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Night Shift #1
Night Shift
At Willard's department store, none of the night security guards survive for long, and eighteen-year-old Daniel Gale is about to discover why.
Tired of living out of his backpack, he ignores the clerk's gossip about the old building being haunted and accepts the latest vacated position of night guard. On his first shift Daniel narrowly escapes a fatal fall down an elevator shaft and is rescued by Mary—a bossy and intriguing girl far too beautiful for after hours inventory.
Anticipating every night shift as a chance to be with her, Daniel thinks his traveling days are over hoping that Manhattan is the place to call home. But as his life becomes more entwined with Willard's, Daniel senses unnatural changes and bizarre coincidences both with Mary and the store itself. Soon he begins to suspect Willard's is hiding something more sinister than gossip about ghosts—something that could make him the next casualty of the NIGHT SHIFT.
Tired of living out of his backpack, he ignores the clerk's gossip about the old building being haunted and accepts the latest vacated position of night guard. On his first shift Daniel narrowly escapes a fatal fall down an elevator shaft and is rescued by Mary—a bossy and intriguing girl far too beautiful for after hours inventory.
Anticipating every night shift as a chance to be with her, Daniel thinks his traveling days are over hoping that Manhattan is the place to call home. But as his life becomes more entwined with Willard's, Daniel senses unnatural changes and bizarre coincidences both with Mary and the store itself. Soon he begins to suspect Willard's is hiding something more sinister than gossip about ghosts—something that could make him the next casualty of the NIGHT SHIFT.
ebook
First published October 4, 2013
About the author
B.R. Myers
14 books533 followersAlways in the mood for a good scare, B.R. Myers spent most of her teen years behind the covers of Lois Duncan, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King.
She is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award winning novel, A Dreadful Splendour, as well as numerous books for teens. Her YA novels have been chosen by the School Library Journal and the CCBC as top picks. Before she became a full time writer, she was a registered nurse for thirty-two years. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.
She is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award winning novel, A Dreadful Splendour, as well as numerous books for teens. Her YA novels have been chosen by the School Library Journal and the CCBC as top picks. Before she became a full time writer, she was a registered nurse for thirty-two years. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 11, 2017
** Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of the book in return for an honest review.
3 stars!!!
When I started this book, I thought the premise was pretty interesting. However, once I progressed through the story, I found that some parts captured my attention while others were severely lacking or dry. The initial plot for the book revolves around our MC Daniel who has dropped out of high school after the loss of his parents. He undertakes the job of a night guard at the glamorous Willard's department store in New York City. He quickly realises that nothing is quite as it seems and learns that the place holds a lot of secrets than just the rumored ghost stories.
I found the overall worldbuilding and descriptions of Willard's to be one of the aspects of the book that I really enjoyed. The author's writing and narrative style is pretty fluid and as a reader it is quite easy to visualise the world that is created. I found the chapter sizes to be also easily palatable and there wasn't a whole lot of info dumping. The bite size chapters made for a quick read and the plot pace is quite brisk. Unnecessary details were just edited out and the essential elements were left in for the reader to enjoy.
With regards to character development, I thought Daniel as a MC was pretty well rounded. He was easily relatable and likeable as well. I found his backstory with regards to his loss to be exceptionally heart wrenching. I liked how the author delved into his grief and his journey of acceptance. With each chapter, I found that his character grew. Unfortunately, this didn't transfer to the minor characters. I feel with the author being so concentrated on the MC, the others just turned into props. I couldn't connect with any of them. This was especially the case with Mary. I get that the author wanted to give the audience a bit of romance. But I felt the story would have been better without it. The paranormal angle of the story made it also just too weird. Plus, it felt very contrived and clunky. It was as though the romance was done for just the sake of it. There's no real connection, it doesn't have the feels. It was also all insta-romance. And did I mention there's some kind of love-triange? That's so cliched.
In addition to this, we don't get any backstories for the minor characters. This led to them being not really fleshed out. I'm hoping that the sequel focuses more on character development in this regard. Otherwise, the story would remain static and flat like in this one. Other than that, the story's mystery element was enjoyable. The plot twists and devices kept me engaged. It's not an overly complex story but then the author has made it so in order to get a series out of it. But, nonetheless, the history and secrets of Willard's has enough potential for a great series. I do look forward to reading the sequel and would recommend giving the book a try if you are looking for something new to read in the YA genre.
3 stars!!!
When I started this book, I thought the premise was pretty interesting. However, once I progressed through the story, I found that some parts captured my attention while others were severely lacking or dry. The initial plot for the book revolves around our MC Daniel who has dropped out of high school after the loss of his parents. He undertakes the job of a night guard at the glamorous Willard's department store in New York City. He quickly realises that nothing is quite as it seems and learns that the place holds a lot of secrets than just the rumored ghost stories.
I found the overall worldbuilding and descriptions of Willard's to be one of the aspects of the book that I really enjoyed. The author's writing and narrative style is pretty fluid and as a reader it is quite easy to visualise the world that is created. I found the chapter sizes to be also easily palatable and there wasn't a whole lot of info dumping. The bite size chapters made for a quick read and the plot pace is quite brisk. Unnecessary details were just edited out and the essential elements were left in for the reader to enjoy.
With regards to character development, I thought Daniel as a MC was pretty well rounded. He was easily relatable and likeable as well. I found his backstory with regards to his loss to be exceptionally heart wrenching. I liked how the author delved into his grief and his journey of acceptance. With each chapter, I found that his character grew. Unfortunately, this didn't transfer to the minor characters. I feel with the author being so concentrated on the MC, the others just turned into props. I couldn't connect with any of them. This was especially the case with Mary. I get that the author wanted to give the audience a bit of romance. But I felt the story would have been better without it. The paranormal angle of the story made it also just too weird. Plus, it felt very contrived and clunky. It was as though the romance was done for just the sake of it. There's no real connection, it doesn't have the feels. It was also all insta-romance. And did I mention there's some kind of love-triange? That's so cliched.
In addition to this, we don't get any backstories for the minor characters. This led to them being not really fleshed out. I'm hoping that the sequel focuses more on character development in this regard. Otherwise, the story would remain static and flat like in this one. Other than that, the story's mystery element was enjoyable. The plot twists and devices kept me engaged. It's not an overly complex story but then the author has made it so in order to get a series out of it. But, nonetheless, the history and secrets of Willard's has enough potential for a great series. I do look forward to reading the sequel and would recommend giving the book a try if you are looking for something new to read in the YA genre.
October 20, 2013
Besides for being a mystery, Bethany Myers ends (almost) every chapter with a cliff hanger that requires the reader to have tremendous self control to not turn the page.
Additionally, the transitions are incredible, the story is not too wordy, and does not reveal too much information all at once. By the end of the book, the reader was STILL discovering more about the main character despite the fact that the reader feels a tremendous connection to him from page one.
The emotions felt by the characters are depicted with such clarity, and realistic human feeling that as a reader I often forgot they were just fictional character.
Despite the paranormal, everything was described with such reality, and clarity that it actually felt real. I don't think I will view any department store in the same manner anymore.
Additionally, the transitions are incredible, the story is not too wordy, and does not reveal too much information all at once. By the end of the book, the reader was STILL discovering more about the main character despite the fact that the reader feels a tremendous connection to him from page one.
The emotions felt by the characters are depicted with such clarity, and realistic human feeling that as a reader I often forgot they were just fictional character.
Despite the paranormal, everything was described with such reality, and clarity that it actually felt real. I don't think I will view any department store in the same manner anymore.
November 1, 2013
In a landscape dominated by clichéd sex stories, real romance is refreshing. Steeped in nostalgia, Night Shift is romantic in an old Hollywood way. For me, one of the things that makes a children’s or young adult novel great is an imaginary world I want to live in, and I want to live at Willard’s, the department store the book is set in. Night Shift is as much a suspenseful mystery as it is a romance; so it’s hard to say what happens in the book without giving too much away, but it’s worth reading to find out.
April 25, 2017
This book was sadly such a hit and miss. There were so many lovely elements but at the end of the day, the story fell short.
What Was Great:
1. Magical realism FTW
The book gave a very The Night Circus vibe with its writing and the fact that it was set in a store that had that Something Will Happen tone.
2. Lush fancy setting
The book boasted the beauty of the store it was set in and I LOVED the description of the beauty and the whimsy in the store. It's tough to write a book and easily slip that in so kudos to the author for that.
3. Originality
There are very few good plots left in magical realism and this was such a simple but effective idea to bring to life (that pun will only be understood by those who have read the book haha)
What Wasn't Great
1. The characters were so 2D at times and even though the book tried hard to bring them to life, they weren't realistic enough
2. With great power of The Night Circus comes the disappointing airs of The Miniaturist. The book had plot holes (just a few) and while I do realize now that it's part of a series, at that time, I was disappointed coming to the end without having all my questions answered.
3. Parts of the book read more like an explanation and I want more interaction and dialogue instead of me being told what is what.
Will I read the sequel? Yes, this book kept be engaged and connected with the characters and I really want to know what happens next.
Should you read this? As all 3 star reads, I can never highly recommend it but it's interesting enough that should you see it somewhere or you find a lot of time in your hands, I would encourage you to pick it up.
What Was Great:
1. Magical realism FTW
The book gave a very The Night Circus vibe with its writing and the fact that it was set in a store that had that Something Will Happen tone.
2. Lush fancy setting
The book boasted the beauty of the store it was set in and I LOVED the description of the beauty and the whimsy in the store. It's tough to write a book and easily slip that in so kudos to the author for that.
3. Originality
There are very few good plots left in magical realism and this was such a simple but effective idea to bring to life (that pun will only be understood by those who have read the book haha)
What Wasn't Great
1. The characters were so 2D at times and even though the book tried hard to bring them to life, they weren't realistic enough
2. With great power of The Night Circus comes the disappointing airs of The Miniaturist. The book had plot holes (just a few) and while I do realize now that it's part of a series, at that time, I was disappointed coming to the end without having all my questions answered.
3. Parts of the book read more like an explanation and I want more interaction and dialogue instead of me being told what is what.
Will I read the sequel? Yes, this book kept be engaged and connected with the characters and I really want to know what happens next.
Should you read this? As all 3 star reads, I can never highly recommend it but it's interesting enough that should you see it somewhere or you find a lot of time in your hands, I would encourage you to pick it up.
April 19, 2018
I really liked this story for one main reason: I'm a HUGE fan of the still standing, anachronistic department stores that we are seeing less and less of each year. I watched as my small downtown district slowly shuttered all but one from my youth through adulthood and I made the pilgrimage into NYC as often as I could in my early adult days just to keep that magic alive. This story captures that beautifully. Willard's is written with such loving detail that I could convince myself I've actually been there on a rainy spring evening.
Interestingly enough, the story unfolds with the same sort of nostalgic anachronistic feel. Daniel is clearly a modern teenager living in modern times, but some of his mannerisms are so old fashioned, it was hard to remember this was written in recent years. I was able to overlook that given the tone the story was going for.
My one true nitpick is that I found every twist and turn to be easily predictable. Even the mystery that has yet to be solved appears to have been hinted at in a way that is so obvious, I am hoping I'm wrong. And yet despite this, I still found myself anticipating the next page, and the next after that, and the next. For that, I give the author a lot of credit. Their storytelling and voice are so well done that I was able to suspend disbelief even if I already knew what was going to happen. That doesn't happen often.
On to the next book, where hopefully I'll discover whether or not my suspicions about the tree in the lobby prove true. ;-)
Interestingly enough, the story unfolds with the same sort of nostalgic anachronistic feel. Daniel is clearly a modern teenager living in modern times, but some of his mannerisms are so old fashioned, it was hard to remember this was written in recent years. I was able to overlook that given the tone the story was going for.
My one true nitpick is that I found every twist and turn to be easily predictable. Even the mystery that has yet to be solved appears to have been hinted at in a way that is so obvious, I am hoping I'm wrong. And yet despite this, I still found myself anticipating the next page, and the next after that, and the next. For that, I give the author a lot of credit. Their storytelling and voice are so well done that I was able to suspend disbelief even if I already knew what was going to happen. That doesn't happen often.
On to the next book, where hopefully I'll discover whether or not my suspicions about the tree in the lobby prove true. ;-)
June 23, 2017
I received this e-ARC from Netgalley and Backlit PR in exchange for my honest review.
Based on the synopsis I thought I was going to see something really scary and dangerous but I was a little disappointed. This story had a weird concept which was different in a good way but it was sadly very predictable in various spots throughout the book and the concept, in my opinion, could have been handled a lot better.
I have my full review currently posted on my blog >>> http://poeticbutterflyreview.blogspot... <<< as well as a video review that I will add the link to once it is uploaded.
Based on the synopsis I thought I was going to see something really scary and dangerous but I was a little disappointed. This story had a weird concept which was different in a good way but it was sadly very predictable in various spots throughout the book and the concept, in my opinion, could have been handled a lot better.
I have my full review currently posted on my blog >>> http://poeticbutterflyreview.blogspot... <<< as well as a video review that I will add the link to once it is uploaded.
February 24, 2019
Review coming next week. I am putting together several for my new book blog. Short versions will be on GR, longer ones there.
October 18, 2024
YA mystery with romance & magical realism. Ket me engaged & guessing; not a difficult read or a particularly incredible one, but I'm likely to read the next two books in the series.
March 22, 2017
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley for review.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Daniel is drawn to Willard's Departmnt Store and takes a job there as a night guard, despite the rumours of ghosts and colleagues betting on how soon he'll quit. What Daniel discovers is far more interesting than any silly ghost story and might just provide the answers to some family mysteries.
I was really in the mood for some creepy, atmospheric horror - or at least paranormal - when I requested Night Shift and while there are some aspects of the story that I praise for being original and unexpected, this wasn't atmospheric or paranormal in the slightest. Daniel is a solid protagonist around which to build a narrative - he has a fascinating past, he seems like a reliable narrator and generally I wanted him to succeed against whatever foes were lurking in the dark of Willard's. In the interests of an exciting story, I also wanted him to have the absolute willies scared out of him at least once...and preferably multiple times...during the story so that I could live vicariously through him.
This isn't that kind of book. It's not a ghost story in the typical sense of the word (or even at all) and while it does have a fantastic twist that I didn't see coming - but admittedly, probably should have, if I'd used my puzzling-things-out brain (more about this later)- there is far too much in-between filler that sucks the suspense out of the story quicker than a recently serviced Dyson cyclonic. I felt like this book was at least a third longer than it needed to be and this is chiefly due to whacking great chunks of dialogue that doesn't progress the story, but exists, it seems, to develop character relationships that I felt were already quite solid.
The stringing out of the mystery went for so long that I very nearly put the book down before the twist had even happened. As I stumbled across the twist in the mystery, I wsa surprised enough to emit a little "Oh!" and quickly flick on in the hopes that the suspense and excitement would ramp up. Unfortunately, the author took the route of stretching things out to the extent that by the end I didn't really care about the whys of the plot and just wanted it all to be over.
Admittedly, there is a full and developed story toward the end of the book that links Daniel's past to his present situation and provides some feel-good moments and action scenes, but by then it was too late to salvage my interest. There are plenty of interesting and original things going on in Night Shift but because the first part of the book is so focused on ghosts, I had certain expectations of what the story was going to be about. The twist provided a momentary respite from those dashed expectations, and the thought that maybe there was going to be a more original take on the ghost gossip, but I just couldn't seem to get past my pre-conceived ideas of what the book was going to be in order to fully enjoy what it is. Night Shift turned out to be more focused on relationship building and romance than the paranormal/magical realism elements, and as regular readers of this blog know, I'm a sucker for the latter.
If you are looking for a story that is high on romance and budding relationships featuring an unexpected couple, you will probably find something to enjoy in Night Shift.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Daniel is drawn to Willard's Departmnt Store and takes a job there as a night guard, despite the rumours of ghosts and colleagues betting on how soon he'll quit. What Daniel discovers is far more interesting than any silly ghost story and might just provide the answers to some family mysteries.
I was really in the mood for some creepy, atmospheric horror - or at least paranormal - when I requested Night Shift and while there are some aspects of the story that I praise for being original and unexpected, this wasn't atmospheric or paranormal in the slightest. Daniel is a solid protagonist around which to build a narrative - he has a fascinating past, he seems like a reliable narrator and generally I wanted him to succeed against whatever foes were lurking in the dark of Willard's. In the interests of an exciting story, I also wanted him to have the absolute willies scared out of him at least once...and preferably multiple times...during the story so that I could live vicariously through him.
This isn't that kind of book. It's not a ghost story in the typical sense of the word (or even at all) and while it does have a fantastic twist that I didn't see coming - but admittedly, probably should have, if I'd used my puzzling-things-out brain (more about this later)- there is far too much in-between filler that sucks the suspense out of the story quicker than a recently serviced Dyson cyclonic. I felt like this book was at least a third longer than it needed to be and this is chiefly due to whacking great chunks of dialogue that doesn't progress the story, but exists, it seems, to develop character relationships that I felt were already quite solid.
The stringing out of the mystery went for so long that I very nearly put the book down before the twist had even happened. As I stumbled across the twist in the mystery, I wsa surprised enough to emit a little "Oh!" and quickly flick on in the hopes that the suspense and excitement would ramp up. Unfortunately, the author took the route of stretching things out to the extent that by the end I didn't really care about the whys of the plot and just wanted it all to be over.
Admittedly, there is a full and developed story toward the end of the book that links Daniel's past to his present situation and provides some feel-good moments and action scenes, but by then it was too late to salvage my interest. There are plenty of interesting and original things going on in Night Shift but because the first part of the book is so focused on ghosts, I had certain expectations of what the story was going to be about. The twist provided a momentary respite from those dashed expectations, and the thought that maybe there was going to be a more original take on the ghost gossip, but I just couldn't seem to get past my pre-conceived ideas of what the book was going to be in order to fully enjoy what it is. Night Shift turned out to be more focused on relationship building and romance than the paranormal/magical realism elements, and as regular readers of this blog know, I'm a sucker for the latter.
If you are looking for a story that is high on romance and budding relationships featuring an unexpected couple, you will probably find something to enjoy in Night Shift.
October 9, 2019
Night At The Museum meets Twilight Zone
This wasn't exactly the story I went in expecting but it was still a great read for October/Halloween. I will be reading the rest of the series.
This wasn't exactly the story I went in expecting but it was still a great read for October/Halloween. I will be reading the rest of the series.
February 24, 2017
This book is about a teenage boy who takes a job as a night security guard in an old school department store in Manhattan. He heard it's haunted and starts seeing strange things. There's history to the building and mystery surrounding the people he meets there. When I was younger I used to imagine being locked into a mall or department store for the night and how fun that would be! This book kind of has that feel to it and I love the description of this department store Willards. I would love to visit or even work at a store like this!
This was an easy read with some twists and turns. I liked the characters and really liked that it was from the boy's perspective. There were a couple plot twists that I saw coming before they happened, but that didn't take away from enjoying the story. I saw that it may be the start to a series and I would definitely want to read more about these characters!
Cover: 5 out of 5 stars. Love this retro looking cover with the old style font. It's one of the reasons I chose this book.
*Note: I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges:
2017 Goodreads Challenge
2017 Pop Sugar Challenge - A book by an author from a country you've never visited (Canada)
This was an easy read with some twists and turns. I liked the characters and really liked that it was from the boy's perspective. There were a couple plot twists that I saw coming before they happened, but that didn't take away from enjoying the story. I saw that it may be the start to a series and I would definitely want to read more about these characters!
Cover: 5 out of 5 stars. Love this retro looking cover with the old style font. It's one of the reasons I chose this book.
*Note: I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges:
2017 Goodreads Challenge
2017 Pop Sugar Challenge - A book by an author from a country you've never visited (Canada)
November 22, 2014
It was an amazing book with a very different story plot which was filled with mystery and and the thrill while reading it and the cliff hangers of each chapters made it more interesting and it creates a very good visualization while reading it.
You can't stop reading it once you start
I loved it.
You can't stop reading it once you start
I loved it.
March 1, 2014
It was amazing! Can't wait for the next one!!
You should deffinitely read it.
You should deffinitely read it.
March 10, 2014
Couldn't stop reading!
September 25, 2018
I read this book years ago but I think it deserves to be recognized
:)
:)
February 21, 2015
Old world Hollywood romance meets mystery. Wonderful read , it is one those stories you must read.
December 16, 2018
Disclaimer: I was fortunate to win a copy of 'Nightshift' in a Goodreads giveaway. However, any opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. There may be potential spoilers.
At 18 Daniel Gale is on his own and traveling the country looking for a toy store from his childhood. His search leads him to Willard's a classy (and haunted) department store where he gets a job as the Night Guard. Soon he meets Mary, a girl from the night crew who does inventory and the other quirky members of her team. Little does he know that meeting this group will bring him the much needed answers to the questions he has about a mother he lost when he was young.
I sincerely enjoyed this book. The writing was wonderful, the characters lovable. Each chapter leaves you wanting to continue on even when you may not have the time to do so. The description of Willard's brings to mind the department stores in the 1950s when you dressed up to go shopping rather than going shopping in your pjs.
The history provided for the department store takes Willard's from being simply a place to also being a character.
I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series and hope that it continues.
At 18 Daniel Gale is on his own and traveling the country looking for a toy store from his childhood. His search leads him to Willard's a classy (and haunted) department store where he gets a job as the Night Guard. Soon he meets Mary, a girl from the night crew who does inventory and the other quirky members of her team. Little does he know that meeting this group will bring him the much needed answers to the questions he has about a mother he lost when he was young.
I sincerely enjoyed this book. The writing was wonderful, the characters lovable. Each chapter leaves you wanting to continue on even when you may not have the time to do so. The description of Willard's brings to mind the department stores in the 1950s when you dressed up to go shopping rather than going shopping in your pjs.
The history provided for the department store takes Willard's from being simply a place to also being a character.
I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series and hope that it continues.
August 3, 2018
Night shift by B R Myers.
At Willard's department store, none of the night security guards survive for long, and eighteen-year-old Daniel Gale is about to discover why.
Tired of living out of his backpack, he ignores the clerk's gossip about the old building being haunted and accepts the latest vacated position of night guard. On his first shift Daniel narrowly escapes a fatal fall down an elevator shaft and is rescued by Mary—a bossy and intriguing girl far too beautiful for after hours inventory.
Anticipating every night shift as a chance to be with her, Daniel thinks his traveling days are over hoping that Manhattan is the place to call home. But as his life becomes more entwined with Willard's, Daniel senses unnatural changes and bizarre coincidences both with Mary and the store itself. Soon he begins to suspect Willard's is hiding something more sinister than gossip about ghosts—something that could make him the next casualty of the NIGHT SHIFT.
An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved Daniel's character. I just couldn't put it down. Read in one sitting. I didn't see that coming. 5*.
At Willard's department store, none of the night security guards survive for long, and eighteen-year-old Daniel Gale is about to discover why.
Tired of living out of his backpack, he ignores the clerk's gossip about the old building being haunted and accepts the latest vacated position of night guard. On his first shift Daniel narrowly escapes a fatal fall down an elevator shaft and is rescued by Mary—a bossy and intriguing girl far too beautiful for after hours inventory.
Anticipating every night shift as a chance to be with her, Daniel thinks his traveling days are over hoping that Manhattan is the place to call home. But as his life becomes more entwined with Willard's, Daniel senses unnatural changes and bizarre coincidences both with Mary and the store itself. Soon he begins to suspect Willard's is hiding something more sinister than gossip about ghosts—something that could make him the next casualty of the NIGHT SHIFT.
An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved Daniel's character. I just couldn't put it down. Read in one sitting. I didn't see that coming. 5*.
September 20, 2017
5/5 because this book is making me love the mystery genre!!! and so much more!!
1. 4/5 the writing is perfect, it pulls you into the story instantly, reminded me of talented fanfiction writers.
2. the pacing and the story flow is completely breathtaking + page-turning!
3. I loved how Daniel's POV and that he doubted himself when he was like 'im in love with a mannequin" he wasn't all acceptable of the truth.
4. I kind wished everyone would find their purpose just like Blanche and Gigi but that's okay because the ending is perfect and it wasn't rushed or anything of such.
5. I loved Ruth Ann and Jonathan, i wanna see them starting a new life. also Ruth Ann quoting everything was fun.
6. I'M STILL CURIOUS ABOUT THE CLOCK! and the secret room! there has to be an explanation.
no matter what i say here it will never amount to my excitement and absorption that i was in when reading.
my only wish is: everyone to be free in the next book Black Friday
totally recommend this book if you want to read a nice mystery.
December 5, 2018
I definitely enjoyed this book. Is it strange? Perhaps a little lacking? Yes. But it's also charming, thought-provoking, and maybe even a little bit wish-fulfilling. The characters are such a fun bunch, and with every new mystery that is revealed, you can't help but become a little more interested. I'm hoping some of my concerns and confusion will be remedied in another book, but until I can be sure about that, I have to admit that some open-ended questions and curious elements have left me feeling a bit lost. However, I had a lot of fun trying to figure out what was going on and following the journeys of the characters. I would definitely read a sequel.
June 13, 2017
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of the book in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the fact this story line was so original, unique and well written.
I found myself crying towards the end with Blanche's dream comes true.
I will probably never be able to walk into a department store ever again, without wondering and smiling just in case.
I am really excited to read the next book.
Thank you B.R Myers for writing such an enjoyable book.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the fact this story line was so original, unique and well written.
I found myself crying towards the end with Blanche's dream comes true.
I will probably never be able to walk into a department store ever again, without wondering and smiling just in case.
I am really excited to read the next book.
Thank you B.R Myers for writing such an enjoyable book.
July 27, 2017
After the death of his father, Daniel chose not to finish high school, but rather to travel around trying to find a department store that he once visited with his mother. When he takes a job as the night security guard at Willard's department store, he is asked if he believes in ghosts. It seems that most night guards don't last long there. Daniel, however is different and he makes friends with the other people who also work nights at Willard's. He soon learns that things are not as they seem and there is quite a mystery afoot.
March 17, 2017
I honestly loved this novel! It was such a fun and enjoyable read that it kept me engrossed throughout the journey! I was expecting a ghost story, something a bit more sinister. This novel was actually nothing like what I expected and that was the biggest surprise to me! There was this whole Hollywood-glam vibe associated with this story, with the traditional Willard's department store and the references to Hollywood classics. The world building was something I really enjoyed reading about it, and it made the story so much more unique! I loved all of the characters and their interactions; it was all very genuine. I think that the love angle that was part of this story was perhaps a bit too quickly developed; it would have been nicer for it to have a slower progression. But that's my only complaint. Overall, a marvelous entertaining read, and I can't wait to read the sequel!
I received this novel from NetGalley as an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
I received this novel from NetGalley as an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
January 7, 2019
I enjoyed each character in this book and the story also. Usually when you have ghosts they are malignant and evil. These were enjoyable characters and you really felt what they felt. You wanted the best for each of them. I was hoping the ending would be a little different than it was, but it did not detract from the value of the story.
March 1, 2017
I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for honest review.
Daniel Gale has been travelling after the death of his parents, until he found his way to Willard's department store. There, he got a job as security guard in the night shift. The thing is, Willard's night shift is notorious for its ghost stories. Are the ghost real or is it something even more sinister lurking there?
I love Night at the Museums movie and Grady Hendrix book Horrorstör, so when I saw this book on Netgalley, I knew I had to request it. The premise is very interesting and the whole plot really captures my attention. However, I do find sometimes that the plot is lagging and predictable. Nevertheless, when the twist is revealed, even though I saw it miles away, it still managed to surprised me.
The reason why it still managed to surprised me is because the reaction of the characters are very real. The writer is really good at writing characters, that they feel real (excuse the pun). Another thing that I love is how the writer build Willard's. It's easy to imagine Willard's, because it's a department store with old and grand building.
There are still things that needs to be explained and answers that need to be found, so I'm definitely going to read the second book!
Daniel Gale has been travelling after the death of his parents, until he found his way to Willard's department store. There, he got a job as security guard in the night shift. The thing is, Willard's night shift is notorious for its ghost stories. Are the ghost real or is it something even more sinister lurking there?
I love Night at the Museums movie and Grady Hendrix book Horrorstör, so when I saw this book on Netgalley, I knew I had to request it. The premise is very interesting and the whole plot really captures my attention. However, I do find sometimes that the plot is lagging and predictable. Nevertheless, when the twist is revealed, even though I saw it miles away, it still managed to surprised me.
The reason why it still managed to surprised me is because the reaction of the characters are very real. The writer is really good at writing characters, that they feel real (excuse the pun). Another thing that I love is how the writer build Willard's. It's easy to imagine Willard's, because it's a department store with old and grand building.
There are still things that needs to be explained and answers that need to be found, so I'm definitely going to read the second book!
March 11, 2017
I was in constant suspense from page one. It definitely wasn't predictable. I was constantly surprised by the turns of the events. And the ending.... it was PERFECT.
It is a story of Daniel Gale , who decided to leave school and travel the world, looking for a lost memory. With parents both gone, he is a bit lost, looking for a home. Last place on his list is Willard's store in New York where he takes job as a Night Guard. On his job interview, the boss asks him if he believes in ghost, and he said no.
On his first night he hears some things and fall into empty elevator shaft, only to be saved by someone who should not be there. It is a beautiful girl, Mary and she tells him she works nights to. Well that turns out it is not entirely true and that is where this start to get reaaaaly interesting.
It is so well written book. Every chapter end on a cliffhanger, you just cannot stop yourself from turning the pages. Also bonus point, I love that one of the female characters is in love with another woman. I love the it was done. Lately authors have been trying to be more divers, but if feels forced most of the time, something that should be natural, looks out of place, and that is just not OK. In this book it is written, just as it supposed to be, natural part of live, adding to the flow of the story, rather than taking away.
I love this book all together. Highly recommend it.
Full review on http://diaryofawannabewriter.blogspot...
It is a story of Daniel Gale , who decided to leave school and travel the world, looking for a lost memory. With parents both gone, he is a bit lost, looking for a home. Last place on his list is Willard's store in New York where he takes job as a Night Guard. On his job interview, the boss asks him if he believes in ghost, and he said no.
On his first night he hears some things and fall into empty elevator shaft, only to be saved by someone who should not be there. It is a beautiful girl, Mary and she tells him she works nights to. Well that turns out it is not entirely true and that is where this start to get reaaaaly interesting.
It is so well written book. Every chapter end on a cliffhanger, you just cannot stop yourself from turning the pages. Also bonus point, I love that one of the female characters is in love with another woman. I love the it was done. Lately authors have been trying to be more divers, but if feels forced most of the time, something that should be natural, looks out of place, and that is just not OK. In this book it is written, just as it supposed to be, natural part of live, adding to the flow of the story, rather than taking away.
I love this book all together. Highly recommend it.
Full review on http://diaryofawannabewriter.blogspot...
February 19, 2017
"One Touch of Venus"
POSSIBLE MILD SPOILER. The blurbs and descriptions for this book may be somewhat misleading. This is neither violent, nor scary, nor in any fashion a traditional ghost story. What this book is is a remarkably well written, cleverly well crafted, engagingly romantic, and eerily suspenseful variation on the best Twilight Zone episode ever.
Our young drifter hero Daniel is the new, sole night security guard at Willard's Department Store, which is well known to be haunted and loaded with things that go bump in the night. Daniel Gale, (and just note that Dorothy in "Wizard of Oz" is Dorothy Gale), takes the job with some trepidation, but from the start there is an air of possibility, mystery and the fabulous that fills the air in Willard's.
Early on it becomes clear, in a general way, what's going on at Willard's and while Daniel is a bit slow to figure it out he still does so reasonably soon. Instead of dragging this book on and on to a final, obvious and overdue reveal, the author gives us a partial reveal early on, and then slowly spins out mini-mysteries, mini-resolutions, and small jokes and asides as everyone shares in the magic. Daniel, his love interest, other store employees, other characters from the past and present, all have secrets and are all interconnected, and they react to each other and play off each other as the details of what's going on are teased out.
The biggest drawback of, or limitation on, groundbreaking efforts like Twilight Zone was that they had to set up a tale, play it out, and resolve it in a very short time frame, (25 minutes per episode). There wasn't much room for anything more than a fast, bare bones setup and ending. You might get a punch at the end, but there couldn't be much time wasted in getting to the payoff. Here, the author has the luxury of taking a great premise and setting it up slowly, playing it out, fooling around with it, tossing in a few red herrings, and then wrapping it up at leisure. The result is rich and satisfying. So, we get multiple overlapping stories and a slow drip of info and fantastic possibilities. The downside of that, though, is that we get a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions by the end. (Hence the need for Book 2, which is out, and Book 3, which apparently is coming.) Enough is made clear that the reader doesn't feel cheated, but it's nice to know that there's more to come if you want it.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, which I expected to be a haunter/thriller. It was fast paced and loaded with engaging characters that were fleshed out and well conceived. The teen hero was an appealing balance of doofus and hero material and the female lead held her own nicely and had style and spirit. This is much more than a genre piece and a good, ambitious and well written find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
POSSIBLE MILD SPOILER. The blurbs and descriptions for this book may be somewhat misleading. This is neither violent, nor scary, nor in any fashion a traditional ghost story. What this book is is a remarkably well written, cleverly well crafted, engagingly romantic, and eerily suspenseful variation on the best Twilight Zone episode ever.
Our young drifter hero Daniel is the new, sole night security guard at Willard's Department Store, which is well known to be haunted and loaded with things that go bump in the night. Daniel Gale, (and just note that Dorothy in "Wizard of Oz" is Dorothy Gale), takes the job with some trepidation, but from the start there is an air of possibility, mystery and the fabulous that fills the air in Willard's.
Early on it becomes clear, in a general way, what's going on at Willard's and while Daniel is a bit slow to figure it out he still does so reasonably soon. Instead of dragging this book on and on to a final, obvious and overdue reveal, the author gives us a partial reveal early on, and then slowly spins out mini-mysteries, mini-resolutions, and small jokes and asides as everyone shares in the magic. Daniel, his love interest, other store employees, other characters from the past and present, all have secrets and are all interconnected, and they react to each other and play off each other as the details of what's going on are teased out.
The biggest drawback of, or limitation on, groundbreaking efforts like Twilight Zone was that they had to set up a tale, play it out, and resolve it in a very short time frame, (25 minutes per episode). There wasn't much room for anything more than a fast, bare bones setup and ending. You might get a punch at the end, but there couldn't be much time wasted in getting to the payoff. Here, the author has the luxury of taking a great premise and setting it up slowly, playing it out, fooling around with it, tossing in a few red herrings, and then wrapping it up at leisure. The result is rich and satisfying. So, we get multiple overlapping stories and a slow drip of info and fantastic possibilities. The downside of that, though, is that we get a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions by the end. (Hence the need for Book 2, which is out, and Book 3, which apparently is coming.) Enough is made clear that the reader doesn't feel cheated, but it's nice to know that there's more to come if you want it.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, which I expected to be a haunter/thriller. It was fast paced and loaded with engaging characters that were fleshed out and well conceived. The teen hero was an appealing balance of doofus and hero material and the female lead held her own nicely and had style and spirit. This is much more than a genre piece and a good, ambitious and well written find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
March 11, 2017
3.75 stars for this strange tale. Part ghost story, part magic, a lot about the power of love. Hard to label this...except to say it was an entertaining read.
February 20, 2017
Honestly I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. After loosing both his parents Daniel decides to start traveling, and to find his purpose in life. He applies for a night shift as a security guy at Willard's ( it's just what you need ;-) ). Other securities don't seem to last a night, and Daniels is about to find out why. If the author comes out with a sequel to this book I would jump to it. I highly recommend this book to any one who is looking for a fast pace and fun read.
April 17, 2017
Well, this is a good book. The story is easy to predict, but that does not make it less interesting/entertaining.
PROS & CONS OF READING THIS BOOK:
a) The main subject.
b) The main character.
Pro: The narrator is a boy and it's nice to see how his perspective of the place changes by knowing the guys.
Con: His attitude left me indifferent. And I wanted to know more about his life and his past and how much he wanted to find that place and that is not explained.
c) Romance.
Pro: Mary is a very interesting character and some of her scenes with Daniel were kinda cute. I liked the girl
Con: I feel it like insta-love and didn't like them as a couple.
d) The other characters.
Pro: Everyone has something that makes them very distinctive and differentiates them from each other. Little Petey was my favorite.
Con: There is no deep in the personal stories. Barely knew the basics about them and I got mixed the names a few times.
e) The end.
Pro: There are a few "revelations" that make the plot more interesting and left me wanting to know more about the story.
Con: The "mystery" in the story is really predictable.
f) The style.
Pro: It's easy to read. It took me about three hours to read it and could not put it down.
Con: It has a very simple style and it has not developtment about certain things.
So, it's a book I enjoyed a lot while reading it. But it ends with more questions than answers. And it's sad because I had no idea it was part of a series, and I'm not sure if I want to read the next one.
*Note: I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
PROS & CONS OF READING THIS BOOK:
a) The main subject.
b) The main character.
Pro: The narrator is a boy and it's nice to see how his perspective of the place changes by knowing the guys.
Con: His attitude left me indifferent. And I wanted to know more about his life and his past and how much he wanted to find that place and that is not explained.
c) Romance.
Pro: Mary is a very interesting character and some of her scenes with Daniel were kinda cute. I liked the girl
Con: I feel it like insta-love and didn't like them as a couple.
d) The other characters.
Pro: Everyone has something that makes them very distinctive and differentiates them from each other. Little Petey was my favorite.
Con: There is no deep in the personal stories. Barely knew the basics about them and I got mixed the names a few times.
e) The end.
Pro: There are a few "revelations" that make the plot more interesting and left me wanting to know more about the story.
Con: The "mystery" in the story is really predictable.
f) The style.
Pro: It's easy to read. It took me about three hours to read it and could not put it down.
Con: It has a very simple style and it has not developtment about certain things.
So, it's a book I enjoyed a lot while reading it. But it ends with more questions than answers. And it's sad because I had no idea it was part of a series, and I'm not sure if I want to read the next one.
*Note: I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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