally thought 'please, no more, I can't take anymore, something good must happen!'
This book is a hidden treasure, that you want to hide a special place in your heart and only take out when you most need to reaffirm that there exist something good in this world, and when you have lost faith and need to believe in something. This book is what you should read, again and again, until you have every line memorized.
Summer has captured my heart, and i give her my permission to keep as long as she keeps delivering, beautiful, enchanting, heartfelt, andamazing stories like this one.
Definitely recommended!
April 6, 2013
This is a really sweet book. The main character has an "ability" that is passed down for generations. She can heal and is drawn to the Hollow, an area in the woods behind her house. There one night she meets a boy who is badly scarred. She feels a strong tug to heal him. The problem is, if she does, she could go crazy like her aunt and grandmother. Seraphina has to decide what is more important, to go crazy or heal those she loves. I like her boldness and her desire to do what is right.
I also like Zach. He is the scarred boy. He is also drawn to the hollow. Which is unusual because men don't do well in or near the hollow. He is a sweet innocent boy who has suffered in insurmountable ways.
I love the ending. There is a happily ever after for not just Sera, but all her family. I loved it.
I would love to write more about the book but I have a crazy work week and I just wanted to get out there to read this book!!
I also like Zach. He is the scarred boy. He is also drawn to the hollow. Which is unusual because men don't do well in or near the hollow. He is a sweet innocent boy who has suffered in insurmountable ways.
I love the ending. There is a happily ever after for not just Sera, but all her family. I loved it.
I would love to write more about the book but I have a crazy work week and I just wanted to get out there to read this book!!
March 13, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. A bit different from what I've been reading recently but a good read nonetheless. I liked Sera Seraphina a whole lot. Not your typical 16 year old. well, maybe a little with the wanting to defy mom and her rules in some way. Her grams was comical in her crazy state. I'd even get lost and overwhelmed with her up and downs. All in all the author kept me guessing at every chapter. I liked how I wasnt able to secong guess what was going to happen next. Which kept me interested and wanting to find out what was about to happen. I've said once and I will say it again, I'm a sucker for happy endings and this turned out better than I'd thought.
June 9, 2013
'They are given to all kinds of marvellous beliefs; are subject to trances and visions; and frequently see strange sights, and hear music and voices in the air...'*
A family curse - a harbinger of insanity.
A girl - a touch that heals
A boy - a face with grim scars.
In Hell's Hollow anything is possible.
*quote: Washington Irving, 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'.
A family curse - a harbinger of insanity.
A girl - a touch that heals
A boy - a face with grim scars.
In Hell's Hollow anything is possible.
*quote: Washington Irving, 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'.
November 13, 2013
Book # 152 for 2013
1. It's creepy.
2. It's crazy.
3. It's cute.
It was a good read, though I felt it was clipped - like the ending was just done to sort of "get it over with". It wasn't really a bad thing, but being the emotionally invested reader that I am, I wanted the whole she-bang. And all I got was a simple, short but sweet story. Which was just OKAY for me.
1. It's creepy.
2. It's crazy.
3. It's cute.
It was a good read, though I felt it was clipped - like the ending was just done to sort of "get it over with". It wasn't really a bad thing, but being the emotionally invested reader that I am, I wanted the whole she-bang. And all I got was a simple, short but sweet story. Which was just OKAY for me.
March 13, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It was different from most of the books I have been reading lately. There was mystery, romance, and I loved Seraphina's family. I thought they were fun. I loved how Seraphina seemed independent and would do anything for her family.
February 15, 2015
It was a good story. Interesting but slightly boring sometimes.
May 9, 2013
This was like 2.75 Stars xD
I had a few issues with it, but for the most part I really enjoyed it and it definitely kept my attention.
I guess my main issue was that I didn't know Sera was 16. It says it on the blurb but not in the book, so I really didn't know what age she was, and usually this wouldn't be a problem. The problem stemmed from how Sera sounded like a shy 8 year old most of the time. She didn't come across as an actual teenager till like a good 2/3rds of the book when she starts dropping f-bombs (not that she dropped them a lot but there were a few) and shows a bit more spunk I guess.
Besides the age problem the rest was really engaging. I loved Sera's whole family. From the annoying brothers to the crazy grandma, specially the grandma. She was just awesome. I liked the connection between the whole mystery, Sera and Zach. I didn't really put it all together and made it make sense till the very end when I was finally like OHH. Then it clicked xD
One thing I didn't like were the towns' people except for Astrid. All the kids were obnoxious cliches. George couldn't keep his mouth shut if it depended on his life and don't even get me started on Myra and the church. Drinking snake venom as a congregation and holding snakes? What the hell? And I'm not even religious. That sounds more like they are worshiping the snakes than anything else. Oh and Melody, I think that was her name, grated on my nerves so bad. She was all Oh lord this! and God that! and she turns around and threatens Sera cause she has been 'working' on the 'pastor'................
It was a good thing that most of this was all very scarce and nicely spaced out so I didn't concentrate too much on that aspect while reading.
I'm guessing? hoping? that there will be a second book because of what the grandma says towards the end. It would be nice to continue reading about Sera and Zach. Even with the parts I had trouble with I was still captivated by Hell's Hollow.
I had a few issues with it, but for the most part I really enjoyed it and it definitely kept my attention.
I guess my main issue was that I didn't know Sera was 16. It says it on the blurb but not in the book, so I really didn't know what age she was, and usually this wouldn't be a problem. The problem stemmed from how Sera sounded like a shy 8 year old most of the time. She didn't come across as an actual teenager till like a good 2/3rds of the book when she starts dropping f-bombs (not that she dropped them a lot but there were a few) and shows a bit more spunk I guess.
Besides the age problem the rest was really engaging. I loved Sera's whole family. From the annoying brothers to the crazy grandma, specially the grandma. She was just awesome. I liked the connection between the whole mystery, Sera and Zach. I didn't really put it all together and made it make sense till the very end when I was finally like OHH. Then it clicked xD
One thing I didn't like were the towns' people except for Astrid. All the kids were obnoxious cliches. George couldn't keep his mouth shut if it depended on his life and don't even get me started on Myra and the church. Drinking snake venom as a congregation and holding snakes? What the hell? And I'm not even religious. That sounds more like they are worshiping the snakes than anything else. Oh and Melody, I think that was her name, grated on my nerves so bad. She was all Oh lord this! and God that! and she turns around and threatens Sera cause she has been 'working' on the 'pastor'................
It was a good thing that most of this was all very scarce and nicely spaced out so I didn't concentrate too much on that aspect while reading.
I'm guessing? hoping? that there will be a second book because of what the grandma says towards the end. It would be nice to continue reading about Sera and Zach. Even with the parts I had trouble with I was still captivated by Hell's Hollow.
March 27, 2013
Hell's Hollow is a very interesting book. There were a couple times I thought the book was predictable, but towards the end I wasn't sure which direction it was going to go. Seraphina is the main character. She goes by the name Sera. She has this power to heal people and animals. It's actually an urge she has. She feels this "tug" towards those that are wounded or hurt. It doesn't have to be physical. It can be emotionally hurt too. She's been trying to fight this urge though, because those in her family that have used their gifts have gone crazy! These powers come from something down in the hollow. Sera's family seems to be the key to keeping weird things from happening around the small town. Without them the energy from the hollow would wreak havoc on everything. When Sera was younger she healed her friends cut finger and ever since she's been labeled as a freak. She doesn't have any friends until she meets this boy in the hollow one night. At first he seems scared of her until she realizes he's scared for her. She tries to befriend him over time and they keep secretly meeting in the hollow at night. He's full of secrets just like her and she plans on finding out what they are. And with each secret revealed she feels closer and closer to him. Sera wonders if her powers could heal her family. She's scared that no matter what she does she'll end up going crazy, but she's willing to trade places with them to help them lead normal lives. No spoilers here. You'll need to check this book out if you want to know how things turn out and if Sera and her new friend are going to be closer than friends. I give this book 4 stars.
March 28, 2013
*This review was done by Melanie, one of our guest reviewers and may also be listed under her Goodread account*
This is a cute, and quick paranormal story! This book started out a bit slow and took awhile for me to get into, but the ending added a cuteness factor to the whole story that I absolutely adored. I loved reading about Seraphina's struggles and choices throughout the book and watching her character evolve. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be trapped with a secret that could literally suck the life out of you and/or possibly make you crazy. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, cute, fun read.
This is a cute, and quick paranormal story! This book started out a bit slow and took awhile for me to get into, but the ending added a cuteness factor to the whole story that I absolutely adored. I loved reading about Seraphina's struggles and choices throughout the book and watching her character evolve. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be trapped with a secret that could literally suck the life out of you and/or possibly make you crazy. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, cute, fun read.
June 24, 2013
It took me a while to get into this but once I did I enjoyed it, although some scenes had me confused as they felt a bit rushed.
The premise was very interesting though and at one point I thought it wasn't going to be a happy ending but it was (which I am very grateful for).
The premise was very interesting though and at one point I thought it wasn't going to be a happy ending but it was (which I am very grateful for).
May 14, 2013
Im just gonna give it two stars for now because I haven't been reading. I just cant get into it. In fact all I do is skim to the conversations between the two and that's it. Maybe ill finish it some other time.
September 19, 2014
This book was not what I expected in a totally good way. Sera and her powers weren't really known until towards the end of the book. This book was really good and I couldn't believe how things weren't what they seemed. This book is definitely worth reading!!
February 18, 2013
Loved this book! It's spooky, romantic and twisty! A heartfelt and clever story about family, powers, and the challenges that come with them!
March 27, 2013
3*s
Good read
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
Good read
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...
April 22, 2013
Whole lotta crazy in this book and I didn't really know where it was taking me - but it was great and a fun read.
May 22, 2017
First time reading this author, and I really enjoyed it!!!! Very good writing style. A quirky, fun, read. I hope there is a book 2.
September 17, 2015
I agree with a previous post.. It's a sweet, short read.
March 26, 2013
full review to be posted on www.shhmomsreading.com
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews