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Save Me
This unique paranormal romance pours on the tension and danger in an addictive combination, perfect for readers who like a dash of the supernatural with their romance.
Something strange is going on in the tiny coastal town of Liberty, Oregon. Cara has never seen a whale swim close enough for her to touch, let alone knock her into the freezing water! Fortunately, cute newcomer David is there to save her, and the rescue leads to a bond deeper than Cara ever imagined.
But then she learns something about David that changes everything, and Cara is devastated. She turns to her best friend for support, but Rachel is different. She's suddenly into witchcraft, and is becoming dangerously obsessed with her new boyfriend….
Cara has lost her best friend, discovered that her soul mate is off limits, and attracted the attention of a stalker. At least she's not completely alone. Her mysterious, gorgeous new friend Garren is there to support her. But is Garren possibly too perfect?
Jenny Elliott’s debut novel Save Me , chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, is a heart-racing thrill ride that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Praise for Save Me :
“ Compulsively readable .” ― BCCB
“Give this to die-hard romance lovers who like a bit of fantasy mixed in.” ― VOYA
“ A wild ride cloaked in mystery .” ― Romantic Times
Something strange is going on in the tiny coastal town of Liberty, Oregon. Cara has never seen a whale swim close enough for her to touch, let alone knock her into the freezing water! Fortunately, cute newcomer David is there to save her, and the rescue leads to a bond deeper than Cara ever imagined.
But then she learns something about David that changes everything, and Cara is devastated. She turns to her best friend for support, but Rachel is different. She's suddenly into witchcraft, and is becoming dangerously obsessed with her new boyfriend….
Cara has lost her best friend, discovered that her soul mate is off limits, and attracted the attention of a stalker. At least she's not completely alone. Her mysterious, gorgeous new friend Garren is there to support her. But is Garren possibly too perfect?
Jenny Elliott’s debut novel Save Me , chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, is a heart-racing thrill ride that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Praise for Save Me :
“ Compulsively readable .” ― BCCB
“Give this to die-hard romance lovers who like a bit of fantasy mixed in.” ― VOYA
“ A wild ride cloaked in mystery .” ― Romantic Times
309 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2015
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March 21, 2016
See more of my reviews on The YA Kitten! My copy was an ARC I got from the publisher.
Here's your warning: here there be spoilers. But really, it isn't a spoiler if you figure it out in the first 30 pages.
I swear on the filled graves of three of my five grandparents (the other two are still kicking) that this book is worse than the Halo, Hush Hush, and Fallen series. This one little book is more painful than thousands of pages of the YA angel novels made notorious for their poor quality.
That's a lofty claim to make, but as someone who read the entire Halo series, two Hush Hush books, and plans to try Fallen again soon, I mean it. I don't often chronicle my experience reading a book on Twitter because it's not good Twitter politics, but I came up with a hashtag and everything for this book because I had to share my pain. It was the only way I could bear to make myself finish reading this mess. Save Me is cleverly disguised fundamental Christian fiction with all the messages about appropriate behavior for men and women that title implies as well as a cartoonish portrayal of anyone who wears black as EVIL.
The opening chapter of Save Me, wherein Cara falls overboard on a whale-watching trip and her love interest forges a providential connection with her when he saves her, is the best you're going to get with this book. It's all downhill from here as Cara fails at driving, gets involved in a student-teacher relationship, and watches her best friend get drawn into the evils of witchcraft by her boyfriend. Blah blah blah. To begin with, it's just hilaribad because of how cartoonish everything is. In a way, it's a lot like Halo that way. The thing with Save Me is that it somehow makes things more cartoonish and much more serious simultaneously.
It seems like Save Me is a troll of a book written to show the world why paranormal YA died out in the late 2000s instead of surviving into the 2010s, but it's not. From all appearances, it's very serious about every word. Its lack of Halo-esque preaching makes it a more subtle novel is well and that would make it more insidious if it weren't so cartoonish from my point of view. For instance, these descriptions of the people hanging out with the antagonist:
Being worried because your friend is playing with a Ouija board? That's actually sensible. Ouija boards are bad shit. Then Garren proceeds to break the board in half to stop them and I realize no actual research was done into this occult item because YOU NEVER BREAK A OUIJA BOARD LIKE THAT EVER. I saw a few different methods when I followed up with research (most ways to dispose of a Ouija board safely involve holy water and breaking the board into seven pieces, not two), but no matter where I looked, everything indicated that Garren fucked up. And tarot cards as an agent of Satan? Really? They don't have NEAR the history Ouija boards do and are a much more accepted part of spiritualism and the New Age movement. I own a deck myself!
Everyone on the antagonist's side looks the same and acts the same as they fail to get any depth whatsoever through the main character's friend Rachel getting drawn into their cult. They don't like to talk to anyone outside their circle; when they do, it's usually hostile or they're trying to convince someone to join in. They skip school and do everything good kids would never dare to and are basically the bad crowd all those after-school specials warned you about when they tried to show you what happens when you Fall In With the Wrong Crowd. They've got black hair, pale skin, and eyes that do freaky things that are described (badly) like this:
Y'know, the stereotype that people who like to wear black are Goth and into Satanism is why the West Memphis Three spent a little over 18 years in prison for crimes they most likely did not commit. Books that push ideas like this the way Save Me does are not harmless.
The main characters who are Unabashedly Good are just as flat. Cara never changes from the girl she is at the start of the novel, nor does David change in any way other than it being revealed he's Cara's new teacher and a sucky student-teacher romance a la Slammed beginning. Cara's friend Garren (aka He of the Obvious Identity and No Subtlety) doesn't change either; despite spending all this time around normal human beings, he never learns how to speak like one instead of sounding like someone from another era thrown into a blender and leaking words everywhere. Cara is supposed to be smart, but she spends a lot of time playing volleyball with the Idiot Ball amongst her friends. Yes, breaking into the antagonist's house when you know she's something inhuman is a splendid idea, especially when you tell no one what you're planning. Plus Google is totally the best thing to consult when trying to figure out if your friend is possessed!
Cara and David's romance at the center of all this lacks anything compelling. They get one date together at the beginning and it's nothing special, but from that point forward, they talk more about their connection than each other. Who needs to get to know the person they want to date? Pfffft, not these two. All they have to do is angst about how they can't be together and think about their providential connection and VOILA! True love. And yes, that word is used throughout the novel to describe their connection.
Providential. Think about that word choice for a second. It's a form of the word providence, which means "the protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power," but based on the varied definitions I found, it boils down to four words: "divine guidance or care." This is where it finally hit me that Save Me is fundamentalist Christian fiction sneaking into the mainstream.
Every time Cara talks about her connection with David, she is implicitly saying their relationship is ordained by God and thus is not bound by the laws of man that say a teacher can't date one of his students or a man like him shouldn't date a girl like her. As Cara's mother says, there's an imbalance of power between the two, but Cara defies everyone and stays with him anyway. Oh, and there's the messenger of God saying David's jealousy because Cara spends a lot of time with another man is "good for him" even as Cara has to regularly convince David nothing is going on.
That doesn't sound like abusive behavior beginning. Not at all.
In case I haven't made it clear, this novel is why paranormal YA is dead.
I nearly forgot about Amber the antagonist in the midst of this mess, but Amber. Sweet Jesus, she is a bunch of sexist stereotypes rolled into one ball and mixed in with Goth stereotypes. You wanna know what her motivation is? Her ex-boyfriend Chris dumped her to ask Cara out. That's it. Amber was so angry at Cara for "stealing" Chris that this entire novel happens. 1) When Guy dumps Girl 1 for Girl 2, it is not Girl 2's fault. Wanna be angry? Be angry at Guy. 2) This is just plain artless. Surely one can come up with something better than that as a motive. Then again, if that kind of depth of thought went into this book, this book would not exist because all the logic and deeper thinking would kill it.
It's not easy for me to make a list of the worst books I've ever read because I've read so many bad books and trying to order them is hell. However, the first three spots are solid: 1) a tie between Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell and Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs; 2) the entire House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast; 3) THIS BOOK. I'd rather reread all three Halo books, read the two Hush Hush books I haven't read yet, or binge the Fallen series before I reread Save Me.
I usually DNF books like Save Me because ain't nobody got time for that, but it happened to come along on the one day I needed a distraction. See, the day I read it, my mom told me Grandma was about to die. I thank Save Me for keeping me from lingering on her impending death (and she did die the next day, by the way), but that's the only nice thing I have to say. Skip this book. For the love of whatever is in you, be it a soul or the empty cavity where you used to have a soul before you sold it for that one review copy you really wanted, do not read Save Me. You can do better for yourself.
Here's your warning: here there be spoilers. But really, it isn't a spoiler if you figure it out in the first 30 pages.
I swear on the filled graves of three of my five grandparents (the other two are still kicking) that this book is worse than the Halo, Hush Hush, and Fallen series. This one little book is more painful than thousands of pages of the YA angel novels made notorious for their poor quality.
That's a lofty claim to make, but as someone who read the entire Halo series, two Hush Hush books, and plans to try Fallen again soon, I mean it. I don't often chronicle my experience reading a book on Twitter because it's not good Twitter politics, but I came up with a hashtag and everything for this book because I had to share my pain. It was the only way I could bear to make myself finish reading this mess. Save Me is cleverly disguised fundamental Christian fiction with all the messages about appropriate behavior for men and women that title implies as well as a cartoonish portrayal of anyone who wears black as EVIL.
The opening chapter of Save Me, wherein Cara falls overboard on a whale-watching trip and her love interest forges a providential connection with her when he saves her, is the best you're going to get with this book. It's all downhill from here as Cara fails at driving, gets involved in a student-teacher relationship, and watches her best friend get drawn into the evils of witchcraft by her boyfriend. Blah blah blah. To begin with, it's just hilaribad because of how cartoonish everything is. In a way, it's a lot like Halo that way. The thing with Save Me is that it somehow makes things more cartoonish and much more serious simultaneously.
It seems like Save Me is a troll of a book written to show the world why paranormal YA died out in the late 2000s instead of surviving into the 2010s, but it's not. From all appearances, it's very serious about every word. Its lack of Halo-esque preaching makes it a more subtle novel is well and that would make it more insidious if it weren't so cartoonish from my point of view. For instance, these descriptions of the people hanging out with the antagonist:
A dozen or more people crammed into the front living area. Some piled onto a black leather sofa and a matching club chair, others stood. Their outfits were casual or gothic ensembles in shades of black or gray. (ARC, p. 159)
At first, Cara was glad to spot Rachel's black cascade of hair in the next room. But when she and Garren moved around the side of the table where Rachel and Ethan sat, she saw they were part of a group surrounding a Ouija board. Their eyes remained closed as their fingers perched atop the game piece that resembled a white heart. [...] Amber's curls brushed the top of a small table covered with tarot cards. A group of people lined up next to her post. (ARC, p. 160)
Being worried because your friend is playing with a Ouija board? That's actually sensible. Ouija boards are bad shit. Then Garren proceeds to break the board in half to stop them and I realize no actual research was done into this occult item because YOU NEVER BREAK A OUIJA BOARD LIKE THAT EVER. I saw a few different methods when I followed up with research (most ways to dispose of a Ouija board safely involve holy water and breaking the board into seven pieces, not two), but no matter where I looked, everything indicated that Garren fucked up. And tarot cards as an agent of Satan? Really? They don't have NEAR the history Ouija boards do and are a much more accepted part of spiritualism and the New Age movement. I own a deck myself!
Everyone on the antagonist's side looks the same and acts the same as they fail to get any depth whatsoever through the main character's friend Rachel getting drawn into their cult. They don't like to talk to anyone outside their circle; when they do, it's usually hostile or they're trying to convince someone to join in. They skip school and do everything good kids would never dare to and are basically the bad crowd all those after-school specials warned you about when they tried to show you what happens when you Fall In With the Wrong Crowd. They've got black hair, pale skin, and eyes that do freaky things that are described (badly) like this:
Rachel stared at the floor. When her eyes widened, they looked like black glass. Then they disappeared behind the slits of Rachel's narrowed eyelids. Cara leaned away, fearing her friend even more as she checked off another sign: black, sharklike eyes. (ARC, p. 120)
Y'know, the stereotype that people who like to wear black are Goth and into Satanism is why the West Memphis Three spent a little over 18 years in prison for crimes they most likely did not commit. Books that push ideas like this the way Save Me does are not harmless.
The main characters who are Unabashedly Good are just as flat. Cara never changes from the girl she is at the start of the novel, nor does David change in any way other than it being revealed he's Cara's new teacher and a sucky student-teacher romance a la Slammed beginning. Cara's friend Garren (aka He of the Obvious Identity and No Subtlety) doesn't change either; despite spending all this time around normal human beings, he never learns how to speak like one instead of sounding like someone from another era thrown into a blender and leaking words everywhere. Cara is supposed to be smart, but she spends a lot of time playing volleyball with the Idiot Ball amongst her friends. Yes, breaking into the antagonist's house when you know she's something inhuman is a splendid idea, especially when you tell no one what you're planning. Plus Google is totally the best thing to consult when trying to figure out if your friend is possessed!
Cara and David's romance at the center of all this lacks anything compelling. They get one date together at the beginning and it's nothing special, but from that point forward, they talk more about their connection than each other. Who needs to get to know the person they want to date? Pfffft, not these two. All they have to do is angst about how they can't be together and think about their providential connection and VOILA! True love. And yes, that word is used throughout the novel to describe their connection.
Providential. Think about that word choice for a second. It's a form of the word providence, which means "the protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power," but based on the varied definitions I found, it boils down to four words: "divine guidance or care." This is where it finally hit me that Save Me is fundamentalist Christian fiction sneaking into the mainstream.
Every time Cara talks about her connection with David, she is implicitly saying their relationship is ordained by God and thus is not bound by the laws of man that say a teacher can't date one of his students or a man like him shouldn't date a girl like her. As Cara's mother says, there's an imbalance of power between the two, but Cara defies everyone and stays with him anyway. Oh, and there's the messenger of God saying David's jealousy because Cara spends a lot of time with another man is "good for him" even as Cara has to regularly convince David nothing is going on.
That doesn't sound like abusive behavior beginning. Not at all.
In case I haven't made it clear, this novel is why paranormal YA is dead.
I nearly forgot about Amber the antagonist in the midst of this mess, but Amber. Sweet Jesus, she is a bunch of sexist stereotypes rolled into one ball and mixed in with Goth stereotypes. You wanna know what her motivation is? Her ex-boyfriend Chris dumped her to ask Cara out. That's it. Amber was so angry at Cara for "stealing" Chris that this entire novel happens. 1) When Guy dumps Girl 1 for Girl 2, it is not Girl 2's fault. Wanna be angry? Be angry at Guy. 2) This is just plain artless. Surely one can come up with something better than that as a motive. Then again, if that kind of depth of thought went into this book, this book would not exist because all the logic and deeper thinking would kill it.
It's not easy for me to make a list of the worst books I've ever read because I've read so many bad books and trying to order them is hell. However, the first three spots are solid: 1) a tie between Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell and Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs; 2) the entire House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast; 3) THIS BOOK. I'd rather reread all three Halo books, read the two Hush Hush books I haven't read yet, or binge the Fallen series before I reread Save Me.
I usually DNF books like Save Me because ain't nobody got time for that, but it happened to come along on the one day I needed a distraction. See, the day I read it, my mom told me Grandma was about to die. I thank Save Me for keeping me from lingering on her impending death (and she did die the next day, by the way), but that's the only nice thing I have to say. Skip this book. For the love of whatever is in you, be it a soul or the empty cavity where you used to have a soul before you sold it for that one review copy you really wanted, do not read Save Me. You can do better for yourself.
September 23, 2015
This was beyond awful. Probably one of the worst books I've ever read. I know I really shouldn't have expected a self assured, quick thinking, spunky heroine with the title 'Save Me', but really? Cara is one of the worst female characters I've ever read. I can go on and on about how bad I found this book, but I'll just leave some of my not so favorite quotes here.
'When he met her gaze, she was struck by the color of his eyes, which reminded her of mixed shades of green from area forests'
'As she examined him more closely, she saw that he was flawless. Loose, sandy-blond curls brushed his jaw line, his nose and cheek-bones were magazine-ad worthy, and he had a perfectly proportioned mouth.'
'Back then, Cara learned from the 'It' girls that, rather than the buxom beauty Cara saw, a lot of guys saw Rachel as a big-boned girl with a big mouth. But Cara had faith that the right guy would come to appreciate Rachel's unique appeal. Someone who would take the time to get to know and love her exuberant spirit.'
These quotes all come from the beginning of the book, the story being that Cara is a highly experienced whale watcher who falls overboard and must be rescued by David, an older, mysterious guy who is also her 21-year-old student teacher. Their forbidden romance is due to an undeniable connection, one that defies law and reason to continue, and one the author obviously believes the reader should root for. Cara herself says that no one else in her life has ever really attracted her, and that she has only dated one guy (she broke up with him when he wanted sex, but she wasn't ready. She's ready with David, but he refuses to maintain his pristine image)
There's a heap of negative images of 'goth' kids, Cara doing nothing, Cara playing scrabble, Cara thinking about David. There is also another insanely good looking blow in, but it's all good, they're just friends because Cara doesn't allow herself to be attracted to anyone!
Add to this the beyond awful writing (I think I've read better from High School students) this book pretty much has nothing to recommend it. It has been a long time since I've read something so truly awful, so much so that I actually laughed at it. I finished it because it was almost unbelievably terrible. If you'd like a laugh also, then maybe I can recommend it after all. Run for the hills!
'When he met her gaze, she was struck by the color of his eyes, which reminded her of mixed shades of green from area forests'
'As she examined him more closely, she saw that he was flawless. Loose, sandy-blond curls brushed his jaw line, his nose and cheek-bones were magazine-ad worthy, and he had a perfectly proportioned mouth.'
'Back then, Cara learned from the 'It' girls that, rather than the buxom beauty Cara saw, a lot of guys saw Rachel as a big-boned girl with a big mouth. But Cara had faith that the right guy would come to appreciate Rachel's unique appeal. Someone who would take the time to get to know and love her exuberant spirit.'
These quotes all come from the beginning of the book, the story being that Cara is a highly experienced whale watcher who falls overboard and must be rescued by David, an older, mysterious guy who is also her 21-year-old student teacher. Their forbidden romance is due to an undeniable connection, one that defies law and reason to continue, and one the author obviously believes the reader should root for. Cara herself says that no one else in her life has ever really attracted her, and that she has only dated one guy (she broke up with him when he wanted sex, but she wasn't ready. She's ready with David, but he refuses to maintain his pristine image)
There's a heap of negative images of 'goth' kids, Cara doing nothing, Cara playing scrabble, Cara thinking about David. There is also another insanely good looking blow in, but it's all good, they're just friends because Cara doesn't allow herself to be attracted to anyone!
Add to this the beyond awful writing (I think I've read better from High School students) this book pretty much has nothing to recommend it. It has been a long time since I've read something so truly awful, so much so that I actually laughed at it. I finished it because it was almost unbelievably terrible. If you'd like a laugh also, then maybe I can recommend it after all. Run for the hills!
dnf
December 30, 2014DNF just a few chapters in. The writing seems oddly stilted, and the "meet cute" just...isn't. Meh.
December 28, 2014
The synopsis of this was a bit odd to begin with, but it was intriguing and that's why I read it. Turns out the entire story is just odd. The writing doesn't flow well, the characters are flat, there are an abnormal amount of diet soda references, and I have no idea why the whales were mentioned as much as they were.
All that being said, the magic portion of the story was definitely interesting and while I didn't quite believe the romance portion, I liked how it played into the overall story. I kept reading because I was mildly invested in what was going to happen and I kept hoping there would be a big reveal... Sadly, I was disappointed.
I can see how this book will be popular, it just wasn't for me.
All that being said, the magic portion of the story was definitely interesting and while I didn't quite believe the romance portion, I liked how it played into the overall story. I kept reading because I was mildly invested in what was going to happen and I kept hoping there would be a big reveal... Sadly, I was disappointed.
I can see how this book will be popular, it just wasn't for me.
July 5, 2015
Well, there's no love triangle, but that's pretty much the only good thing I can say about this. >.< Really, really choppy writing, flat, one-dimensional characters, an uninspired romance (though, okay, I appreciate their devotion), and a story that barely held my interest. Vanilla is the word that comes to mind. Zzzzzzz.
Thanks to Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide for lending me her ARC. Hopefully I saved you the trouble, girlfriend. ;)
Featured on my 2014 REC IT post.
Thanks to Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide for lending me her ARC. Hopefully I saved you the trouble, girlfriend. ;)
Featured on my 2014 REC IT post.
December 28, 2014
"Seeking extra insulation, Cara wedged her hand between David's arm and side and slipped a leg between his. He tucked her head under his chin and clutched her to him. No one had ever held her so securely. Her body warmed quickly in his arms. "
Save Me by Jenny Elliott is a young adult paranormal romance that takes place in a small town called Liberty, Oregon and is full of paranormal entity's such as witches, demons, and angels.
The main character is a young woman named Cara. Cara is fascinated with whales so she takes a part-time job with a whale watching boat cruise. She gets to work one day and meets the new guy in town, David, while on the cruise. Cara has an accident while on the cruise and is thrown overboard. David rushes in to save her and brings her back to the boat. This is where the romance begins between Cara and David. The two go to dinner at a local restaurant and really hit it off.
"The ocean breeze blew wisps of her hair in her face and David ran his fingers through a few tendrils. She glanced at his mouth and he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was light, but the flood of warmth between them was the greatest yet, like a fire that turned her bones to ash and set her skin aflame."
A few days later Cara returns to school and to her surprise she finds out that David has taken a position at the school as a intern teacher. Cara and David both realize that they cannot continue their relationship because of the circumstances.
Cara also has a best friend name Rachel who has been by here side for the last couple of years and they have been inseparable. Rachel begins dating a young guy who is basically a "goth" and suddenly her whole demeanor and attitude toward Cara changes drastically. She begins to be rude and mean toward Cara and tells her that they can no longer be friends.
Cara is hurt and upset and along comes another new boy in town name Garren. Cara finds solace in talking with Garren because he is a great listener and they quickly become best friends.
This is just the beginning of a story that has so many twists and secrets that are to be revealed and it would really ruin the story if I talked anymore about it. Just know that this is an very enjoyable, clean young adult romance. This book would be perfect for middle graders who are moving on to young adult books.
I would have to say that my favorite part of the entire book was the atmosphere that the author set the story in. I loved the idea of all of this occurring by the sea. Jenny Elliott's description of the ocean and the area surrounding was just breath-taking. I felt as though I was in the book and breathing in the salt air.
"Cara responded to an inner urge to walk on the beach. A bright ball of yellow sun burned in a vibrant blue sky. She made her way down the hill and, when she came to the sand, she had to look away from the glare of sunlight, reflecting off the water's surface and focus farther down the coastline.
Waves poured onto the wet sand below the drier strip where she walked. She concentrated on the soothing sound of the water trickling toward the shore. No wind blew, but crisp air nipped at her nose and her cheeks."
Save Me by Jenny Elliott is a young adult paranormal romance that takes place in a small town called Liberty, Oregon and is full of paranormal entity's such as witches, demons, and angels.
The main character is a young woman named Cara. Cara is fascinated with whales so she takes a part-time job with a whale watching boat cruise. She gets to work one day and meets the new guy in town, David, while on the cruise. Cara has an accident while on the cruise and is thrown overboard. David rushes in to save her and brings her back to the boat. This is where the romance begins between Cara and David. The two go to dinner at a local restaurant and really hit it off.
"The ocean breeze blew wisps of her hair in her face and David ran his fingers through a few tendrils. She glanced at his mouth and he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was light, but the flood of warmth between them was the greatest yet, like a fire that turned her bones to ash and set her skin aflame."
A few days later Cara returns to school and to her surprise she finds out that David has taken a position at the school as a intern teacher. Cara and David both realize that they cannot continue their relationship because of the circumstances.
Cara also has a best friend name Rachel who has been by here side for the last couple of years and they have been inseparable. Rachel begins dating a young guy who is basically a "goth" and suddenly her whole demeanor and attitude toward Cara changes drastically. She begins to be rude and mean toward Cara and tells her that they can no longer be friends.
Cara is hurt and upset and along comes another new boy in town name Garren. Cara finds solace in talking with Garren because he is a great listener and they quickly become best friends.
This is just the beginning of a story that has so many twists and secrets that are to be revealed and it would really ruin the story if I talked anymore about it. Just know that this is an very enjoyable, clean young adult romance. This book would be perfect for middle graders who are moving on to young adult books.
I would have to say that my favorite part of the entire book was the atmosphere that the author set the story in. I loved the idea of all of this occurring by the sea. Jenny Elliott's description of the ocean and the area surrounding was just breath-taking. I felt as though I was in the book and breathing in the salt air.
"Cara responded to an inner urge to walk on the beach. A bright ball of yellow sun burned in a vibrant blue sky. She made her way down the hill and, when she came to the sand, she had to look away from the glare of sunlight, reflecting off the water's surface and focus farther down the coastline.
Waves poured onto the wet sand below the drier strip where she walked. She concentrated on the soothing sound of the water trickling toward the shore. No wind blew, but crisp air nipped at her nose and her cheeks."
August 26, 2016
I don't know what attracted me to this book. I think it was the cover. I needed something to read and my library had the Kindle book ready to go, so I downloaded it. Now, I typically don't relate to very many YA stories, and this was definitely not the book for me. I do love the ocean, witchy stuff, and wildlife, so I figured I'd give it a try . The whale watching part was interesting. But Cara was dopey, the writing was pretty awful, and the story was just beyond absurd. The deep "connection" Cara felt with David the second she met him, fifty million times telling us all about his lopsided smile UGH, the way her friend Rachel one day just stopped being her friend and was posessed by a demon, it was all trite, cliche and really boring. I did not finish this book. The only reason I stuck with it nearly halfway was because I wanted to find out what exactly "Garren" was. And then I didn't give a hoot. Bad bad book. I can't believe all the great reviews it got. I guess there IS a lid for every pot. And there is no accounting for taste. Skip it!!!
March 6, 2015
This was a quick read for me, and I actually put down another book to finish Save Me. The story played like a movie in my head, due in part to the author's cinematic style. I read some of the witchcraft scenes late at night and I'll admit to throwing a few nervous glances around the room. I liked how Cara was so determined to save her friend Rachel and David, her love interest. I liked Garren's devotion as well. Solid debut novel by Jenny Elliott and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Read
March 6, 2016SAVE ME from this book! It is very rare for me to give no stars, but I give this book no stars because there are so many books out there that deserve at least one or two. The plot was like a run-on sentence with no punctuation. When there was punctuation it was startling, distracting and sometimes nonsensical. I'm always willing to do my part with "suspension of disbelief" but their is at least a little bit of burden on the writer and/or editors to make this viable.
I spent so much time rolling my eyes I have a thorough map of my brain.
The front of the book has the statement: "Witches, whales, and a forbidden soul mate - even her guardian angel might have trouble saving Cara...."
It's more like: "Witches, possessed by demons, one of whom jumps into orcas, whales that don't act like whales, forbidden soul mates who are only forbidden because they happen to be a student teacher (Pretty Little Liars anyone?), her guardian angel who is incredibly hot, the archbishop the guardian angel magically produces for exorcisms, friends and acquaintances who are strictly filler and a free Willy ending where everyone lives happily ever after."
Further commentary is not really necessary. The resting bitch face sums up my disgust at having read 312 pages, patiently waiting for the plot and characters to firm up or fill out, only to be left with a sense of disbelief that it never happened.
I spent so much time rolling my eyes I have a thorough map of my brain.
The front of the book has the statement: "Witches, whales, and a forbidden soul mate - even her guardian angel might have trouble saving Cara...."
It's more like: "Witches, possessed by demons, one of whom jumps into orcas, whales that don't act like whales, forbidden soul mates who are only forbidden because they happen to be a student teacher (Pretty Little Liars anyone?), her guardian angel who is incredibly hot, the archbishop the guardian angel magically produces for exorcisms, friends and acquaintances who are strictly filler and a free Willy ending where everyone lives happily ever after."
Further commentary is not really necessary. The resting bitch face sums up my disgust at having read 312 pages, patiently waiting for the plot and characters to firm up or fill out, only to be left with a sense of disbelief that it never happened.
November 25, 2014
Save Me is not your typical paranormal romance. This is a fresh take on the genre with a supernatural twist. Something dark and sinister is afoot in Liberty, a fictional town on the Oregon coast. Cara, a high school senior with a love of whales, volunteers part time for Liberty Charters, a whale watching tours business. While working a tour, she meets a cute newcomer to town when both are tossed overboard by a transient killer whale. Thus begins an intense romance that is doomed before it starts because David is completely off limits.
A second newcomer, Garren, provides a much-needed, albeit not romantic, distraction as she pines for David and watches her best friend, Rachel, become that girl. The one who ditches her best friend for her new boyfriend, Ethan. But there's more to Ethan than meets the eye and Cara soon fears for her Rachel. Add to that a jealous girl with her sights set on David, more transient whale sightings, and things become mysteriously eerie.
Save Me takes a traditional, religious look at witchcraft and demon possession that is both creepy with shades of The Exorcist, as well as endearingly sweet. There is no overt horror, no strong language, and no sex, making this a safe choice for younger teens and even middle grade students who like their stories on the darker side.
Plot
The main plot revolves around the witchcraft and there are a lot of balls in the air, making it fun to try to figure out what's going on. The subplots involving who Garren really is, Cara's affection for Grayback and Bobbie, the local whales, and the romance with David all add lighter moments to the darker main plot. Author Jenny Elliott doles out the information we need, as we need it, to keep us in the story. She builds to a climax, weaving together all of her subplots into the main plot, and tying up all the loose ends in a satisfying conclusion.
World Building
World building is where Save Me really shines. I can almost feel the briny ocean air, sense the cool sand beneath my toes, hear the waves crashing to shore through the descriptive settings, tone, and word choices the author makes. Liberty, Oregon comes alive inside the pages. The world of witchcraft, demon possession, and religious symbolism and rituals all have an air of authenticity, but are fueled by Elliott's imagination. She's clearly done her research, but allows her own creativity to influence the rules around the world she's created.
Characters
Cara is mature for her age which keeps her from making so many of the impulsive teenage mistakes a lot of characters in this genre are famous for, and it's refreshing. It also makes her relationship with David, who is a bit older, not only believable by understandable. It never seems implausible that a man four years older would be attracted to a teen girl because she's intelligent, wise beyond her years, and caring.
The conflict between Cara and her mother over her relationship with David is realistic. David was also quite believable in his role as the forbidden love interest who tries so hard to do the right thing, despite his strong feelings for Cara. The romance between Cara and David is so sweet that it is a welcomed offset to the dark themes of witchcraft and demons. It's like the perfect sweet and sour chicken - just enough of both to make a delicious blend.
Top Five Things I Love About Save Me
1. The descriptive details of Liberty, Oregon and the way the author makes the setting come alive.
2. The paranormal twist based on religion and witchcraft which is a refreshing departure from what I've read in this genre recently.
3. That cover! I mean it's gorgeous and it fits the mood for the story so perfectly.
4. Cara's devotion to her best friend, Rachel, and how determined she is to save her.
5. The underlying story of the whales that threads through the story, tying everything together and epitomizing the themes of good versus evil.
Bottom Line
Save Me is a fresh take on the paranormal romance that is both darker and lighter than many others in the genre.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
A second newcomer, Garren, provides a much-needed, albeit not romantic, distraction as she pines for David and watches her best friend, Rachel, become that girl. The one who ditches her best friend for her new boyfriend, Ethan. But there's more to Ethan than meets the eye and Cara soon fears for her Rachel. Add to that a jealous girl with her sights set on David, more transient whale sightings, and things become mysteriously eerie.
Save Me takes a traditional, religious look at witchcraft and demon possession that is both creepy with shades of The Exorcist, as well as endearingly sweet. There is no overt horror, no strong language, and no sex, making this a safe choice for younger teens and even middle grade students who like their stories on the darker side.
Plot
The main plot revolves around the witchcraft and there are a lot of balls in the air, making it fun to try to figure out what's going on. The subplots involving who Garren really is, Cara's affection for Grayback and Bobbie, the local whales, and the romance with David all add lighter moments to the darker main plot. Author Jenny Elliott doles out the information we need, as we need it, to keep us in the story. She builds to a climax, weaving together all of her subplots into the main plot, and tying up all the loose ends in a satisfying conclusion.
World Building
World building is where Save Me really shines. I can almost feel the briny ocean air, sense the cool sand beneath my toes, hear the waves crashing to shore through the descriptive settings, tone, and word choices the author makes. Liberty, Oregon comes alive inside the pages. The world of witchcraft, demon possession, and religious symbolism and rituals all have an air of authenticity, but are fueled by Elliott's imagination. She's clearly done her research, but allows her own creativity to influence the rules around the world she's created.
Characters
Cara is mature for her age which keeps her from making so many of the impulsive teenage mistakes a lot of characters in this genre are famous for, and it's refreshing. It also makes her relationship with David, who is a bit older, not only believable by understandable. It never seems implausible that a man four years older would be attracted to a teen girl because she's intelligent, wise beyond her years, and caring.
The conflict between Cara and her mother over her relationship with David is realistic. David was also quite believable in his role as the forbidden love interest who tries so hard to do the right thing, despite his strong feelings for Cara. The romance between Cara and David is so sweet that it is a welcomed offset to the dark themes of witchcraft and demons. It's like the perfect sweet and sour chicken - just enough of both to make a delicious blend.
Top Five Things I Love About Save Me
1. The descriptive details of Liberty, Oregon and the way the author makes the setting come alive.
2. The paranormal twist based on religion and witchcraft which is a refreshing departure from what I've read in this genre recently.
3. That cover! I mean it's gorgeous and it fits the mood for the story so perfectly.
4. Cara's devotion to her best friend, Rachel, and how determined she is to save her.
5. The underlying story of the whales that threads through the story, tying everything together and epitomizing the themes of good versus evil.
Bottom Line
Save Me is a fresh take on the paranormal romance that is both darker and lighter than many others in the genre.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
August 6, 2015
**2.5/3 stars**
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
Save Me was a book that kept on popping up on my Goodreads dashboard, so when I was offered a copy for review, I accepted. I mean, a gorgeous cover and the buzz was all it took. However, I didn’t really read the synopsis until I actually had the book in my hands. Immediately I knew that there was going to be some insta-love, possibly a love triangle, paranormal shenanigans–all which 13-year-old me would have loved. Present day me? Not so much. This book actually took me surprise though, because I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. Sure, there were really, really cheesy and some pretty bad moments, but I can’t deny that I did find this an intriguing book.
What I liked about Save Me was that it was old-school paranormal. I haven’t read a book about witches, angels, demons, and other various supernatural creatures in a LONG time. I mean, sure there have been a few here and there, but not with the typical plot line: girl finds guy (and falls in love super quickly), supernatural events occur, battle with evil, etc. etc. Say what you will, but it really takes me back to my earlier YA days, and now I’m left feeling a little nostalgic. The book’s pace was also pretty good and the writing kept me interested, so in general, this book wasn’t actually all too bad!
However, I did have a few problems here and there. Garren’s identity, for instance. It’s not much of a secret. I mean, it’s on the front cover, so I don’t really get why it was left till the end. While I did like his character, if I was Cara, I would have been a whole lot more suspicious of him. I mean, he gives her apples everyday, won’t tell her where they’re from, and keeps the core in a plastic ziplock bag instead of throwing it away...seems a bit odd right? There was a serious lack of questioning or shock from Cara, which annoyed me sometimes because if abnormal things are happening I would have at least been a bit freaked out. This girl? Accepts it like it is. Also, what was with all the whale-related stuff? It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the book other than how Cara and David get close to each other. If it had been part of the setting or like small mentions of Cara’s job, then sure, yeah, that would have been cool. The whales just seemed to take up an unnecessarily large amount of the plot. Finally, my biggest problem with this book:
THE INSTA-LOVE *Dun Dun Dunnnn*.
Okay, it wasn’t too bad. But still, INSTA-LOVE. It was really one of those “I looked into his (name exotic eye-color here) eyes and felt my heart beat faster moments.” The only plus side to this whole thing was that the reason why their relationship is challenged has nothing to do with paranormal. No “omg you’re not a human” moments. Funny story actually: my sister and I were looking at this book and we both thought he would turn out to be part whale or that he turns into a whale at night, hehe. It would have totally made sense, considering how much whale-related stuff is in this book.
While I did have some problems with several aspects of this book, there’s no doubt that this was an intriguing book. I definitely recommend this one to those who long for another Twilight-esque book and, like me, want a little trip down memory lane to the days when YA books featured a paranormal love-triangle or supernatural(ly fast) relationship.
▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
Save Me was a book that kept on popping up on my Goodreads dashboard, so when I was offered a copy for review, I accepted. I mean, a gorgeous cover and the buzz was all it took. However, I didn’t really read the synopsis until I actually had the book in my hands. Immediately I knew that there was going to be some insta-love, possibly a love triangle, paranormal shenanigans–all which 13-year-old me would have loved. Present day me? Not so much. This book actually took me surprise though, because I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. Sure, there were really, really cheesy and some pretty bad moments, but I can’t deny that I did find this an intriguing book.
What I liked about Save Me was that it was old-school paranormal. I haven’t read a book about witches, angels, demons, and other various supernatural creatures in a LONG time. I mean, sure there have been a few here and there, but not with the typical plot line: girl finds guy (and falls in love super quickly), supernatural events occur, battle with evil, etc. etc. Say what you will, but it really takes me back to my earlier YA days, and now I’m left feeling a little nostalgic. The book’s pace was also pretty good and the writing kept me interested, so in general, this book wasn’t actually all too bad!
However, I did have a few problems here and there. Garren’s identity, for instance. It’s not much of a secret. I mean, it’s on the front cover, so I don’t really get why it was left till the end. While I did like his character, if I was Cara, I would have been a whole lot more suspicious of him. I mean, he gives her apples everyday, won’t tell her where they’re from, and keeps the core in a plastic ziplock bag instead of throwing it away...seems a bit odd right? There was a serious lack of questioning or shock from Cara, which annoyed me sometimes because if abnormal things are happening I would have at least been a bit freaked out. This girl? Accepts it like it is. Also, what was with all the whale-related stuff? It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the book other than how Cara and David get close to each other. If it had been part of the setting or like small mentions of Cara’s job, then sure, yeah, that would have been cool. The whales just seemed to take up an unnecessarily large amount of the plot. Finally, my biggest problem with this book:
THE INSTA-LOVE *Dun Dun Dunnnn*.
Okay, it wasn’t too bad. But still, INSTA-LOVE. It was really one of those “I looked into his (name exotic eye-color here) eyes and felt my heart beat faster moments.” The only plus side to this whole thing was that the reason why their relationship is challenged has nothing to do with paranormal. No “omg you’re not a human” moments. Funny story actually: my sister and I were looking at this book and we both thought he would turn out to be part whale or that he turns into a whale at night, hehe. It would have totally made sense, considering how much whale-related stuff is in this book.
While I did have some problems with several aspects of this book, there’s no doubt that this was an intriguing book. I definitely recommend this one to those who long for another Twilight-esque book and, like me, want a little trip down memory lane to the days when YA books featured a paranormal love-triangle or supernatural(ly fast) relationship.
▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪
February 17, 2015
This review was originally published to Author Unpublished.
Honestly, I’m a bit mystified by the amount of negative reviews this book has gotten—and I mean it—utterly mystified. I’ll admit, the description is a bit vague and leaves a lot to interpretation; when I first opened the book I’d half convinced myself the story was going to be about mermaids, whale-shifters, or any number of other paranormal phenomena. I really had no idea. It wasn’t any of those things, but, it was a solid paranormal/fantasy story, just as promised.
As far as the technical side of things go: The cover is gorgeous, the writing was nearly flawless in it’s editing, and the narrative was clear and easy to read. The story moved along at a good pace and was dotted with separate plot lines and mysteries—enough to keep me engrossed for hours. Save Me by Jenny Elliott fit perfectly into it’s set genre’s and it’s description, and I can’t fault it for that.
The romance wasn’t too steamy—it was actually pretty tame, and very clean, which is perfect for an array of YA readers ranging from 13-18. Frankly, it was sweet, and a tad on the forbidden side, but nothing I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable letting any young teen read (which is an improvement over some YA books I’ve read). Do I wish it had a been a little more steamy? Sure… but I’m an adult reader and not this book’s target audience.
Though the author never delved too deeply into the side characters, Cara (the main female lead) was well fleshed out. The relationships between her and the other characters in the book were natural and didn’t come across as too forced or too convenient (okay, maybe excluding Garren, but that’s a whole ‘nother bag of worms that I rather not expound upon). Conversations were well written, made sense, and the character’s decisions logical.
I found the book engaging, easy to read, and a bit of a fun puzzle to unravel as the story began to weave in the separate threads of mystery and paranormal. My only complaint (and okay, it’s a bit of a big one) was the religion. I’m not a religious person in the slightest, but I don’t mind reading religious-based books as long as the regions aspect of the story is provided up front. I was deep into the story (nearly half way) before the first bud of religion popped up in the story, and it threw me for a bit of loop. Up until this point the closest mention of anything even remotely religious was Cara’s reverence for nature and an occasional slip of “oh my god” by one of the teens. Then, suddenly there were religious rites being performed, mentions of church and prayer, exorcisms… and that’s fine.. but I would have preferred a bit of a lead up or some sort of mention before it was suddenly dropped into the story. I thought I was reading a certain kind of strictly-paranormal/fantasy read and ended up reading something heavily religion based instead. There was really no need for the author to be sneaky about it—and I’m not even convinced it was intentional, but from the standpoint of someone who isn’t religious… it was a bit of a slap in the face. I would have liked some warning.
That aside, overall the story was great. I have no complaints about the writing itself, the characters, or the plot. Had that one aspect (the religion) been a little less spur of the moment, I probably would have given this a clear 5 stars. This was a real solid YA read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story obviously isn’t going to be for everyone, but I’d be happy to recommend it personally.
Honestly, I’m a bit mystified by the amount of negative reviews this book has gotten—and I mean it—utterly mystified. I’ll admit, the description is a bit vague and leaves a lot to interpretation; when I first opened the book I’d half convinced myself the story was going to be about mermaids, whale-shifters, or any number of other paranormal phenomena. I really had no idea. It wasn’t any of those things, but, it was a solid paranormal/fantasy story, just as promised.
As far as the technical side of things go: The cover is gorgeous, the writing was nearly flawless in it’s editing, and the narrative was clear and easy to read. The story moved along at a good pace and was dotted with separate plot lines and mysteries—enough to keep me engrossed for hours. Save Me by Jenny Elliott fit perfectly into it’s set genre’s and it’s description, and I can’t fault it for that.
The romance wasn’t too steamy—it was actually pretty tame, and very clean, which is perfect for an array of YA readers ranging from 13-18. Frankly, it was sweet, and a tad on the forbidden side, but nothing I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable letting any young teen read (which is an improvement over some YA books I’ve read). Do I wish it had a been a little more steamy? Sure… but I’m an adult reader and not this book’s target audience.
Though the author never delved too deeply into the side characters, Cara (the main female lead) was well fleshed out. The relationships between her and the other characters in the book were natural and didn’t come across as too forced or too convenient (okay, maybe excluding Garren, but that’s a whole ‘nother bag of worms that I rather not expound upon). Conversations were well written, made sense, and the character’s decisions logical.
I found the book engaging, easy to read, and a bit of a fun puzzle to unravel as the story began to weave in the separate threads of mystery and paranormal. My only complaint (and okay, it’s a bit of a big one) was the religion. I’m not a religious person in the slightest, but I don’t mind reading religious-based books as long as the regions aspect of the story is provided up front. I was deep into the story (nearly half way) before the first bud of religion popped up in the story, and it threw me for a bit of loop. Up until this point the closest mention of anything even remotely religious was Cara’s reverence for nature and an occasional slip of “oh my god” by one of the teens. Then, suddenly there were religious rites being performed, mentions of church and prayer, exorcisms… and that’s fine.. but I would have preferred a bit of a lead up or some sort of mention before it was suddenly dropped into the story. I thought I was reading a certain kind of strictly-paranormal/fantasy read and ended up reading something heavily religion based instead. There was really no need for the author to be sneaky about it—and I’m not even convinced it was intentional, but from the standpoint of someone who isn’t religious… it was a bit of a slap in the face. I would have liked some warning.
That aside, overall the story was great. I have no complaints about the writing itself, the characters, or the plot. Had that one aspect (the religion) been a little less spur of the moment, I probably would have given this a clear 5 stars. This was a real solid YA read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story obviously isn’t going to be for everyone, but I’d be happy to recommend it personally.
January 18, 2015
A surprising debut filled with a quick paced love story that seems bewitched from the very beginning. A great twist to the paranormal stories that we've come to enjoy; anticipating grand schemes and gestures.
Cara's love for the local whales sends her overboard, and into the arms of David, her rescuer. Their is an instant connection between the two. Determined not to let her bad luck get the best of her, Cara agrees to going out with David... David is handsome, with a lopsided grin. He says all the right things. And the connection she felt with him is still there. This warm bond that encircles them, it's not something that she felt just because of her near-death experience. Cara is beyond excited to finally find someone to be with.
And then she meets Garren.
Garren is stunningly beautiful to look at. He is charming and caring. There is something magnetic about him. Even so, Cara is not attracted to him in that way. They're just friends. And Garren is more than happy to oblige.
Things happen - Cara's best friend Rachel is no longer the sweet, loud, caring girl she used to be. She is always with her boyfriend, as though she has been put in a trance and can't snap out of it.
Also, someone has been following and threatening Cara.
Everything unfolds quickly - we know the who's and what's. It's just a matter of when and where everything will fall into place.
Will Cara and David make it through?
However, as much as I enjoyed SAVE ME, there are a few things that I wish this story would have had:
First, I wish that the story flowed better. It felt choppy at times, like the characters weren't in sync with each other... there wasn't enough details from me, and I craved to know more about everyone. However, the setting was brilliantly done. I could smell the beach waves, the acrid smell of sulfur in the house and feel the whales skin under my own fingers. But it wasn't enough to get me to fully connect to the characters and fully invest myself into caring about what happened to any of them.
Next, the insta-love was too casual for me. I kept waiting for them to build a deeper and more meaningful connection, but it continually stayed on "a warm tether" that connected them together whenever they were near each other. And it was the same sort of binding that was felt when they touched too.
And lastly, the book felt too low-keyed for me. When dealing with so many paranormal facets - witches, demons, angels - I was expecting more than spells and stalking. I do love how the author was able to tie it all together, the storyline was really well done, I just wanted more! At least a 100 pages more. In which I would hope that we would have found out how the whales angst tied in with the story...
This is definitely a book for those of us who are looking for a quick read; those of us that love contemporary stories with a good paranormal twist.
Cara's love for the local whales sends her overboard, and into the arms of David, her rescuer. Their is an instant connection between the two. Determined not to let her bad luck get the best of her, Cara agrees to going out with David... David is handsome, with a lopsided grin. He says all the right things. And the connection she felt with him is still there. This warm bond that encircles them, it's not something that she felt just because of her near-death experience. Cara is beyond excited to finally find someone to be with.
And then she meets Garren.
Garren is stunningly beautiful to look at. He is charming and caring. There is something magnetic about him. Even so, Cara is not attracted to him in that way. They're just friends. And Garren is more than happy to oblige.
Things happen - Cara's best friend Rachel is no longer the sweet, loud, caring girl she used to be. She is always with her boyfriend, as though she has been put in a trance and can't snap out of it.
Also, someone has been following and threatening Cara.
Everything unfolds quickly - we know the who's and what's. It's just a matter of when and where everything will fall into place.
Will Cara and David make it through?
However, as much as I enjoyed SAVE ME, there are a few things that I wish this story would have had:
First, I wish that the story flowed better. It felt choppy at times, like the characters weren't in sync with each other... there wasn't enough details from me, and I craved to know more about everyone. However, the setting was brilliantly done. I could smell the beach waves, the acrid smell of sulfur in the house and feel the whales skin under my own fingers. But it wasn't enough to get me to fully connect to the characters and fully invest myself into caring about what happened to any of them.
Next, the insta-love was too casual for me. I kept waiting for them to build a deeper and more meaningful connection, but it continually stayed on "a warm tether" that connected them together whenever they were near each other. And it was the same sort of binding that was felt when they touched too.
And lastly, the book felt too low-keyed for me. When dealing with so many paranormal facets - witches, demons, angels - I was expecting more than spells and stalking. I do love how the author was able to tie it all together, the storyline was really well done, I just wanted more! At least a 100 pages more. In which I would hope that we would have found out how the whales angst tied in with the story...
This is definitely a book for those of us who are looking for a quick read; those of us that love contemporary stories with a good paranormal twist.
February 20, 2015
While not my typical genre by any means, I found this YA paranormal romance to be far more than I expected! For a first-time author, Jenny Elliot is a master at describing the details that really take you into a book.
I went through it fairly quickly, as it is a pretty easy read. It could have used a few more twists and turns in the plot, creating more suspense. But overall it kept my attention the entire novel--which is surprising considering I haven't read anything like this in over 10 years.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the metaphysical elements that the characters experienced. Although written from a mostly Christian perspective, I had no trouble reconciling the fact that I am more spiritual than religious because the book was not preachy in any way.
Overall I would recommend it to a friend (in fact I bought a copy for my sister who is into this type of stuff more than me) and I give it 4.4 stars.
I went through it fairly quickly, as it is a pretty easy read. It could have used a few more twists and turns in the plot, creating more suspense. But overall it kept my attention the entire novel--which is surprising considering I haven't read anything like this in over 10 years.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the metaphysical elements that the characters experienced. Although written from a mostly Christian perspective, I had no trouble reconciling the fact that I am more spiritual than religious because the book was not preachy in any way.
Overall I would recommend it to a friend (in fact I bought a copy for my sister who is into this type of stuff more than me) and I give it 4.4 stars.
November 22, 2014
It was...cute. Nothing spectacular, but a good story. I did find it predictable and heavy on certain tropes, and most of the secondary characters were lacking any personality they all felt one dimensional. But I did find it a quick read and enjoyable.
January 19, 2015
Ummmm. Review to come?
April 13, 2025
It’s like rewatching your favorite movie from your childhood
April 29, 2015
Release Date: January 6, 2015
I received a free ARC of this novel through Goodreads First Reads Giveaways, and I wish I hadn’t. Contains Spoilers
If I have to hear about David’s crooked grin one more time, I might go crazy. Cara, the main protagonist, does not fail to tell us often about how much she loves David’s crooked grin any chance she gets. That phrase is in this novel probably at lease 101 times. But, even though we know about his crooked grin, I cannot honestly tell you anything else about David’s appearance other than he is attractive. This is just one of the few issues I have with this novel.
So, to really get started, let’s start with a short synopsis. The idea of this book sounded intriguing to me, along with the cover. This is the story of Angels and Demons leaving a girl stuck in between the two. She must battle demons to save the man she has fallen in love with as well as her best friend. This is the story we’re supposed to get. What Elliott actually gives us is a weak, whiney protagonist that can’t do anything for herself and is only focused on this new man in her life over everything that is happening around her.
So, step one: character development. There is none. Here’s what I can tell you about Cara:
1. She drinks too much diet soda.
2. She potentially has dark, long hair.
3. She rarely eats.
4. She is in love with David
5. She likes to play scrabble on her computer.
6. She REALLY loves whales
7. She changes her appearance for a man
This is literally all I can gather about this one-dimensional character. This is a problem since she is supposed to be the one that readers are able to relate and sympathize with. Cara is a teen who lives only with her mother (we don’t get much on her father (I think he might be dead but I’m not sure since he was only mentioned once?)), who she is very close with, except when she starts dating David (something her mother doesn’t approve of). She sits in her room all the time playing scrabble against her computer and drinking diet soda (not even sure what kind, just diet soda). She also only eats an apple and drinks diet soda every day for lunch. I don’t think a YA writer should be promoting and glamorizing anorexia. That’s not cool. Eating is cool. So, based on this we can guess that she’s skinny? And I think it was mentioned once that she has long, dark hair, although I can’t be 100% sure.
This is not just her character, though. Every other character is as one-dimensional as the main one. There is absolutely no depth development happening to anyone in this novel. The only things I can tell you about David are that he has a crooked grin and wants to teach. That’s literally it. And, well, that he’s super mature for only being 21 and has no problem dating a 17-year-old girl while he’s still trying to figure out his life. That is literally all I know about this guy. Then, there’s Cara’s best friend Rachel, who we are told is peppy and likes make-up and clothes. Oh, and one of my least favorite descriptions, “has curves in all the right places.” Ugh. How about we stop shaming body types that don’t fit into societies ideals. Thanks, that’d be great.
So, on that note, let me talk about my least favorite thing about Cara on this list. She literally changes her appearance for a guy. Before she meets David, it sounds like she wears comfy clothing, doesn’t wear make-up, and isn’t trying to impress anyone (this is a Cara I would have liked to read about). But, after she meets David and he asks her on a date, she immediately invites Rachel over to teach her how to do her make-up so she looks pretty and has her mom take her shopping for all new “girly” outfits. This literally makes me sick. Ladies, please don’t ever feel the need to change yourself for a boy. It isn’t worth it. And this is not the only sexist part of this novel. This whole book is filled with blatant sexism. Cara literally cannot do anything for herself and constantly needs saving, even though her friend Garren (who she met by hitting him with her car in the first few pages) continues to ensure her that she’s exceptionally strong. But, she can’t even get out of a truck by herself. Elliot writes on page 307, “David helped Cara down from the cab of his truck.” Like girl, trust me, you can handle this. But hey, I guess the Save Me title is accurate. There is also the fact that Cara has to constantly reassure David that Garren is. Just. A. Friend. Like girl, you are allowed to be friends with people of the opposite gender without having to constantly justify yourself. David does not sound like a keeper to me, despite the constant warmth she feels radiating between them every time they touch (also mentioned at least 101 times).
And, believe me, this book is way too focused on just how much Cara loves David. That is basically all this novel is really about. Even when Cara’s best friend Rachel is possessed by a demon, Cara can’t seem to be bothered to think about anything besides her ending up with David, since they do not originally start out together. Within the first couple chapters, Cara falls overboard on a whale spotting tourist ship that she volunteers for, David saves her, her and David go on a date, and Cara has fallen in love with him, but then she discovers he’s student teaching at her high school, so they can’t date (forbidden love and all ya know). But, if you think that’s bad, it gets worse. David is only 21 and is already student teaching. I’m sorry, but I went to college and was friends with many education majors (being an English major I had many classes with future teachers) and there is absolutely no way David would be student teaching at age 21. So unrealistic. But that’s fine, I guess, because about half way through the novel he decides that he doesn’t want to teach high school anymore, so he quits his student-teaching “internship.” (Student teaching is not an internship; it is student teaching and is required to graduate.) Cara is planning to go to college in Seattle and David had signed up for a few classes (even before he knew him and Cara were getting together) so that he could try and win her over when they both get to college (him for the second time), but since he’s already done that, they get to go to college together. How cute. And everything’s fine now because David wants to teach university, so he signed up for a few classes to do that. Does Elloitt not realize how this all works? You don’t just sign up for a few classes and can teach university. Wow. Please do some research before blindly writing about the education system. Plus, this was all WAY too convenient.
So that’s basically what this plot is actually about and some demons are thrown in to try and sabotage this beautiful love story. Mainly just one demon is the focus though: the demon of jealousy and revenge. It’s referred to by both names even though it’s first implied as the jealousy demon and second as the demon of revenge, but that’s just one of the many inconsistencies in this book. The one that really bothered me was the fact that Cara starts out driving a truck that belongs to the company she volunteers for (Captain Rick’s truck, who is like a father-figure to her, but we never hear much about him.), but then we find out her car, not Rick’s truck, has been vandalized and taken in for repairs. These two vehicles seem to be interchanged a few times. Cara’s mom also gets her a new car for her 18th birthday (as well as some new clothes and a brand new tablet loaded with books she wants to read (spoiled much?)) and this car is also used interchangeably with Rick’s truck. So I’m just not really 100% sure what Cara drives, but I guess that’s not as important as her and David’s relationship. So, anyway, I was talking about the plot and the demons. The first demon was summoned by a girl named Amber who went out with David once and wanted to kill Cara for being the one to win David over instead of Amber. That is literally the plot. Also there’s another piece of this story that says Amber stole Cara’s first boyfriend and then made him commit suicide, but that’s not elaborated on; instead, it’s brushed under the rug for the issue at hand: Crazy-demon possessed Amber who wants nothing more than to kill Cara all because she’s dating a boy that Amber went out with once. Once again, so believable.
Even though this all sounds like it could potentially create some tension to get you through this novel, the writing Elliott delivers most definitely does not create any sense of tension. The writing is mediocre and also told from third-person narrative, which also takes away from the urgency of the story. We do not get directly inside Cara’s mind, instead we get a lot of “Cara felt” or “Cara thought.” This does not help the plot along and really takes away from so much from the emotions Cara is feeling that we could see if we were actually inside her head, especially since she is the only character’s head we see inside, so the third-person narrative is literally pointless.
This book was overall way too convenient, lacking of any major developments, was written with writing that was mediocre, and didn’t accomplish anything worth reading. It seems that Elliott was trying to write the next Twilight, so maybe if you are one of the unfortunate souls that actually like Twilight, you might actually like this awful novel as well. But, overall, I wouldn’t recommend this text to anyone.
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I received a free ARC of this novel through Goodreads First Reads Giveaways, and I wish I hadn’t. Contains Spoilers
If I have to hear about David’s crooked grin one more time, I might go crazy. Cara, the main protagonist, does not fail to tell us often about how much she loves David’s crooked grin any chance she gets. That phrase is in this novel probably at lease 101 times. But, even though we know about his crooked grin, I cannot honestly tell you anything else about David’s appearance other than he is attractive. This is just one of the few issues I have with this novel.
So, to really get started, let’s start with a short synopsis. The idea of this book sounded intriguing to me, along with the cover. This is the story of Angels and Demons leaving a girl stuck in between the two. She must battle demons to save the man she has fallen in love with as well as her best friend. This is the story we’re supposed to get. What Elliott actually gives us is a weak, whiney protagonist that can’t do anything for herself and is only focused on this new man in her life over everything that is happening around her.
So, step one: character development. There is none. Here’s what I can tell you about Cara:
1. She drinks too much diet soda.
2. She potentially has dark, long hair.
3. She rarely eats.
4. She is in love with David
5. She likes to play scrabble on her computer.
6. She REALLY loves whales
7. She changes her appearance for a man
This is literally all I can gather about this one-dimensional character. This is a problem since she is supposed to be the one that readers are able to relate and sympathize with. Cara is a teen who lives only with her mother (we don’t get much on her father (I think he might be dead but I’m not sure since he was only mentioned once?)), who she is very close with, except when she starts dating David (something her mother doesn’t approve of). She sits in her room all the time playing scrabble against her computer and drinking diet soda (not even sure what kind, just diet soda). She also only eats an apple and drinks diet soda every day for lunch. I don’t think a YA writer should be promoting and glamorizing anorexia. That’s not cool. Eating is cool. So, based on this we can guess that she’s skinny? And I think it was mentioned once that she has long, dark hair, although I can’t be 100% sure.
This is not just her character, though. Every other character is as one-dimensional as the main one. There is absolutely no depth development happening to anyone in this novel. The only things I can tell you about David are that he has a crooked grin and wants to teach. That’s literally it. And, well, that he’s super mature for only being 21 and has no problem dating a 17-year-old girl while he’s still trying to figure out his life. That is literally all I know about this guy. Then, there’s Cara’s best friend Rachel, who we are told is peppy and likes make-up and clothes. Oh, and one of my least favorite descriptions, “has curves in all the right places.” Ugh. How about we stop shaming body types that don’t fit into societies ideals. Thanks, that’d be great.
So, on that note, let me talk about my least favorite thing about Cara on this list. She literally changes her appearance for a guy. Before she meets David, it sounds like she wears comfy clothing, doesn’t wear make-up, and isn’t trying to impress anyone (this is a Cara I would have liked to read about). But, after she meets David and he asks her on a date, she immediately invites Rachel over to teach her how to do her make-up so she looks pretty and has her mom take her shopping for all new “girly” outfits. This literally makes me sick. Ladies, please don’t ever feel the need to change yourself for a boy. It isn’t worth it. And this is not the only sexist part of this novel. This whole book is filled with blatant sexism. Cara literally cannot do anything for herself and constantly needs saving, even though her friend Garren (who she met by hitting him with her car in the first few pages) continues to ensure her that she’s exceptionally strong. But, she can’t even get out of a truck by herself. Elliot writes on page 307, “David helped Cara down from the cab of his truck.” Like girl, trust me, you can handle this. But hey, I guess the Save Me title is accurate. There is also the fact that Cara has to constantly reassure David that Garren is. Just. A. Friend. Like girl, you are allowed to be friends with people of the opposite gender without having to constantly justify yourself. David does not sound like a keeper to me, despite the constant warmth she feels radiating between them every time they touch (also mentioned at least 101 times).
And, believe me, this book is way too focused on just how much Cara loves David. That is basically all this novel is really about. Even when Cara’s best friend Rachel is possessed by a demon, Cara can’t seem to be bothered to think about anything besides her ending up with David, since they do not originally start out together. Within the first couple chapters, Cara falls overboard on a whale spotting tourist ship that she volunteers for, David saves her, her and David go on a date, and Cara has fallen in love with him, but then she discovers he’s student teaching at her high school, so they can’t date (forbidden love and all ya know). But, if you think that’s bad, it gets worse. David is only 21 and is already student teaching. I’m sorry, but I went to college and was friends with many education majors (being an English major I had many classes with future teachers) and there is absolutely no way David would be student teaching at age 21. So unrealistic. But that’s fine, I guess, because about half way through the novel he decides that he doesn’t want to teach high school anymore, so he quits his student-teaching “internship.” (Student teaching is not an internship; it is student teaching and is required to graduate.) Cara is planning to go to college in Seattle and David had signed up for a few classes (even before he knew him and Cara were getting together) so that he could try and win her over when they both get to college (him for the second time), but since he’s already done that, they get to go to college together. How cute. And everything’s fine now because David wants to teach university, so he signed up for a few classes to do that. Does Elloitt not realize how this all works? You don’t just sign up for a few classes and can teach university. Wow. Please do some research before blindly writing about the education system. Plus, this was all WAY too convenient.
So that’s basically what this plot is actually about and some demons are thrown in to try and sabotage this beautiful love story. Mainly just one demon is the focus though: the demon of jealousy and revenge. It’s referred to by both names even though it’s first implied as the jealousy demon and second as the demon of revenge, but that’s just one of the many inconsistencies in this book. The one that really bothered me was the fact that Cara starts out driving a truck that belongs to the company she volunteers for (Captain Rick’s truck, who is like a father-figure to her, but we never hear much about him.), but then we find out her car, not Rick’s truck, has been vandalized and taken in for repairs. These two vehicles seem to be interchanged a few times. Cara’s mom also gets her a new car for her 18th birthday (as well as some new clothes and a brand new tablet loaded with books she wants to read (spoiled much?)) and this car is also used interchangeably with Rick’s truck. So I’m just not really 100% sure what Cara drives, but I guess that’s not as important as her and David’s relationship. So, anyway, I was talking about the plot and the demons. The first demon was summoned by a girl named Amber who went out with David once and wanted to kill Cara for being the one to win David over instead of Amber. That is literally the plot. Also there’s another piece of this story that says Amber stole Cara’s first boyfriend and then made him commit suicide, but that’s not elaborated on; instead, it’s brushed under the rug for the issue at hand: Crazy-demon possessed Amber who wants nothing more than to kill Cara all because she’s dating a boy that Amber went out with once. Once again, so believable.
Even though this all sounds like it could potentially create some tension to get you through this novel, the writing Elliott delivers most definitely does not create any sense of tension. The writing is mediocre and also told from third-person narrative, which also takes away from the urgency of the story. We do not get directly inside Cara’s mind, instead we get a lot of “Cara felt” or “Cara thought.” This does not help the plot along and really takes away from so much from the emotions Cara is feeling that we could see if we were actually inside her head, especially since she is the only character’s head we see inside, so the third-person narrative is literally pointless.
This book was overall way too convenient, lacking of any major developments, was written with writing that was mediocre, and didn’t accomplish anything worth reading. It seems that Elliott was trying to write the next Twilight, so maybe if you are one of the unfortunate souls that actually like Twilight, you might actually like this awful novel as well. But, overall, I wouldn’t recommend this text to anyone.
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September 15, 2017
So... as you can see I only rated this book 1 ⭐️ because I really DO NOT agree or approve of any of the things this book talks about. My religion and I do not like to read, watch or hear about satanic stuff which this talks about. I honestly stopped reading it, put it down and didn't pick it back up for a while... then I kinda skimmed the ending and read he last page and BAM I'm done with it lol. Also I just wasn't feeling the whole story. And the romance was just too instant and unrealistic for my taste.
Overall not a good read to me.
Overall not a good read to me.
October 2, 2018
Right before Cara's Senior Year started she: got tossed off a boat by some dolphins, met her soulmate and almost ran someone over all in the same day. When school starts her best friend gets a boyfriend-that doesn't seem to be the same boy they grew up with-she also becomes distant and stops acting like herself. When the year started she made a friend with the person she almost ran over; and he seems to be weird. He always knows things about Cara she doesn't remember saying. Also learns that her soulmate is off limits and Cara becomes devastated.
While Cara starts to hang out with her soulmate, she develops a stalker that had been in her life a couple of years ago.
The book "Save Me" by Jenny Elliot had me hooked until I finished it. There was never a dull moment and it was keeping me guessing on what would happen.
The only thing I disliked was that the stalker didn't get into trouble and almost ruined Cara's life. Minus the stalker not getting what they deserve, the book was a good read. It showed that no matter your situation in life, it can be overcome.
I would recommend this book out to anyone that likes a little mystery, romance and a little bit of fantasy. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because, it had me in suspense for the most part but on certain parts in the book, I could predict what would happen.
While Cara starts to hang out with her soulmate, she develops a stalker that had been in her life a couple of years ago.
The book "Save Me" by Jenny Elliot had me hooked until I finished it. There was never a dull moment and it was keeping me guessing on what would happen.
The only thing I disliked was that the stalker didn't get into trouble and almost ruined Cara's life. Minus the stalker not getting what they deserve, the book was a good read. It showed that no matter your situation in life, it can be overcome.
I would recommend this book out to anyone that likes a little mystery, romance and a little bit of fantasy. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because, it had me in suspense for the most part but on certain parts in the book, I could predict what would happen.
July 31, 2023
Quick easy read. Interesting plot that reminded me a lot of a series called Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I loved the books back in college and appreciated the nostalgia this book brought back. Not as spectacular as the other series, but still an enjoyable read.
March 8, 2025
This was an interesting story full of supernatural elements, a bit overkill at times but definitely an interesting read. I feel like the author tried to put too many elements in to make it more interesting, but it ended up being a bit chaotic.
January 16, 2021
An easy, but cringey read. It reminded me of something a Year 9 girl who’s obsessed with the supernatural might write. The amount of times the phrases “diet soda” and “lopsided grin” were mentioned led me to think they were going to be key symbols in solving the mystery. Could be good for middle-school girls.
September 11, 2025
Reading this book was sssssooooo excruciating!!! Almost a DNF.
January 11, 2015
I had been waiting months to read SAVE ME by Jenny Elliott; as Swoon Reads' first title with paranormal elements, I was very excited. Anything fantasy is kind of my thing. I couldn't wait to see what this book would offer.
I liked Cara immediately, and only grew to like her the more I read. She has a great relationship with her mother and friends, often going above in beyond to be caring and respectful, even when doing so becomes a challenge. And a test of her strength. I can totally identify with her love of diet soda, though Scrabble has always been a stressful game to me (or maybe it's because I keep pulling bad tiles, haha). The best part about Cara - and perhaps the story too - is that she doesn't give up. I loved that I could cheer with her as she hung onto her forbidden relationship with David, as well as standing up to Amber's twisted magick.
David is totally swoonworty - his gentleness and lopsided smile was adorable. Garren was intriguing (but I love that there was no real love triangle), and Rachel and Ethan were great characters that I was happy to see more towards the end of the book.
The pacing of the novel was a little too slow for me in the middle; there seemed to be a long stretch where nothing was moving forward because Cara's mother was (understandably) overprotective and Cara's progress with Rachel stalled. However, once she got past that, I was hooked until the end of the book, dying to know how everything was going to turn out. I love the last scenes; there was so much excitement, and a few heart-stopping moments. I kept wondering if Cara and David would get their happy ending - and then Garren did some epic things that I wish I could say here, but I'm trying really hard to avoid spoilers, haha.
Safe to say that SAVE ME delivers ;)
I liked Cara immediately, and only grew to like her the more I read. She has a great relationship with her mother and friends, often going above in beyond to be caring and respectful, even when doing so becomes a challenge. And a test of her strength. I can totally identify with her love of diet soda, though Scrabble has always been a stressful game to me (or maybe it's because I keep pulling bad tiles, haha). The best part about Cara - and perhaps the story too - is that she doesn't give up. I loved that I could cheer with her as she hung onto her forbidden relationship with David, as well as standing up to Amber's twisted magick.
David is totally swoonworty - his gentleness and lopsided smile was adorable. Garren was intriguing (but I love that there was no real love triangle), and Rachel and Ethan were great characters that I was happy to see more towards the end of the book.
The pacing of the novel was a little too slow for me in the middle; there seemed to be a long stretch where nothing was moving forward because Cara's mother was (understandably) overprotective and Cara's progress with Rachel stalled. However, once she got past that, I was hooked until the end of the book, dying to know how everything was going to turn out. I love the last scenes; there was so much excitement, and a few heart-stopping moments. I kept wondering if Cara and David would get their happy ending - and then Garren did some epic things that I wish I could say here, but I'm trying really hard to avoid spoilers, haha.
Safe to say that SAVE ME delivers ;)
March 6, 2015
The tagline for this one is Witches, whales, and a forbidden soul mate – even her guardian angel might have trouble saving Cara…
Sold! I picked it up and was immediately swept up into Cara’s story.
What I liked
The setting. This book takes place in the coastal town of Liberty, Oregon and honestly, I felt transported. This book brought to life the kind of overcast, dreary days that I love. Add to that the windswept beaches and pounding surf, and I was taken away from the winter wonderland outside my windows. So many books create a setting that serves as a backdrop, and really the plot of the story could take place anywhere. In this book, the setting almost became a character. I loved that.
I liked how the clichéd forbidden romance didn’t feel like too much of a cliché, if that makes any sense? The addition of paranormal influences freshened up what could have been an average contemporary romance.
What I didn’t like
Okay, this is going to sound really nit-picky (and it totally is!) but there were two descriptions that were over-used and really started to grate on my nerves. I don’t know how many times Cara’s mother gave her a sideways gaze or David gave her a lopsided grin. Okay, we get it! The mother gazes and the love interest grins! Isn’t there another way to convey that?
Would I recommend it?
I think this would be a great choice for someone who is looking to segue from YA contemporary romance into the paranormal romance genre.
Sold! I picked it up and was immediately swept up into Cara’s story.
What I liked
The setting. This book takes place in the coastal town of Liberty, Oregon and honestly, I felt transported. This book brought to life the kind of overcast, dreary days that I love. Add to that the windswept beaches and pounding surf, and I was taken away from the winter wonderland outside my windows. So many books create a setting that serves as a backdrop, and really the plot of the story could take place anywhere. In this book, the setting almost became a character. I loved that.
I liked how the clichéd forbidden romance didn’t feel like too much of a cliché, if that makes any sense? The addition of paranormal influences freshened up what could have been an average contemporary romance.
What I didn’t like
Okay, this is going to sound really nit-picky (and it totally is!) but there were two descriptions that were over-used and really started to grate on my nerves. I don’t know how many times Cara’s mother gave her a sideways gaze or David gave her a lopsided grin. Okay, we get it! The mother gazes and the love interest grins! Isn’t there another way to convey that?
Would I recommend it?
I think this would be a great choice for someone who is looking to segue from YA contemporary romance into the paranormal romance genre.
December 21, 2014
**I received this book for free from Swoon Reads in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Paranormal, Romance
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
Save Me by Jenny Elliott is a young adult paranormal novel set in the coastal town of Liberty, Oregon and is filled with whales, demons, witchcraft, and romance. MC Cara Markwell is a whale watching addict. She loves whales so much, that she's an assistant volunteer for Liberty Charters, a whale watching tours business. On one such trip, Cara meets charming stranger David Wilson who ends up saving her life after an aggressive whale tosses her into the frigid waters.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: January 6th 2015 by Swoon Reads
*Genre* Paranormal, Romance
*Rating* 3.0
*My Thoughts*
Save Me by Jenny Elliott is a young adult paranormal novel set in the coastal town of Liberty, Oregon and is filled with whales, demons, witchcraft, and romance. MC Cara Markwell is a whale watching addict. She loves whales so much, that she's an assistant volunteer for Liberty Charters, a whale watching tours business. On one such trip, Cara meets charming stranger David Wilson who ends up saving her life after an aggressive whale tosses her into the frigid waters.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Expected publication: January 6th 2015 by Swoon Reads
August 19, 2018
the front cover gave away the part of garren being an angel or else I would have been intrigued the whole book to figure out what his deal was but the cover of the book says "even Cara's guardian angel might have trouble saving her."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2025
Love it
1 thing I didnt like is her disrespectful attitude when it comes to her mother. I few times I wanted to kick her out. Her mother was only looking out for her.
Love the twist at the end and Im also glad we got to find out what was Garren's deal
1 thing I didnt like is her disrespectful attitude when it comes to her mother. I few times I wanted to kick her out. Her mother was only looking out for her.
Love the twist at the end and Im also glad we got to find out what was Garren's deal
January 30, 2015
A little cliché, but the love story was kind of cute. Adding the supernatural element helped the book. Kinda makes you want to know the story from Garren's point of view.
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