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A Fugitive #1
I Know Lucy
Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, cheat, and run are overshadowed by something else...the desire to stay and perhaps, love. It’s her one shot at a normal life.
Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to figure Lucy out, he sets out to unravel the mystery that is her and soon finds himself caught up in a cat and mouse game. For the first time in his life he is faced with the reality that the truth can no longer set him free...if anything, it's going to get him killed.
Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to figure Lucy out, he sets out to unravel the mystery that is her and soon finds himself caught up in a cat and mouse game. For the first time in his life he is faced with the reality that the truth can no longer set him free...if anything, it's going to get him killed.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2014
About the author
Melissa Pearl
71 books855 followersMelissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books, ranging in genres from Fantasy to Romantic Suspense to Contemporary Romance. She loves the variety.
"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."
Melissa Pearl is a Forever Love Publishing author. If you'd like to download their Starter Library (3 books for FREE), then you can copy and paste this link into your Internet browser: http://bit.ly/FLP_Library
"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."
Melissa Pearl is a Forever Love Publishing author. If you'd like to download their Starter Library (3 books for FREE), then you can copy and paste this link into your Internet browser: http://bit.ly/FLP_Library
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
Did Not Finish
August 8, 2014DNF @ 27%
First, some quotes.
The long and short of it: I can't connect with these characters.
There are also quite a few weirdly worded sentences that I highlighted, but I’m not going to bother quoting them. Suffice it to say, I think a good beta-reader could have ironed out a lot of wrinkles in this story.
BUT my biggest gripes were more foundational issues.
1.) Zach is an omniscient narrator, for no plausible reason. As the above quotes illustrate, Zach knows a lot of things. He doesn't know how, but he does. Since he is all-knowing, Zach is the one who tells the reader most of what they know about Dani/Lucy, and he tells us before he has even spoken to her, when he doesn't know her at all. Do some people ascribe personalities to their dream girl before they have even spoken to her? Yes. Are those accurate images of said girl? NO.
2.) Everyone in this story is sweet. The parents are all super nice, more than one person calls Dani "sweetie" within 10 seconds of meeting her, and everything just goes so smoothly with no conflict whatsoever. Which is boring. These characters are not my/the reader's darlings, so I want more reality for them.
Lastly, leading up to my DNF-ing of this book at 27% Dani went to eat with The Zackster and his friends, who pushed for her phone number, her agreement to spend the weekend with them (then expected an explanation when she said she couldn’t, as if she owed them one) and who were obviously suspicious and bewildered when this girl Zach barely knows isn't passing around her phone number, agreeing to weekend plans with them, and doesn't want Zach to drive her home. Because that's the only appropriate response to any guy who expresses interest in you, right? As someone who has never witnessed her parents being murdered and or/been “on the run,” I can promise you that if I hung out with a guy for basically the first time and his friends were crowding me like that, I would not be giving my number to anyone and I would be leaving ASAP. By myself, if possible.
So, apparently I am also a suspicious person. (At least one of them should have thought, hey, maybe she’s just not that into him. But of course they don’t, because inexplicable omniscience.)
Zach is a smotherer, and if I thought there was even a remote possibility of him manifesting any of the scenarios that could/should actually result from his characterization, I would plod on ahead, but...this is not a dark romance, and based on the story I have read up to this point, I can say with confidence that this will not happen.
I really liked the concept, but found the execution lacking. I also wish Zach wouldn't have been the primary narrator.
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
First, some quotes.
”I’m not usually a sap, I swear.” (I don’t believe you.)
“It's something about her eyes. There's a story in them. I can't even explain why I think that. I just feel like she's got a lot of layers and I want to peel back every single one of them.”
“The urge to ask her where she lived was strong, but I knew she wasn’t going to tell me. I don’t know how I knew, but I did.”
“That girl.
That waif.
That angel.” (This is at 5% and he has not spoken to her yet.)
The long and short of it: I can't connect with these characters.
There are also quite a few weirdly worded sentences that I highlighted, but I’m not going to bother quoting them. Suffice it to say, I think a good beta-reader could have ironed out a lot of wrinkles in this story.
BUT my biggest gripes were more foundational issues.
1.) Zach is an omniscient narrator, for no plausible reason. As the above quotes illustrate, Zach knows a lot of things. He doesn't know how, but he does. Since he is all-knowing, Zach is the one who tells the reader most of what they know about Dani/Lucy, and he tells us before he has even spoken to her, when he doesn't know her at all. Do some people ascribe personalities to their dream girl before they have even spoken to her? Yes. Are those accurate images of said girl? NO.
2.) Everyone in this story is sweet. The parents are all super nice, more than one person calls Dani "sweetie" within 10 seconds of meeting her, and everything just goes so smoothly with no conflict whatsoever. Which is boring. These characters are not my/the reader's darlings, so I want more reality for them.
Lastly, leading up to my DNF-ing of this book at 27% Dani went to eat with The Zackster and his friends, who pushed for her phone number, her agreement to spend the weekend with them (then expected an explanation when she said she couldn’t, as if she owed them one) and who were obviously suspicious and bewildered when this girl Zach barely knows isn't passing around her phone number, agreeing to weekend plans with them, and doesn't want Zach to drive her home. Because that's the only appropriate response to any guy who expresses interest in you, right? As someone who has never witnessed her parents being murdered and or/been “on the run,” I can promise you that if I hung out with a guy for basically the first time and his friends were crowding me like that, I would not be giving my number to anyone and I would be leaving ASAP. By myself, if possible.
So, apparently I am also a suspicious person. (At least one of them should have thought, hey, maybe she’s just not that into him. But of course they don’t, because inexplicable omniscience.)
Zach is a smotherer, and if I thought there was even a remote possibility of him manifesting any of the scenarios that could/should actually result from his characterization, I would plod on ahead, but...this is not a dark romance, and based on the story I have read up to this point, I can say with confidence that this will not happen.
I really liked the concept, but found the execution lacking. I also wish Zach wouldn't have been the primary narrator.
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
April 28, 2014
"It's something about her eyes. There's a story in them. I can't even explain why I think that. I just feel like she's got a lot of layers and I want to peel back every single one of them"
Oh my gosh. I just.. I love this so much!!!!
A stay-up-all-night, ignore-the-world kind of read! I was instantly engaged from the first chapter. As usual, Melissa's way of writing have a lot to do with that. Very easy to read and I love how she experimented on the point of views.
The characters are unforgettable! I can't even type this without feeling all the emotions I've felt when I was reading the book. Lucy is so real to me. Her pain, her fear, all the things she went through.. I felt it. My heart breaks for her. But also, i admired her. I tried putting myself on her shoes. I tried to imagine what will I do when that happened to me. Honestly, I don't know. Because it's scary and terrifying!
Then there's Zach. Omg! I can't.. I just can't.
I love this guy! I really really do. Thank you Melissa Pearl for not making him a dark, mysterious, creepy, hot, dangerous guy. He's Zach. And yes he's HOT. In a very adorable way. She's the kind of guy that Lucy needs! Thank goodness, he didn't give up on her. Melissa made a relationship that is slow to built up but a very emotional and romantic one.
The pacing was right. Like I said above, I love the point of views. I thought it wouldn't work on me but I actually enjoyed it.
I cannot wait for Zach and Lucy's story to continue. I. JUST. CAN'T. WAIT. There's a lot of unanswered questions. And I want to see Zach and Lucy's relationship to grow. And yes, i want JUSTICE.
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG
Oh my gosh. I just.. I love this so much!!!!
A stay-up-all-night, ignore-the-world kind of read! I was instantly engaged from the first chapter. As usual, Melissa's way of writing have a lot to do with that. Very easy to read and I love how she experimented on the point of views.
The characters are unforgettable! I can't even type this without feeling all the emotions I've felt when I was reading the book. Lucy is so real to me. Her pain, her fear, all the things she went through.. I felt it. My heart breaks for her. But also, i admired her. I tried putting myself on her shoes. I tried to imagine what will I do when that happened to me. Honestly, I don't know. Because it's scary and terrifying!
Then there's Zach. Omg! I can't.. I just can't.
I love this guy! I really really do. Thank you Melissa Pearl for not making him a dark, mysterious, creepy, hot, dangerous guy. He's Zach. And yes he's HOT. In a very adorable way. She's the kind of guy that Lucy needs! Thank goodness, he didn't give up on her. Melissa made a relationship that is slow to built up but a very emotional and romantic one.
The pacing was right. Like I said above, I love the point of views. I thought it wouldn't work on me but I actually enjoyed it.
I cannot wait for Zach and Lucy's story to continue. I. JUST. CAN'T. WAIT. There's a lot of unanswered questions. And I want to see Zach and Lucy's relationship to grow. And yes, i want JUSTICE.
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG
January 26, 2015
I am ashamed to say I have had this book to review from a review group on GOODREADS for a couple of months now. I was behind in my reviews, but have now caught up.
I read the blurb with this one and fancied it might be something I would like to read. You never know when you choose a book by an author you have never heard of or read one of their books before right?
My God I was blown away by this story.
Melissa Pearl writes superbly and with great style, it was so easy to follow and actually loose yourself in it that you forgot what time it was. I started it at 9pm and finished it at 4am! I was shattered the next day, but oh boy no regrets. I must admit I tried to put my Kindle down but my mind wouldn't rest. I had to pick it up and couldn't settle until I read to the end.............
Until.......
There is a book 2.........a book 2 guys, I need to go straight onto that one. I didn't plan on reading it as I didn't realize there was a book two lol, but I NEED to know what happens.
I am kidding you not, at first I thought, oh yea, another YA book [and here I am 56 years old] with sex, love, teasing and bad language, but I was OH SO VERY WRONG. This is a thriller. Yes, I would defo put it down to a thriller/love/suspense story.
I have read YA books, and enjoyed them, but sometimes there are so many similarities I get a bit bored, this one took me by my tail and swung me around.
This easily goes into my top 5 of this month of January 2015!
Highly recommended.
My blog for my reviews
http://sueandherbooks.blogspot.co.uk/...
I read the blurb with this one and fancied it might be something I would like to read. You never know when you choose a book by an author you have never heard of or read one of their books before right?
My God I was blown away by this story.
Melissa Pearl writes superbly and with great style, it was so easy to follow and actually loose yourself in it that you forgot what time it was. I started it at 9pm and finished it at 4am! I was shattered the next day, but oh boy no regrets. I must admit I tried to put my Kindle down but my mind wouldn't rest. I had to pick it up and couldn't settle until I read to the end.............
Until.......
There is a book 2.........a book 2 guys, I need to go straight onto that one. I didn't plan on reading it as I didn't realize there was a book two lol, but I NEED to know what happens.
I am kidding you not, at first I thought, oh yea, another YA book [and here I am 56 years old] with sex, love, teasing and bad language, but I was OH SO VERY WRONG. This is a thriller. Yes, I would defo put it down to a thriller/love/suspense story.
I have read YA books, and enjoyed them, but sometimes there are so many similarities I get a bit bored, this one took me by my tail and swung me around.
This easily goes into my top 5 of this month of January 2015!
Highly recommended.
My blog for my reviews
http://sueandherbooks.blogspot.co.uk/...
January 20, 2018
Wow such suspense. Lucy is on the run after witnessing the terrible murder of her parents. Then she meets a friendly senior. Can she trust him. Outstanding story.
August 6, 2016
This is one of those books that comes along and totally sweeps you up into the story. I spent way too much time with this book avoiding sleep because I had to know what was happening. I've never read anything by Melissa Pearl, but it was both her writing and the suspense of the story that kept me so engaged. The story switches between the present day with Zach and flashbacks of the past from Lucy's point of view. I really enjoyed this added element and appreciated the two different views of the story.
I really liked the entire cast of characters and connected with them all. Lucy was my favorite, and the snippets of memories from her past were such a treat while reading this book. Zach and his friends were so entertaining.
This story is really emotional, and I was totally left when an overload of feels whenever I finished. I'm already ready to read the next part in this series! I want Zach and Lucy both to be okay. Even after I was done reading this, I still wondered about them. The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm still anxiously wondering what's next.
What can I say? I loved this book so much! It was not your typical story, and I found myself really invested and engaged to the very end. If you're looking for a book to suck you in and keep you up at night, you have to pick up I Know Lucy!
**I received this book for free in exchange for honest review. My thanks to Melissa Pearl and Mark My Words Book Publicity.
I really liked the entire cast of characters and connected with them all. Lucy was my favorite, and the snippets of memories from her past were such a treat while reading this book. Zach and his friends were so entertaining.
This story is really emotional, and I was totally left when an overload of feels whenever I finished. I'm already ready to read the next part in this series! I want Zach and Lucy both to be okay. Even after I was done reading this, I still wondered about them. The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm still anxiously wondering what's next.
What can I say? I loved this book so much! It was not your typical story, and I found myself really invested and engaged to the very end. If you're looking for a book to suck you in and keep you up at night, you have to pick up I Know Lucy!
**I received this book for free in exchange for honest review. My thanks to Melissa Pearl and Mark My Words Book Publicity.
January 18, 2016
Out of all the books I've written so far, I Know Lucy has been my favorite to work on. I really love this story. There are some really tense scenes that had my stomach in knots. There's humor, there's romance, there's a chase scene (love those!!) and the characters in this book have been awesome to hang out with. I love Zach's friends so much. I hope you fall in love with these people as much as I did.
Can't wait for you to meet them all on April 20th!!
Can't wait for you to meet them all on April 20th!!
March 29, 2014
****SPOILER ALERT****
The book was a gift from the author and Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock for an honest review.
This book is about Lucy and Zach. Lucy witnessed her parents’ murder. She was only 13. They were murdered by a crocked cop. Lucy’s only option was to run, so that’s what she did. Now she is 18. Along the way she met some people. Marlin helped her and taught her how to pick pocket and survive on the streets. Then they meet Shorty who helped them learn to do short cons. Twice now Lucy has run into the man who killed her parents. Both times she could only run and was terrified that he would recognize her. Shorty decided they are going to find out more about him and take him down. That doesn’t work out and she is left on her own. So she decides that she will do one last con and then go to Mexico. So she moves on to a new small rich town. Her name is Dani this time. Only this time she meets someone she can’t run from. Someone she wants to get to know and love. Can she risk staying and being found? Zach is drawn to Dani(Lucy) right away. Only he has a history and bad girlfriend choices. He has dated a girl who turned out to be a stalker, a crier, and cheerleader named Bambi and list goes on. He is teased about it by his friend but only in good fun. Zach likes to be the rescuer. He says he likes Dani cause she is a puzzle but the more he gets to know her the more he likes her. He has never felt this way about anyone before. He can’t seem to let the fact that she is obviously keeping some things from him go. He starts digging to find out why and what it is. His uncle helps him. Is his digging going to get himself and his uncle in danger or worse.
I was drawn into this book immediately. The puzzle that is Lucy and all she has to go through is amazing. Is it sad that she finally finds someone she wants to be with only to still feel like she has to keep things from him to keep him safe. There really is no happily ever after for her. She feels like she needs to keep these things to herself and will eventually have to run again in order to not be found by him. I love the characters and how they relate to each other. I can’t wait to read the second book in this series when it comes out.
The book was a gift from the author and Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock for an honest review.
This book is about Lucy and Zach. Lucy witnessed her parents’ murder. She was only 13. They were murdered by a crocked cop. Lucy’s only option was to run, so that’s what she did. Now she is 18. Along the way she met some people. Marlin helped her and taught her how to pick pocket and survive on the streets. Then they meet Shorty who helped them learn to do short cons. Twice now Lucy has run into the man who killed her parents. Both times she could only run and was terrified that he would recognize her. Shorty decided they are going to find out more about him and take him down. That doesn’t work out and she is left on her own. So she decides that she will do one last con and then go to Mexico. So she moves on to a new small rich town. Her name is Dani this time. Only this time she meets someone she can’t run from. Someone she wants to get to know and love. Can she risk staying and being found? Zach is drawn to Dani(Lucy) right away. Only he has a history and bad girlfriend choices. He has dated a girl who turned out to be a stalker, a crier, and cheerleader named Bambi and list goes on. He is teased about it by his friend but only in good fun. Zach likes to be the rescuer. He says he likes Dani cause she is a puzzle but the more he gets to know her the more he likes her. He has never felt this way about anyone before. He can’t seem to let the fact that she is obviously keeping some things from him go. He starts digging to find out why and what it is. His uncle helps him. Is his digging going to get himself and his uncle in danger or worse.
I was drawn into this book immediately. The puzzle that is Lucy and all she has to go through is amazing. Is it sad that she finally finds someone she wants to be with only to still feel like she has to keep things from him to keep him safe. There really is no happily ever after for her. She feels like she needs to keep these things to herself and will eventually have to run again in order to not be found by him. I love the characters and how they relate to each other. I can’t wait to read the second book in this series when it comes out.
April 30, 2014
I received this as an e-ARC from the Author via Mark My Words Book Publicity.
I thought this book was really good!
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Full Review here:
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I thought this book was really good!
Follow the Review Tour!
Full Review here:
http://booktalkwithjess.blogspot.com/...
September 16, 2015
Great story and compelling characters make this an enjoyable read. Perhaps not for kids younger than high school age because of the crimes that take place, but I would recommend it for high school or adults. Good cliff hanger so I will have to read the rest of the series.
December 23, 2017
This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to say I really enjoyed it. It kept me glued to my kindle. I kept telling myself "just one more chapter." I just had to finish it. The descriptions were enough to play like a movie in my mind. I loved the feeling of family I got from Zach's friends. Plus the desperation and fear from Lucy. This story would have fit right in under the author's pen name of Jordan Ford. It has the same vibe as the others. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Lucy's story.
June 10, 2014
"Danielle Harrison was a girl with secrets and I desperately wanted to know what they were."
First things first, DO NOT start reading this book unless you have the sequel ready and waiting in the wings! It's not exactly a cliffhanger but there are so SO many things left up in the air at the end of this book it makes you desperate to read Set Me Free.
I Know Lucy is a book about - you guessed it - a girl called Lucy and the people who knew her. When new girl Dani (aka Lucy) turns up at Zach's school she sets off his intrigue like someone who's just slammed their fist into the fire alarm. Zach's not had the best of luck when it comes to girls but there is something about Dani he just can't shake. He needs to get to know her, and as the book unravels it becomes clear that Dani is hiding something. Or as the case may be, several somethings. The story follows both characters as they try to discover each other. But Dani won't, can't, let anyone in. She has a dangerous past that could get someone killed. The problem is, Zach can't let it go, he needs to know her.
Okay so you will be expecting me to drone on about dual narratives because that seems to be my favourite past time at the moment but this was done slightly different to most other multiple points of view books. Yes, it is told through two different people but Zach's half of the story is all in first person, where as Lucy's sections are in third. I really REALLY liked the way this was done because it make it feel like Zach's story and we were discovering the information about Lucy the same way he was, through little snippets of a story that we have to peace together ourselves.
Another great thing about this book is the character's and the way in which not a single one of them was overly annoying. Which I know, sounds like a give-in but in truth when you're reading about teenagers there's a high chance that at least one of the character's will fall into the clique cliché that will drive you barmy by the end of the first half. But I am happy to report that this was not the case with I Know Lucy. I adored Zach's group of friends as they were all individual and strong. They had shining personalities and characters that made it easy to imagine them all sitting around the table as AJ forced them to eat his latest concoction. I want to be part of this group!
I mentioned at the beginning of this review that this book left me wanting more, however that's not a completely positive thing. Yes, it does mean I will be reading book two however, it left me feeling a little underwhelmed. As if it just stopped halfway through the story. I understand that in a series you need to have something - a hook of sorts - to make you go back for the next book, but this is not how you do it. If I didn't have the second book on hand I would have been very frustrated with the ending to I Know Lucy. It felt like the book was leading up to something big, it was just appear that said something is in book two.
Overall though, this is a great book! The ending leads little to be desired but that is probably the only bad thing I have to say about it. It's fasted paced and the characters are captivating. The plot is thick with twists and turns and I really enjoyed that way the author connected Lucy's past with Zach's present. It has it's raw moments that show the true nature of Lucy's torment as well as some of the best dialogues I've read in a while - the scenes where Tenner is talking sent chills down my spine. An interesting and exciting read that I highly recommend.
**I received this book as an ARC from Mark My Words Book Publicity to read and review. This is a 100% honest review**
First things first, DO NOT start reading this book unless you have the sequel ready and waiting in the wings! It's not exactly a cliffhanger but there are so SO many things left up in the air at the end of this book it makes you desperate to read Set Me Free.
I Know Lucy is a book about - you guessed it - a girl called Lucy and the people who knew her. When new girl Dani (aka Lucy) turns up at Zach's school she sets off his intrigue like someone who's just slammed their fist into the fire alarm. Zach's not had the best of luck when it comes to girls but there is something about Dani he just can't shake. He needs to get to know her, and as the book unravels it becomes clear that Dani is hiding something. Or as the case may be, several somethings. The story follows both characters as they try to discover each other. But Dani won't, can't, let anyone in. She has a dangerous past that could get someone killed. The problem is, Zach can't let it go, he needs to know her.
Okay so you will be expecting me to drone on about dual narratives because that seems to be my favourite past time at the moment but this was done slightly different to most other multiple points of view books. Yes, it is told through two different people but Zach's half of the story is all in first person, where as Lucy's sections are in third. I really REALLY liked the way this was done because it make it feel like Zach's story and we were discovering the information about Lucy the same way he was, through little snippets of a story that we have to peace together ourselves.
Another great thing about this book is the character's and the way in which not a single one of them was overly annoying. Which I know, sounds like a give-in but in truth when you're reading about teenagers there's a high chance that at least one of the character's will fall into the clique cliché that will drive you barmy by the end of the first half. But I am happy to report that this was not the case with I Know Lucy. I adored Zach's group of friends as they were all individual and strong. They had shining personalities and characters that made it easy to imagine them all sitting around the table as AJ forced them to eat his latest concoction. I want to be part of this group!
I mentioned at the beginning of this review that this book left me wanting more, however that's not a completely positive thing. Yes, it does mean I will be reading book two however, it left me feeling a little underwhelmed. As if it just stopped halfway through the story. I understand that in a series you need to have something - a hook of sorts - to make you go back for the next book, but this is not how you do it. If I didn't have the second book on hand I would have been very frustrated with the ending to I Know Lucy. It felt like the book was leading up to something big, it was just appear that said something is in book two.
Overall though, this is a great book! The ending leads little to be desired but that is probably the only bad thing I have to say about it. It's fasted paced and the characters are captivating. The plot is thick with twists and turns and I really enjoyed that way the author connected Lucy's past with Zach's present. It has it's raw moments that show the true nature of Lucy's torment as well as some of the best dialogues I've read in a while - the scenes where Tenner is talking sent chills down my spine. An interesting and exciting read that I highly recommend.
**I received this book as an ARC from Mark My Words Book Publicity to read and review. This is a 100% honest review**
December 31, 2014
A truly fantastic young-adult read. This book was the perfect combination of action, thriller and romance all wrapped in the story of one teenage girl on the run. Lucy Tate witnessed the brutal murder of her parents by a dirty cop and has been on the run since she was 13. At 18 she finds herself enrolled in the local high school near her latest hideout and catches the attention of Zach Schultz. Zach is curious about her and as they become friends, Lucy and Zach develop feelings for each other. However Zach knows Lucy (who he knows as Dani) is keeping secrets about her parents and her past. He enlists the help of his uncle Alex, a journalist to do some investigating and gradually discovers bits and pieces about Lucy's life. As he finds out more and more, Zach had to decide whether to run from this girl who has lied about so many things and might possibly be using him or confront her with the truth. I won't give any more of the story away but I will say it only gets better form there.
I loved this book for a number of reasons. First of all, the unique alternating perspective from which it was written. Every other chapter alternated between a story about Lucy's past told in third person to a scene from the present told in first person from Zach's perspective. It was unique and as the book went on the time-lines of the different stories converged and now the stage is set for the present-day story to be resolved n the next book. Another reason I loved this story was Lucy's character. She is independent, intelligent, smart and still a sweet person with a good hear despite the many things she has been forced to do. I did find the premise of her running away and surviving on her own from age thirteen a bit hard to swallow at first - why couldn't she just have gone to different authorities? Witness protection? - but once the story moved beyond that I let it go and got caught up in Lucy's story. Zach's character was kind of annoying - I get that he was inquisitive but his curiosity was kind of over the top in some places and I thought he was an idiot for not taking Lucy's fear of her situation seriously. However, having said that I had to admire his guts for confronting Lucy about her past instead of ignoring what he had found out and just ditching her. I also had to admire how he was willing to keep investigating to try and find justice for her - even though he was breaking his word. The final thing I loved about this book was Lucy's con-artist schemes. I have to give the author credit for coming up with really interesting cons that Lucy and her friends pulled over the years she was on the run. I understood Lucy's reluctance and why she hated Shorty for forcing her into them but being a successful thief and con-artist kind of makes her character a bit of a bad-ass.
Anyway - long story short. I loved this book and highly recommend reading it if you're looking for an addictive well-rounded young-adult to get into. I think this book is my favourite from this author so far; I've read the Betwixt series and True Colors - both of which were great and I also highly recommend.
I loved this book for a number of reasons. First of all, the unique alternating perspective from which it was written. Every other chapter alternated between a story about Lucy's past told in third person to a scene from the present told in first person from Zach's perspective. It was unique and as the book went on the time-lines of the different stories converged and now the stage is set for the present-day story to be resolved n the next book. Another reason I loved this story was Lucy's character. She is independent, intelligent, smart and still a sweet person with a good hear despite the many things she has been forced to do. I did find the premise of her running away and surviving on her own from age thirteen a bit hard to swallow at first - why couldn't she just have gone to different authorities? Witness protection? - but once the story moved beyond that I let it go and got caught up in Lucy's story. Zach's character was kind of annoying - I get that he was inquisitive but his curiosity was kind of over the top in some places and I thought he was an idiot for not taking Lucy's fear of her situation seriously. However, having said that I had to admire his guts for confronting Lucy about her past instead of ignoring what he had found out and just ditching her. I also had to admire how he was willing to keep investigating to try and find justice for her - even though he was breaking his word. The final thing I loved about this book was Lucy's con-artist schemes. I have to give the author credit for coming up with really interesting cons that Lucy and her friends pulled over the years she was on the run. I understood Lucy's reluctance and why she hated Shorty for forcing her into them but being a successful thief and con-artist kind of makes her character a bit of a bad-ass.
Anyway - long story short. I loved this book and highly recommend reading it if you're looking for an addictive well-rounded young-adult to get into. I think this book is my favourite from this author so far; I've read the Betwixt series and True Colors - both of which were great and I also highly recommend.
April 22, 2014
This book grabs your attention right from the get-go. For me, just reading the synopsis made me super excited to see where this book would go in terms of character development and as the secrets unfold throughout the book.
This book is a young adult romantic suspense and it holds true for all of the book. There are two sides to this story as the reader follows present-day through Zach’s eyes and the past through Lucy’s. At first, the book seems to have an almost funny kind of plot where the main characters are kind of immature and the synopsis was more serious then the book. Wrong. The book takes a left turn as the suspense grows and the characters become more serious.
Soon lives are on the line as Zach tries his hardest to figure out Lucy’s secrets and then realizing that he was hoping that she wasn’t hiding anything. And Lucy, well she tries her hardest to make sure that her new group of friends knows nothing about her past and what she does for a living.
As I mentioned, half of the book is from Lucy’s point of view but is set in the past and builds up to the future. It goes through her life story and I think that this was a brilliant move on the author’s part. Seeing the trouble that Lucy goes through (and gets into), creates a connection between the reader and Lucy. Without these chapters from Lucy’s perspective, the only time the reader would be able to connect with Lucy would be through Zach’s eyes. And Zach doesn’t always see Lucy how she needs to be seen.
With Zach, I kind of had to grow into his character. Starting off the book, he seemed really immature and I didn’t like the way he and his friends talked about his previous problems of latching onto girls who have major issues. It lead me to think that his fascination with Lucy was just a way of him trying to catch another messed up girl who needed a hero. Then, the way he acted when she was mentioned and how he didn’t try too hard to figure out all her secretes reassured me that he wasn’t in this “relationship” just to solve another girl mystery.
Overall, I like Zach’s character and his protective instincts. I can tell that he actually does care for Lucy and he isn’t just trying to be the hero. I also liked how he developed as a character and could go from this joking dork to a strong male lead in a blink of an eye.
One thing that really struck me as a “good thing”, was the fact that Zach’s friends weren’t willing to go through the whole “I got to save the mysterious girl” routine. They challenged Zach and the way he acted and I think this is what helped him mature and realize that his feelings aren’t the normal brand that a guy has for just any girl.
I loved the way this book played out because it kept me guessing to the very end. I was never sure what was going to be thrown at the characters next and I can’t wait to read more by this author if this is how she writes her books.
This book is a young adult romantic suspense and it holds true for all of the book. There are two sides to this story as the reader follows present-day through Zach’s eyes and the past through Lucy’s. At first, the book seems to have an almost funny kind of plot where the main characters are kind of immature and the synopsis was more serious then the book. Wrong. The book takes a left turn as the suspense grows and the characters become more serious.
Soon lives are on the line as Zach tries his hardest to figure out Lucy’s secrets and then realizing that he was hoping that she wasn’t hiding anything. And Lucy, well she tries her hardest to make sure that her new group of friends knows nothing about her past and what she does for a living.
As I mentioned, half of the book is from Lucy’s point of view but is set in the past and builds up to the future. It goes through her life story and I think that this was a brilliant move on the author’s part. Seeing the trouble that Lucy goes through (and gets into), creates a connection between the reader and Lucy. Without these chapters from Lucy’s perspective, the only time the reader would be able to connect with Lucy would be through Zach’s eyes. And Zach doesn’t always see Lucy how she needs to be seen.
With Zach, I kind of had to grow into his character. Starting off the book, he seemed really immature and I didn’t like the way he and his friends talked about his previous problems of latching onto girls who have major issues. It lead me to think that his fascination with Lucy was just a way of him trying to catch another messed up girl who needed a hero. Then, the way he acted when she was mentioned and how he didn’t try too hard to figure out all her secretes reassured me that he wasn’t in this “relationship” just to solve another girl mystery.
Overall, I like Zach’s character and his protective instincts. I can tell that he actually does care for Lucy and he isn’t just trying to be the hero. I also liked how he developed as a character and could go from this joking dork to a strong male lead in a blink of an eye.
One thing that really struck me as a “good thing”, was the fact that Zach’s friends weren’t willing to go through the whole “I got to save the mysterious girl” routine. They challenged Zach and the way he acted and I think this is what helped him mature and realize that his feelings aren’t the normal brand that a guy has for just any girl.
I loved the way this book played out because it kept me guessing to the very end. I was never sure what was going to be thrown at the characters next and I can’t wait to read more by this author if this is how she writes her books.
June 13, 2014
Don't judge a book by it's cover.....
This is not really my favorite Genre,which is why this book lost a couple points for me, With that said, Melissa Pearls I know Lucy Did keep me entertained and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen to Lucy and Zach.
I can’t really explain why i don’t like Suspense, It’s just something that I’ve never really been a big fan of, so for me to actually be able to sit down and be excited to read through this book actually says a lot for Melissa’s writing.
Lets talk about the things I loved in this book.
1. The writing Style. I loved how this book was written in two different perspectives. We get to see in Zach’s mind and we get to be shown Lucy’s Story.
We watch as Zach is first attracted to Lucy, the new mysterious girl in school and slowly but surely we get to watch him fall in love with her, even though he knows that something is not quite right about her. It’s so refreshing seeing inside the mind of an intelligent kind teenage boy. His curiosity really is contagious.
Then we have Lucy. We don’t get to see in her mind, but we get to know her story and I tell you what, this really makes you as curious as Zach about who she really is. You can’t help but wonder what is going on in Lucy’s Head. Lucy’s life is impossible and yet she finds a way to survive, I sometimes wonder as i read through the book if i would have been strong enough to carry on if I had been dealt the same cards as Lucy when I was a teenager.
2. I love that these two characters are just ordinary.
Zach may be the hero and this amazing guy, but he still has flaws. He second guesses himself, questions his curiosity and love for Lucy.He is not the big six-foot tall muscular guy. He is just a normal teenager, small, handsome but nothing like Brad Pitt or Channing Tatum.
Lucy, she may be strong and surviving in her difficult circumstances, but like every teenage girl she doesn’t see who she really is. This blindness is what causes Lucy’s fears to hold her back.
Don’t get me wrong though they may be ordinary, both Zach and Lucy are thoughtful, deep characters and have you rooting for them the entire way.
3. The group of friends that Zach is surrounded by. Oh I love them, they have these amazing personalities and care for each other so much. If every teenager had a group of friends like this, high school would be a totally different experience.
So what is my final say on I Know Lucy?
If Suspense or Romantic Suspense is not your favorite Genre, suck it up and give this book a try. I know I did and I am so pleased with myself for doing so.
There you have it, another great book my Melissa Pearl. When I finished this book I could not wait for the second book in the series to come out and luckily I didn’t have to wait long. Book Two, is called Set me Free and is available now
This is not really my favorite Genre,which is why this book lost a couple points for me, With that said, Melissa Pearls I know Lucy Did keep me entertained and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen to Lucy and Zach.
I can’t really explain why i don’t like Suspense, It’s just something that I’ve never really been a big fan of, so for me to actually be able to sit down and be excited to read through this book actually says a lot for Melissa’s writing.
Lets talk about the things I loved in this book.
1. The writing Style. I loved how this book was written in two different perspectives. We get to see in Zach’s mind and we get to be shown Lucy’s Story.
We watch as Zach is first attracted to Lucy, the new mysterious girl in school and slowly but surely we get to watch him fall in love with her, even though he knows that something is not quite right about her. It’s so refreshing seeing inside the mind of an intelligent kind teenage boy. His curiosity really is contagious.
Then we have Lucy. We don’t get to see in her mind, but we get to know her story and I tell you what, this really makes you as curious as Zach about who she really is. You can’t help but wonder what is going on in Lucy’s Head. Lucy’s life is impossible and yet she finds a way to survive, I sometimes wonder as i read through the book if i would have been strong enough to carry on if I had been dealt the same cards as Lucy when I was a teenager.
2. I love that these two characters are just ordinary.
Zach may be the hero and this amazing guy, but he still has flaws. He second guesses himself, questions his curiosity and love for Lucy.He is not the big six-foot tall muscular guy. He is just a normal teenager, small, handsome but nothing like Brad Pitt or Channing Tatum.
Lucy, she may be strong and surviving in her difficult circumstances, but like every teenage girl she doesn’t see who she really is. This blindness is what causes Lucy’s fears to hold her back.
Don’t get me wrong though they may be ordinary, both Zach and Lucy are thoughtful, deep characters and have you rooting for them the entire way.
3. The group of friends that Zach is surrounded by. Oh I love them, they have these amazing personalities and care for each other so much. If every teenager had a group of friends like this, high school would be a totally different experience.
So what is my final say on I Know Lucy?
If Suspense or Romantic Suspense is not your favorite Genre, suck it up and give this book a try. I know I did and I am so pleased with myself for doing so.
There you have it, another great book my Melissa Pearl. When I finished this book I could not wait for the second book in the series to come out and luckily I didn’t have to wait long. Book Two, is called Set me Free and is available now
July 15, 2014
Lucy Tate's dad is an analyst for the FBI. He had the evidence to expose a dirty law enforcement officer. But before he has the chance to, he and his wife are murdered in cold blood, right in front of Lucy. Now she's on the run.
I Know Lucy is written from two viewpoints - Lucy's and Zach's. Lucy's part of the story is written in third person point of view and begins in the past beginning in 2009. Zach's portion of the story is written from the first person point of view and begins in 2014. By the end of the book both portions of their story have converged to the same time.
Lucy has taken on an number of different personas and learned to commit a variety of illegal activities, all in the name of survival over the past 5 years. Now she finds herself in Danville and calls herself Dani. Zach finds Dani very intriguing and can sense there is more to her than meets the eye. In trying to get her to trust him and figure her out, he starts to fall in love with her.
I Know Lucy is another example of Melissa Pearl's marvellous talent for weaving a tale that will keep you captivated from page one until the end of the book. Although knowing that the activities that Lucy was involved were illegal, I felt sorry for her that this was the only way that she could think of in order to get money to survive. I do think that Ms. Pearl did an excellent job of showing Lucy's fortitude throughout the story in how she handled the terrible circumstances that she was confronted with and still maintained decent moral standards.
This novel was a clean romance in that there was no sexual activity described beyond kissing. There is some milder profanity in this novel. I think this novel is appropriate for teens and older.
Ms. Pearl indicated at the beginning of the novel that having her characters speak from different points of view was something new for her. I think she used it to great effect in this novel. It was a unique way to blend the past and the present together to form a complete whole.
I Know Lucy is another example of Melissa Pearl's excellent skill as an author. I think I will have to keep a shelf in my library just for her books. This one is a definite keeper to read again. I give this one 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publisher via Mark My Words Publicity for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
I Know Lucy is written from two viewpoints - Lucy's and Zach's. Lucy's part of the story is written in third person point of view and begins in the past beginning in 2009. Zach's portion of the story is written from the first person point of view and begins in 2014. By the end of the book both portions of their story have converged to the same time.
Lucy has taken on an number of different personas and learned to commit a variety of illegal activities, all in the name of survival over the past 5 years. Now she finds herself in Danville and calls herself Dani. Zach finds Dani very intriguing and can sense there is more to her than meets the eye. In trying to get her to trust him and figure her out, he starts to fall in love with her.
I Know Lucy is another example of Melissa Pearl's marvellous talent for weaving a tale that will keep you captivated from page one until the end of the book. Although knowing that the activities that Lucy was involved were illegal, I felt sorry for her that this was the only way that she could think of in order to get money to survive. I do think that Ms. Pearl did an excellent job of showing Lucy's fortitude throughout the story in how she handled the terrible circumstances that she was confronted with and still maintained decent moral standards.
This novel was a clean romance in that there was no sexual activity described beyond kissing. There is some milder profanity in this novel. I think this novel is appropriate for teens and older.
Ms. Pearl indicated at the beginning of the novel that having her characters speak from different points of view was something new for her. I think she used it to great effect in this novel. It was a unique way to blend the past and the present together to form a complete whole.
I Know Lucy is another example of Melissa Pearl's excellent skill as an author. I think I will have to keep a shelf in my library just for her books. This one is a definite keeper to read again. I give this one 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publisher via Mark My Words Publicity for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
December 31, 2014
I was sent this book by the publisher for my honest review.
This YA Contemporary Suspense novel is about Lucy, who has been on the run for 5 years after witnessing the murder of her parents. She's been running from place to place, doing what she needs to, to survive, until she meets Zach who makes her not want to run anymore.
This book has a different style of writing and at first, it put me off of it. The author explains it, in the beginning, what she's done. She tells the story from Zach's point of view, so his chapters are done in 1st person but there are flashback chapters of Lucy's story and those are done in 3rd person. It takes quite a while to get into, but once it gets going, it actually flowed quite well together. I was only left with thinking, if this is told from Zach's point of view, how does he know all of this? He doesn't obviously, at least not during the telling of the book, so I don't really see it as his point of view, just a different style of writing. Still, it worked overall, once I got into it.
The story mostly grabbed me from the beginning, but it was when Zack really started looking into things that the book really really started getting good. Zach is a great character. He has a great group of friends that surround him and mostly support him, even when they don't agree with him, he really deeply and truly cares about his friends and then about Lucy, even before he knows anything is going on. At first he only knows that she has some secrets, but as he starts to discover her secrets, he doesn't go running to the hills.
Setting = B
Plot = A
You can't help but root for Lucy. She's had it rough and you just want to reach in and take care of her, both 5 years ago and through the years that she is on the run. She's secretive and tough and she's done a lot of wrong, but only enough to survive and you can't fault her for any of it. It makes you wonder if you'd do the same in her situation, or would you do what she couldn't do ~ curl into a ball and wait to die. She's so strong and you just want everything to work out for them both.
Conflict = A
Characters = A+
Theme = A
Then? The book ends!! Not really at a cliffhanger, but close enough. What happens next?!? Does she tell him the rest of the story? Does he believe her? Does he tell her that he broke his promise and told a friend her secret? What is going on? I want to know right now!!
This book was a FANTASTIC read. I loved it all. I really got into it and it kept me interested through the whole thing. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes YA Suspense.
This YA Contemporary Suspense novel is about Lucy, who has been on the run for 5 years after witnessing the murder of her parents. She's been running from place to place, doing what she needs to, to survive, until she meets Zach who makes her not want to run anymore.
This book has a different style of writing and at first, it put me off of it. The author explains it, in the beginning, what she's done. She tells the story from Zach's point of view, so his chapters are done in 1st person but there are flashback chapters of Lucy's story and those are done in 3rd person. It takes quite a while to get into, but once it gets going, it actually flowed quite well together. I was only left with thinking, if this is told from Zach's point of view, how does he know all of this? He doesn't obviously, at least not during the telling of the book, so I don't really see it as his point of view, just a different style of writing. Still, it worked overall, once I got into it.
The story mostly grabbed me from the beginning, but it was when Zack really started looking into things that the book really really started getting good. Zach is a great character. He has a great group of friends that surround him and mostly support him, even when they don't agree with him, he really deeply and truly cares about his friends and then about Lucy, even before he knows anything is going on. At first he only knows that she has some secrets, but as he starts to discover her secrets, he doesn't go running to the hills.
Setting = B
Plot = A
You can't help but root for Lucy. She's had it rough and you just want to reach in and take care of her, both 5 years ago and through the years that she is on the run. She's secretive and tough and she's done a lot of wrong, but only enough to survive and you can't fault her for any of it. It makes you wonder if you'd do the same in her situation, or would you do what she couldn't do ~ curl into a ball and wait to die. She's so strong and you just want everything to work out for them both.
Conflict = A
Characters = A+
Theme = A
Then? The book ends!! Not really at a cliffhanger, but close enough. What happens next?!? Does she tell him the rest of the story? Does he believe her? Does he tell her that he broke his promise and told a friend her secret? What is going on? I want to know right now!!
This book was a FANTASTIC read. I loved it all. I really got into it and it kept me interested through the whole thing. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes YA Suspense.
September 14, 2020
Oh my goodness gracious! I was so blown away by this book and I'm actually reviewing this a week after I finished it and I still can't seem to get my bearings on this book. There was just something about the writing and the story the completely sucked me into Lucy's life. I was a bit worried at first to read the book because it was written in Zach's perspective with occasional inputs from Lucy, which were written in third person. But as you get the know the characters, you learn to love both perspectives which is not something that I usually am a fan of. But with this book, each perspective kept me on the edge of my seat for the next time it was their (the character) turn to talk. Does that make any sense? XD
Zach seemed to be a pretty average at first. He has a soft spot for girls with issues because he wants to be able to rescue them from their worries. That wasn't such a big turn on for me and I was super scared that he was going to turn into some arrogant annoying guy, but he actually didn't! Instead of being arrogant and shallow, as the story went on he began to develop as a character and became more complex, intelligent, perceptive, all of that. At the same time, his "soft spot" proved to be something that drove him to find out the truth and come face to face with Lucy about what was going on.
I absolutely adored reading in Lucy's POV. Every single time, it revealed so much about her past, about her character, and you just completely fall in love with her. You feel sympathy for what's she's been through, admiration for her survival skills, fear for the possibility that she'll get caught, etc. Just, Lucy as a character brought out so much emotion in me, I felt what she was going through and I feel like, for the first time in a while, I really was able to connect with a character on a deep psychological manner.
Another plus of this book was its massive twists and turns. I mean, this book is pretty much a YA thriller, so you can expect your fair share of surprises. But whatever is thrown at you be it good or bad, you never shake off the sense of fear and dreadful anticipation that can show up at any point in the book. This book definitely fulfilled being a thrilling read and I don't want to say any more because it might give something away.
Definitely go check this book out if you're interested in thrillers, mystery, a touch of romance, and a lot of heart pounding moments!
Read my reviews at:
http://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com/
Zach seemed to be a pretty average at first. He has a soft spot for girls with issues because he wants to be able to rescue them from their worries. That wasn't such a big turn on for me and I was super scared that he was going to turn into some arrogant annoying guy, but he actually didn't! Instead of being arrogant and shallow, as the story went on he began to develop as a character and became more complex, intelligent, perceptive, all of that. At the same time, his "soft spot" proved to be something that drove him to find out the truth and come face to face with Lucy about what was going on.
I absolutely adored reading in Lucy's POV. Every single time, it revealed so much about her past, about her character, and you just completely fall in love with her. You feel sympathy for what's she's been through, admiration for her survival skills, fear for the possibility that she'll get caught, etc. Just, Lucy as a character brought out so much emotion in me, I felt what she was going through and I feel like, for the first time in a while, I really was able to connect with a character on a deep psychological manner.
Another plus of this book was its massive twists and turns. I mean, this book is pretty much a YA thriller, so you can expect your fair share of surprises. But whatever is thrown at you be it good or bad, you never shake off the sense of fear and dreadful anticipation that can show up at any point in the book. This book definitely fulfilled being a thrilling read and I don't want to say any more because it might give something away.
Definitely go check this book out if you're interested in thrillers, mystery, a touch of romance, and a lot of heart pounding moments!
Read my reviews at:
http://extreemeobsessed.blogspot.com/
August 4, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this book we meet Lucy, Dani and Zach. At first I wasn't sure how Lucy and Zach were connected, although I had my theories. It seemed at if two different stories were taking place inside the same novel and though it could have been confusing, Melissa Pearl did a magnificent job of pulling it of. She kept me on edge wondering and waiting to connect the dots and when the whole plot finally becomes apparent, the true brilliance of her writing is revealed.
Please bare with me, I'll tell you about the actual story in a bit, I just have to rave a little more about the writing style. Melissa Pearl's exceptional skills aren't limited to the way in which she connects the characters, she also writes Lucy in the third person, while Zach is written from a first person point of view. I simply loved this! To add to the difficulty level, Pearl begins Lucy's story in 2009, while Zach's journey starts off in March 2014.
The author uses all these difficult tactics in one novel and manages to make it seem effortless. What talented writing!
Now let's get to that plot. So, there's Lucy, Dani and Zach. Lucy is a happy thirteen year old girl who is a little on the chubby side. She lives with her parents and has a best friend whom she loves. Dani is the skinny, eighteen year old new girl, she is secretive and clever. Zach is our hero. He is the grounded, sexy boy, with the amazing friends and rich parents.
Zach falls in love with Dani and it looks to be mutual, but something doesn't quite add up. She is vague and mysterious about herself, never excepting a ride home from him. His friends worry over the secrets she keep, but nonetheless accept her into their close knit group.
Lucy however, doesn't have such a happy story. Her parents are murdered right before her eyes and she is framed for their murder. Now, as runaway and murder suspect, she falls into a crowd of con artists who lies and thieves for a living, while her parents' killer remains a constant treat.
I don't want to give away the mystery of this extraordinary book and I think that you might have added two and two already, but believe me, the journey is worth the read and when Lucy, Dani and Zach's worlds finally collide, you can expect major fireworks!
4-Bombs
Reviewed by Soreta
In this book we meet Lucy, Dani and Zach. At first I wasn't sure how Lucy and Zach were connected, although I had my theories. It seemed at if two different stories were taking place inside the same novel and though it could have been confusing, Melissa Pearl did a magnificent job of pulling it of. She kept me on edge wondering and waiting to connect the dots and when the whole plot finally becomes apparent, the true brilliance of her writing is revealed.
Please bare with me, I'll tell you about the actual story in a bit, I just have to rave a little more about the writing style. Melissa Pearl's exceptional skills aren't limited to the way in which she connects the characters, she also writes Lucy in the third person, while Zach is written from a first person point of view. I simply loved this! To add to the difficulty level, Pearl begins Lucy's story in 2009, while Zach's journey starts off in March 2014.
The author uses all these difficult tactics in one novel and manages to make it seem effortless. What talented writing!
Now let's get to that plot. So, there's Lucy, Dani and Zach. Lucy is a happy thirteen year old girl who is a little on the chubby side. She lives with her parents and has a best friend whom she loves. Dani is the skinny, eighteen year old new girl, she is secretive and clever. Zach is our hero. He is the grounded, sexy boy, with the amazing friends and rich parents.
Zach falls in love with Dani and it looks to be mutual, but something doesn't quite add up. She is vague and mysterious about herself, never excepting a ride home from him. His friends worry over the secrets she keep, but nonetheless accept her into their close knit group.
Lucy however, doesn't have such a happy story. Her parents are murdered right before her eyes and she is framed for their murder. Now, as runaway and murder suspect, she falls into a crowd of con artists who lies and thieves for a living, while her parents' killer remains a constant treat.
I don't want to give away the mystery of this extraordinary book and I think that you might have added two and two already, but believe me, the journey is worth the read and when Lucy, Dani and Zach's worlds finally collide, you can expect major fireworks!
4-Bombs
Reviewed by Soreta
March 27, 2014
Lucy used to be a happy, healthy thirteen year old girl with two loving and devoted parents until one Horrid evening she witnesses the worst Nightmare ever... her parents are killed before her very eyes in their own home by some strange man and she's next. Lucy has no choice, she has no other family, no where safe to go without endangering anyone and risk losing them too. Lucy knows the only way to survive is to keep running and never look back, form no attachments, to stay under the radar or the man who killed her parents will find her and end her life.
Zach is intrigued by the new girl Dani (aka Lucy) who transferred to his school. He feels a strong pull towards her that he can't explain. Zach is adamant that there is more to Dani than meets the eye and he's determined to find out all of her secrets and maybe, just maybe more.
Side characters are Marlin & Shorty who become like family to Lucy. Marlin is like her protective big brother, always having her back. He teaches Lucy what she must do in order to survive on the streets. Shorty becomes a father figure to the two of them and teaches the both of them how to con people. Now I know this sounds really bad but they only choose Greedy, Awful people who steal, lie, cheat, and hurt others. Their motto is to pick their mark, get in and work them by any means, get what you need, get out, move on.
Bring us back to present day... Zach with the help of his uncle Alex delves into Dani's past and unearths a massive secret which is followed by a few more. He confronts Dani which leads her to spilling the truth. Dani tells Zach what she had to do to make by. She makes Zach promise her that he will give up his digging because it will only lead to danger. Zach does not heed Dani's warning and keeps going which makes Dani flee. She has first hand knowledge of what the man is capable of if Zach doesn't stop digging and she has lost too much. She refuses to lose Zach too. Dani finally comes to the conclusion that she is exhausted from running, hiding, and conning. She wants to feel safe, live her life, and be free but most of all she wants Zach. She returns and reveals her real name is Lucy.
What will happen Next??? Will Lucy ever be safe? Will the man ever get caught? I for one am Dying to find out!!!!!
Zach is intrigued by the new girl Dani (aka Lucy) who transferred to his school. He feels a strong pull towards her that he can't explain. Zach is adamant that there is more to Dani than meets the eye and he's determined to find out all of her secrets and maybe, just maybe more.
Side characters are Marlin & Shorty who become like family to Lucy. Marlin is like her protective big brother, always having her back. He teaches Lucy what she must do in order to survive on the streets. Shorty becomes a father figure to the two of them and teaches the both of them how to con people. Now I know this sounds really bad but they only choose Greedy, Awful people who steal, lie, cheat, and hurt others. Their motto is to pick their mark, get in and work them by any means, get what you need, get out, move on.
Bring us back to present day... Zach with the help of his uncle Alex delves into Dani's past and unearths a massive secret which is followed by a few more. He confronts Dani which leads her to spilling the truth. Dani tells Zach what she had to do to make by. She makes Zach promise her that he will give up his digging because it will only lead to danger. Zach does not heed Dani's warning and keeps going which makes Dani flee. She has first hand knowledge of what the man is capable of if Zach doesn't stop digging and she has lost too much. She refuses to lose Zach too. Dani finally comes to the conclusion that she is exhausted from running, hiding, and conning. She wants to feel safe, live her life, and be free but most of all she wants Zach. She returns and reveals her real name is Lucy.
What will happen Next??? Will Lucy ever be safe? Will the man ever get caught? I for one am Dying to find out!!!!!
June 24, 2014
**See this full review and more at http://bookbriefs.net**
I Know Lucy is told from Zach's point of view. The chapters alternate between Zach, which is told in the first person, and Lucy, which is told in the Third person. It really worked for the story. Zach is the one trying to puzzle out the mystery that is Lucy, or Dani as he knows her, so Lucy's chapters are pieces of her past that allow the reader to slowly fill in the gap between when her parents were killed and Zach's present. I really loved watching how the story unfolded. Melissa Pearl is an excellent story teller.
I loved how smart and observant both Lucy and Zach are. I think that was one of the main things that drew them to each other. It was really interesting to see how similar their thought processes were. Zach is known as the "fixer" with his friends. He always picks girls that are a little crazy or off and he likes to play hero and save the day. His friends think that Lucy is just another one like that. But Zach is convinced that there is something different about her. He just doesn't know how right he is.
Lucy has had such an awful life. I felt so bad for what she had to witness and being on the run couldn't have been easy. As more and more of her past was revealed throughout the story, I felt myself hoping against hope that she was as good as she seemed. I was just like Zach. I wanted her to be this awesome girl. I didn't want to believe that she was going to do anything to hurt Zach or his friends. I ended up guessing correctly, but I am not going to tell you what I guessed or if it made me happy or sad. That will be for you to experience.
I Know Lucy was pretty powerful. I was really invested in Zach. I just wanted him to be happy, and of course I wanted Lucy to be happy as well. She has had it so rough. I might not have always admired her choices, but it would be hard to completely hate her. She is just a young girl trying to survive. I love Melissa Pearl's writing. Her stories are always so captivating. And with the ending of I Know Lucy, I kind of can't wait to get my hands on the next book. I am really interested to see what is going to happen next. This is not your typical YA love story at all.
I Know Lucy is told from Zach's point of view. The chapters alternate between Zach, which is told in the first person, and Lucy, which is told in the Third person. It really worked for the story. Zach is the one trying to puzzle out the mystery that is Lucy, or Dani as he knows her, so Lucy's chapters are pieces of her past that allow the reader to slowly fill in the gap between when her parents were killed and Zach's present. I really loved watching how the story unfolded. Melissa Pearl is an excellent story teller.
I loved how smart and observant both Lucy and Zach are. I think that was one of the main things that drew them to each other. It was really interesting to see how similar their thought processes were. Zach is known as the "fixer" with his friends. He always picks girls that are a little crazy or off and he likes to play hero and save the day. His friends think that Lucy is just another one like that. But Zach is convinced that there is something different about her. He just doesn't know how right he is.
Lucy has had such an awful life. I felt so bad for what she had to witness and being on the run couldn't have been easy. As more and more of her past was revealed throughout the story, I felt myself hoping against hope that she was as good as she seemed. I was just like Zach. I wanted her to be this awesome girl. I didn't want to believe that she was going to do anything to hurt Zach or his friends. I ended up guessing correctly, but I am not going to tell you what I guessed or if it made me happy or sad. That will be for you to experience.
I Know Lucy was pretty powerful. I was really invested in Zach. I just wanted him to be happy, and of course I wanted Lucy to be happy as well. She has had it so rough. I might not have always admired her choices, but it would be hard to completely hate her. She is just a young girl trying to survive. I love Melissa Pearl's writing. Her stories are always so captivating. And with the ending of I Know Lucy, I kind of can't wait to get my hands on the next book. I am really interested to see what is going to happen next. This is not your typical YA love story at all.
May 2, 2014
You can also find this review at http://girlinthewoodsreviews.blogspot...
Detailed Review: Exhilarating. That's how it felt while reading the book. I Know Lucy felt like a roller coaster ride with too many turns and loop-the-loops that it's impossible to not feel sick and throw up at the end.
I mean it all in a good sense.
So... What was so good about it? The main aspect of the book which captured me was the characters, especially Lucy. I loved reading her POVs all the time because it revealed so much to me. Lucy is meant to keep her identity and feelings a secret but through her words, I discovered how she felt at times and her personality and behaviour around different people. Lucy is like a modern-day Katniss, surviving for her family, oppressed by a man who holds great power and putting those she loves at risk.
Zach seemed to be an average boy at first, but as I read on, I could sense his underlying intelligence and perception. He certainly made a great match with Lucy.
When sparks flew between those two... I swear, my heart melted on the spot. I felt like I was Lucy, my heart tethered to this one boy that managed to unravel me in the most unexpected ways.
The appearance of the other characters were very sudden most of the time. This is what it seemed like to me. It seemed as if Melissa decided to do things the realistic way. I can picture her in my mind saying, 'Let's do things the real way. I'll just go with the flow. I will not stage their appearance; I shall just let them appear when they want to.'
That, is the beauty of it.
The story had many interesting twists, but as you know, they always come with the package. So no more comments until you read the book. I'd like to add though, they hit you hard. You'd better get a roll of bandage ready to cover the bumps and bruises you'll get.
The atmosphere in the story was well-written. There was always this element of fear and dread in Lucy's stories. And they're in just the right proportion.
Brief Review: My last words... Read the book. A thriller that will make your pulse race and your mind work should not be missed. Don't miss out on the fun!
Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'
Detailed Review: Exhilarating. That's how it felt while reading the book. I Know Lucy felt like a roller coaster ride with too many turns and loop-the-loops that it's impossible to not feel sick and throw up at the end.
I mean it all in a good sense.
So... What was so good about it? The main aspect of the book which captured me was the characters, especially Lucy. I loved reading her POVs all the time because it revealed so much to me. Lucy is meant to keep her identity and feelings a secret but through her words, I discovered how she felt at times and her personality and behaviour around different people. Lucy is like a modern-day Katniss, surviving for her family, oppressed by a man who holds great power and putting those she loves at risk.
Zach seemed to be an average boy at first, but as I read on, I could sense his underlying intelligence and perception. He certainly made a great match with Lucy.
When sparks flew between those two... I swear, my heart melted on the spot. I felt like I was Lucy, my heart tethered to this one boy that managed to unravel me in the most unexpected ways.
The appearance of the other characters were very sudden most of the time. This is what it seemed like to me. It seemed as if Melissa decided to do things the realistic way. I can picture her in my mind saying, 'Let's do things the real way. I'll just go with the flow. I will not stage their appearance; I shall just let them appear when they want to.'
That, is the beauty of it.
The story had many interesting twists, but as you know, they always come with the package. So no more comments until you read the book. I'd like to add though, they hit you hard. You'd better get a roll of bandage ready to cover the bumps and bruises you'll get.
The atmosphere in the story was well-written. There was always this element of fear and dread in Lucy's stories. And they're in just the right proportion.
Brief Review: My last words... Read the book. A thriller that will make your pulse race and your mind work should not be missed. Don't miss out on the fun!
Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'
August 5, 2016
I was given an ARC by Mark My Words Book Publicity in return for my review.
This is a very good Young Adult suspense/romance novel and has much more to it than a typical YA boy meets girl story. There’s lots of tension, emotion and some fairly grim scenes. I was drawn in very quickly.
I like the way the story is split, the present told from Zach’s point of view in the first person, he does makes a good narrator. And then the past up to the present from Lucy’s POV in the third person. The author’s way of revealing Lucy’s back story in flashback chapters throughout worked really well.
Lucy’s story is dark and troubling and she has had an awful time, something no young person should ever have to deal with. Her choices weren’t always wise but after witnessing the brutal and absolutely devastating murder of her parents, she was filled with terror and did whatever she had to in order to survive. I couldn’t help but feel for her. The emotional traumas she experiences during the years following her flight are vividly described.
As her feet pounded the pavement, ducking into the shadows at any opportunity, Lucy knew one thing. She was on her own. And if she was going to survive at all, she needed to keep running.
I wasn’t too sure about Zach at the beginning but he develops well as the story progresses. He feels an immediate attraction to Dani (Lucy) and becomes totally focused on helping her although it sometimes seems he’s making matters worse. Zach has a great group of friends with good relationships and interaction between them.
Some of the time I wasn’t totally convinced by Zach’s ‘voice’. For instance, I’m not sure whether an 18-year-old boy would describe things as ‘divine’ but apart from that small point I enjoyed the story very much and now have the sequel lined up in my TBR pile.
This is a very good Young Adult suspense/romance novel and has much more to it than a typical YA boy meets girl story. There’s lots of tension, emotion and some fairly grim scenes. I was drawn in very quickly.
I like the way the story is split, the present told from Zach’s point of view in the first person, he does makes a good narrator. And then the past up to the present from Lucy’s POV in the third person. The author’s way of revealing Lucy’s back story in flashback chapters throughout worked really well.
Lucy’s story is dark and troubling and she has had an awful time, something no young person should ever have to deal with. Her choices weren’t always wise but after witnessing the brutal and absolutely devastating murder of her parents, she was filled with terror and did whatever she had to in order to survive. I couldn’t help but feel for her. The emotional traumas she experiences during the years following her flight are vividly described.
As her feet pounded the pavement, ducking into the shadows at any opportunity, Lucy knew one thing. She was on her own. And if she was going to survive at all, she needed to keep running.
I wasn’t too sure about Zach at the beginning but he develops well as the story progresses. He feels an immediate attraction to Dani (Lucy) and becomes totally focused on helping her although it sometimes seems he’s making matters worse. Zach has a great group of friends with good relationships and interaction between them.
Some of the time I wasn’t totally convinced by Zach’s ‘voice’. For instance, I’m not sure whether an 18-year-old boy would describe things as ‘divine’ but apart from that small point I enjoyed the story very much and now have the sequel lined up in my TBR pile.
May 12, 2014
The first thing I'm going to point out is that the author did something different with her writing. Many of the chapters are from first person perspective. She gives us Zach's perspective. When we do have chapters from Lucy's point of view they are always third person. This was new to me, and at first I found it confusing. But once I got used to it, it was new and exciting. It was something that I did enjoy although I do wish that we could have had a chapter or two from Lucy's perspective in first person. Just for a switch up. But otherwise I enjoyed the perspectives. Especially because Zach has a rambly, chatty way of telling his tale which makes it easy to read. He's a goofy and humorous narrator, one that keeps the reader laughing while still being serious at times.
Then there are the flashbacks into Lucy's history. We don't get her history all at once. Instead we get them through flashbacks that appear throughout the book. It was a good way to do things as Lucy's flashbacks were heavy and dark while Zach's narrative was upbeat and funny. It kept things balanced, allowing the reader to get a glimpse into Lucy's past while not overwhelming them with too much darkness or pain.
It was easy to fall in love with the characters, and feel their emotions, especially Zach as we are literally seeing things through his eyes. There were many touching, sweet moments as well as some funny moments with a few dark moments mixed in.
I Know Lucy is an great read, one that I would suggest to those people who tend to like corruption in their books as well as the struggle to survive with a goofy narrator to boot.
Find this review and many others at Reading Shy With Aly
Then there are the flashbacks into Lucy's history. We don't get her history all at once. Instead we get them through flashbacks that appear throughout the book. It was a good way to do things as Lucy's flashbacks were heavy and dark while Zach's narrative was upbeat and funny. It kept things balanced, allowing the reader to get a glimpse into Lucy's past while not overwhelming them with too much darkness or pain.
It was easy to fall in love with the characters, and feel their emotions, especially Zach as we are literally seeing things through his eyes. There were many touching, sweet moments as well as some funny moments with a few dark moments mixed in.
I Know Lucy is an great read, one that I would suggest to those people who tend to like corruption in their books as well as the struggle to survive with a goofy narrator to boot.
Find this review and many others at Reading Shy With Aly
April 28, 2014
This is my first time to read a novel of Melissa Pearl. At first I was confused with the jumping timeline but after a while, I got the hang of it and when I did, I started to enjoy reading the book.
Reading this book was an enjoyable experience for me. I liked that the characters didn't react on matters the way I expected them too. Though I think the characters are too young to talk about love in a very serious manner, I felt that this was a great plot once I get past the awkwardness of thinking about their age. Not that I think young love does not exist, it's just that I believe that a happy ever after is easier to believe when they are adult and more settled with what they really what to do with their life.
Nonetheless, I immensely enjoyed the strength of Zach and Lucy's characters. I also fell in love with Zach's circle of friends. As always, I love reading about great stories of friendships. That's why among the characters, I find Elliot's character dearest to me.
I am looking forward to reading more about Uncle Alex and whether he would be the person to help Lucy attain justice. And of course, the ending was so much of a cliff hanger I can't wait to read the next book. I didn't expect I'd enjoy reading I Know Lucy this much but by the time Zach made that confrontation with Lucy and when Lucy discovered Zach has broken his promise, I find myself totally hooked.
So far this book was fun, thrilling and heart touching. I can't wait to read the next one and get to know Lucy more.
Thanks to Mark My Words Book publicity for the ARC of the book in exchange for the above honest review.
More book reviews at: http://versusthewriter.wordpress.com
Reading this book was an enjoyable experience for me. I liked that the characters didn't react on matters the way I expected them too. Though I think the characters are too young to talk about love in a very serious manner, I felt that this was a great plot once I get past the awkwardness of thinking about their age. Not that I think young love does not exist, it's just that I believe that a happy ever after is easier to believe when they are adult and more settled with what they really what to do with their life.
Nonetheless, I immensely enjoyed the strength of Zach and Lucy's characters. I also fell in love with Zach's circle of friends. As always, I love reading about great stories of friendships. That's why among the characters, I find Elliot's character dearest to me.
I am looking forward to reading more about Uncle Alex and whether he would be the person to help Lucy attain justice. And of course, the ending was so much of a cliff hanger I can't wait to read the next book. I didn't expect I'd enjoy reading I Know Lucy this much but by the time Zach made that confrontation with Lucy and when Lucy discovered Zach has broken his promise, I find myself totally hooked.
So far this book was fun, thrilling and heart touching. I can't wait to read the next one and get to know Lucy more.
Thanks to Mark My Words Book publicity for the ARC of the book in exchange for the above honest review.
More book reviews at: http://versusthewriter.wordpress.com
May 30, 2014
Originally posted at Geeky Chiquitas
Reviewed by: Beryl & Audrey
I Know Lucy is easily one of the best suspense novels we've read. Though it is also a love story, it did not forget that it was also a suspense story which most suspense-romance novels are not able to achieve. This book kept us guessing until the very end. It was definitely not your typical YA love story.
Lucy seems to be a very strong character. She got through her parent's death and survived five years on the run. Zach started out as a bit immature but soon became a great male lead. He obviously cares about Lucy and not just because she was messed up and he likes being the hero. It may have started out a bit like that but soon, you realize that Zach cares about Lucy (or Dani, as he knows her) past that level. He puts his life and the life of those he loves on the line for Lucy.
The story was told in the first-person POV of Zach portraying the present and the third-person POV of Lucy showing the past in alternating chapters. The book wouldn't have been as great if it wasn't told this way. The slow build up if suspense as Lucy begins to show more of her past was also perfect and leaves its readers hanging on to every word on the page.
The book ended perfectly with Lucy revealing her real name to Zach.We still don't know what will happen to Lucy, Zach, or the killer but we do know that we can't wait to get our hands on the second book of the series.
Reviewed by: Beryl & Audrey
I Know Lucy is easily one of the best suspense novels we've read. Though it is also a love story, it did not forget that it was also a suspense story which most suspense-romance novels are not able to achieve. This book kept us guessing until the very end. It was definitely not your typical YA love story.
Lucy seems to be a very strong character. She got through her parent's death and survived five years on the run. Zach started out as a bit immature but soon became a great male lead. He obviously cares about Lucy and not just because she was messed up and he likes being the hero. It may have started out a bit like that but soon, you realize that Zach cares about Lucy (or Dani, as he knows her) past that level. He puts his life and the life of those he loves on the line for Lucy.
The story was told in the first-person POV of Zach portraying the present and the third-person POV of Lucy showing the past in alternating chapters. The book wouldn't have been as great if it wasn't told this way. The slow build up if suspense as Lucy begins to show more of her past was also perfect and leaves its readers hanging on to every word on the page.
The book ended perfectly with Lucy revealing her real name to Zach.We still don't know what will happen to Lucy, Zach, or the killer but we do know that we can't wait to get our hands on the second book of the series.
December 5, 2018
I Know Lucy begins with us seeing what happened in Lucy's past to set her on her current course in life. She's had it really rough, and when it seems all hope is lost she just wants to have a normal life some where away from her past, but everything changes when she meets Zach.
Zach is curious by nature, and once he sees the new girl at school he can't help but be drawn to her. He knows she has lots of secrets and she may not be exactly who she says she is, but he can't help falling for her anyway. But when he does all he can to discover her secrets he may not like what he finds, and he may lose her forever.
This is a suspense filled novel with lots of intrigue. It has really intriguing characters, and it was a very enjoyable read. The book was also interesting the way it switched from first person to third person depending on whose point of view it technically was. And I also loved the way Lucy's past was explained through out the whole book. The only issues I had with it was the cliffhanger ending, I wish it had ended with a little more clarity but I understood why it didn't. And then I wish we had gotten into Lucy's head a little bit more. I loved seeing into Zach's mind, but it would have been better if we could have seen how Lucy thought about certain things, and what she really felt. We didn't get to experience that to the fullest extent in this one, but it was still a really good book!
Zach is curious by nature, and once he sees the new girl at school he can't help but be drawn to her. He knows she has lots of secrets and she may not be exactly who she says she is, but he can't help falling for her anyway. But when he does all he can to discover her secrets he may not like what he finds, and he may lose her forever.
This is a suspense filled novel with lots of intrigue. It has really intriguing characters, and it was a very enjoyable read. The book was also interesting the way it switched from first person to third person depending on whose point of view it technically was. And I also loved the way Lucy's past was explained through out the whole book. The only issues I had with it was the cliffhanger ending, I wish it had ended with a little more clarity but I understood why it didn't. And then I wish we had gotten into Lucy's head a little bit more. I loved seeing into Zach's mind, but it would have been better if we could have seen how Lucy thought about certain things, and what she really felt. We didn't get to experience that to the fullest extent in this one, but it was still a really good book!
March 29, 2014
Disclaimer: I received an ARC e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy Tate is on the run after watching her parents murdered before her very eyes. She has nowhere to go, but she's determined to live. Over the years, she does what she has to do to get by, conning and stealing to have food in her belly and a roof over her head, if only for one night.
Zach Schultz just saw the most beautiful girl he's ever laid eyes on. He has a pretty shoddy track record with girlfriends past, but he's bound and determined that this one is different. Boy, is she ever.
I absolutely love Melissa's stories, and this was definitely no exception. It was a great idea to showcase Zach's encounters with Dani while letting us flash backward to how Lucy winds up in her predicament and what she manages to do about it. My heart reached out to Lucy time and again, imagining how difficult it must be to see what she did, and then have to go on the run at only thirteen years old. It's amazing how she managed to survive, and although she had help along the way, her story of beating the odds remains largely hers. But now, she's fallen for Zach, and he for her, and she must decide if continuing a life on the run is worth the heartache of leaving him behind, or if those feelings just might be the end of her.
5 stars, and I need the next one yesterday!! =)
Lucy Tate is on the run after watching her parents murdered before her very eyes. She has nowhere to go, but she's determined to live. Over the years, she does what she has to do to get by, conning and stealing to have food in her belly and a roof over her head, if only for one night.
Zach Schultz just saw the most beautiful girl he's ever laid eyes on. He has a pretty shoddy track record with girlfriends past, but he's bound and determined that this one is different. Boy, is she ever.
I absolutely love Melissa's stories, and this was definitely no exception. It was a great idea to showcase Zach's encounters with Dani while letting us flash backward to how Lucy winds up in her predicament and what she manages to do about it. My heart reached out to Lucy time and again, imagining how difficult it must be to see what she did, and then have to go on the run at only thirteen years old. It's amazing how she managed to survive, and although she had help along the way, her story of beating the odds remains largely hers. But now, she's fallen for Zach, and he for her, and she must decide if continuing a life on the run is worth the heartache of leaving him behind, or if those feelings just might be the end of her.
5 stars, and I need the next one yesterday!! =)
May 25, 2014
*We were given a copy for a honest review*
Lucy is a 18 year old girl who has been dealt the worst hand ever. She has seen and done things no kid should ever have to do. She is constantly on the run and doesn't stay to long.
“As her feet pounded the pavement, ducking into the shadows at any opportunity, Lucy knew one thing. She was on her own. And if she was going to survive at all, she needed to keep running.”
Zack has a reputation of going after the wrong girls...some are stalkers and some are just straight out crazy! Once he lays eyes on Dani (Lucy) he knows there is something about her.
"It's something about her eyes. There's a story in them. I can't even explain why I think that. I just feel like she's got a lot of layers and I want to peel back every single one of them"
Zack wants to find out what Dani is hiding so he seeks help from his uncle. When Dani finds out all hell breaks loose. Can Dani open up and trust Zack? Does Zack's digging cause more problems for them? Read to find out!
The book was a really great read! It left you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I was hooked from page one and I am really looking forward to see what happens next!!!
5 Stars
Lucy is a 18 year old girl who has been dealt the worst hand ever. She has seen and done things no kid should ever have to do. She is constantly on the run and doesn't stay to long.
“As her feet pounded the pavement, ducking into the shadows at any opportunity, Lucy knew one thing. She was on her own. And if she was going to survive at all, she needed to keep running.”
Zack has a reputation of going after the wrong girls...some are stalkers and some are just straight out crazy! Once he lays eyes on Dani (Lucy) he knows there is something about her.
"It's something about her eyes. There's a story in them. I can't even explain why I think that. I just feel like she's got a lot of layers and I want to peel back every single one of them"
Zack wants to find out what Dani is hiding so he seeks help from his uncle. When Dani finds out all hell breaks loose. Can Dani open up and trust Zack? Does Zack's digging cause more problems for them? Read to find out!
The book was a really great read! It left you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I was hooked from page one and I am really looking forward to see what happens next!!!
5 Stars
June 1, 2014
This is not your average book, let's just make that clear. I'm also starting to hate putting the tag Young Adult on books because it's almost as if they don't have to be as good. WRONG!!! They need to be just as good, if not better, these days because everyone's a critic. Just because the main characters are 18 doesn't make this any less of a Romantic Suspense book than if they had been in their mid-thirties (and yes, that's still younger than me!).
I Know Lucy is told mainly from Zach's point of view but is also split in chapters from Lucy's point of view, which are actually written in the third person. This works REALLY well and helps to build up the intrigue of this story.
Lucy and Zach are both wonderfully written characters with depth and meaning. You invest not only your time with this book but also your emotions. You feel for Lucy as she relives what happened. You feel for Zach as he joins the dots and wonders about his hopefully to be girlfriend. Zach also has a group of friends that are brilliant although I have to admit to having a soft spot for grumpy Elliot ;)
All in all a fantastic, well written Romantic Suspense novel. The Young Adult part is just an aside. Highly recommended.
I Know Lucy is told mainly from Zach's point of view but is also split in chapters from Lucy's point of view, which are actually written in the third person. This works REALLY well and helps to build up the intrigue of this story.
Lucy and Zach are both wonderfully written characters with depth and meaning. You invest not only your time with this book but also your emotions. You feel for Lucy as she relives what happened. You feel for Zach as he joins the dots and wonders about his hopefully to be girlfriend. Zach also has a group of friends that are brilliant although I have to admit to having a soft spot for grumpy Elliot ;)
All in all a fantastic, well written Romantic Suspense novel. The Young Adult part is just an aside. Highly recommended.
April 2, 2014
This book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I Know Lucy is a fascinating tale of a teenaged girl thrust into the most horrible of circumstances. Forced into a life of crime in order to survive, Lucy is a strong, resilient, and fragile young woman struggling survive under the most dire of circumstances.
I enjoyed the way the author switched up the POVs in this book, first person for Zach and third for Lucy. It worked really well, since Lucy's part of the story are all remembrances of the past while Zach's are present day.
Lucy is a wonderfully real character, she seems to leap right off the page. Her story is exciting and heartbreaking and I want very much to know how it all turns out for her. Zach is a little odd and I found his intensity a bit off putting. However, he can be admired for his fierce desire to protect Lucy and save her, even though he doesn't realize the kind of danger he's putting himself and everyone he loves in.
If you enjoy YA suspense, you may want to give this one a try.
I Know Lucy is a fascinating tale of a teenaged girl thrust into the most horrible of circumstances. Forced into a life of crime in order to survive, Lucy is a strong, resilient, and fragile young woman struggling survive under the most dire of circumstances.
I enjoyed the way the author switched up the POVs in this book, first person for Zach and third for Lucy. It worked really well, since Lucy's part of the story are all remembrances of the past while Zach's are present day.
Lucy is a wonderfully real character, she seems to leap right off the page. Her story is exciting and heartbreaking and I want very much to know how it all turns out for her. Zach is a little odd and I found his intensity a bit off putting. However, he can be admired for his fierce desire to protect Lucy and save her, even though he doesn't realize the kind of danger he's putting himself and everyone he loves in.
If you enjoy YA suspense, you may want to give this one a try.
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