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Atticus
He knew me from the moment I stepped through the broken window.
Studying me.
Watching me.
Changing me.
I was unaware of him at first; my life was too out of control to notice. The constant moving and lack of money after Mom divorced Dad was turning her into a different person. All she did was drink and she was now this angry person I didn't want to know.
But once I stepped through the window inside that house, I could feel the peace surrounding me. Hugging my body as if it had arms. Protecting me. Loving me. It was like the house knew what I craved and it felt too good to question any of it. So I went back, day after day. I hungrily guzzled up the euphoria like a raging alcoholic, reaching for another drink.
Just like my mother.
Studying me.
Watching me.
Changing me.
I was unaware of him at first; my life was too out of control to notice. The constant moving and lack of money after Mom divorced Dad was turning her into a different person. All she did was drink and she was now this angry person I didn't want to know.
But once I stepped through the window inside that house, I could feel the peace surrounding me. Hugging my body as if it had arms. Protecting me. Loving me. It was like the house knew what I craved and it felt too good to question any of it. So I went back, day after day. I hungrily guzzled up the euphoria like a raging alcoholic, reaching for another drink.
Just like my mother.
- GenresParanormal
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2016
4 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Fear
10 books200 followersLeslie began writing in college, creating short stories for friends, family or whoever wanted to read her paranormal romance stories. They’re her favorite genre, and you’ll never read anything without a supernatural spin.
Leslie is also the host of "Because I Wanna Know" podcast, where she chats with guests who have unique occupations or life experiences. Like a mortician, a near death experiencer, paranormal investigators, even a woman who escaped from a religious cult! You can find her on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Leslie lives in Texas with her husband, son and daughter, and two very silly pugs.
Leslie is also the host of "Because I Wanna Know" podcast, where she chats with guests who have unique occupations or life experiences. Like a mortician, a near death experiencer, paranormal investigators, even a woman who escaped from a religious cult! You can find her on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Leslie lives in Texas with her husband, son and daughter, and two very silly pugs.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 17, 2020
this book is a solid three "liked it" stars coming from someone with this attitude towards romance:
but to paranormal romance fans - come read this!
okay, i'm back!! so, yeah - i may not be a fan of romance novels in general, but i am a fan of ms. leslie fear, who co-authored two books i would never have read on my own, but she's such a delightfully effervescent and genuine person (on the internet, anyway. she may drown baby koalas IRL for all i know), that i took a chance and read both Villere House and Bayou Grise: Sins of Sanite, and while they may not have been within my typical reading-sphere, i enjoyed them both so of course i was gonna read this new book that she wrote all by herself!
i'm not sure of this book is intended for a YA audience, but it is certainly suitable for one, unless cussin' is something you find too distressing to put before the vulnerable eyeballs of teenagers, who would never ever themselves use profanity. but the characters are high-school age, and there is zero smut or even a whisper of adult situations. just some good clean fun and one vengeful, homicidal ghost.
first let me tell you everything i don't like about romance novels, and the ways in which this book avoids them.
1: i hate it when two people fall in love/lust just by virtue of proximity - where you are told these characters are attracted to each other without the author supplying any rationale for their supposed chemistry.
this one has a pretty typical meet-cute moment, where candice, on her first day in a new school (just one first day in a steady succession of first days at new schools), bumps into a cute guy and her stuff flies everywhere, resulting in casually cruel teenage mockery by the hallway rabble, which mockery cute boy diffuses.
which is a little damsel in distress, but she's no damsel, and she isn't instantly smitten with her rescuer, brad. in fact, she's reluctantly grateful, with a little resentment smeared in, since her only plan right now is to kill time until graduation, forming as few attachments as possible.
I learned my lesson a long time ago to keep a low profile. I can't allow anyone to get too close or find out my life is a complete disaster. I just want to graduate as soon as humanly possible. I'm not going to fall for the first guy who's nice to me.
which leads to "romance novel convention dislikes 2 and 3":
2: sole focus on the female character's internal monologues which tend to idealize the love interest into a mythologized version of a human being without nuance.
this book is told from both candice and brad's perspective, so it's not a case of the woman throwing herself at some faceless monolithic archetype - they are both fully formed characters whose attraction seems genuine according to their personalities.
brad's version of their meeting and candice's frosty reception of his assistance, in which he appreciates the unexpectedness of her reaction; almost charmed by her rudeness:
I offered my help when the bell rang because I was pretty sure she didn't know where her next class was, either, but she turned me down. I couldn't help but laugh, even though she was a complete stranger to me; she was trying to be tough and do everything on her own.
3: i do not like the obstacles that prevent two people from being together - they are usually either trivial situations blown up for dramatic purpose or so farfetched that they have no resonance within the reader; no way in through their personal life experiences.
here we have two obstacles, where one falls into the second part of my complaint, but it's permissible THIS TIME. for the first, we have a girl who has built walls around her emotional self because of the difficulties of her home life: she lives with her abusive alcoholic mother who has difficulty holding a job, money is tight and they move frequently, so candice has trained herself not to form what are bound to be fleeting attachments. additionally, her mother's romantic life hasn't exactly set up healthy expectations for candice, so she's not looking to perpetuate that cycle.
obstacle #2 - there's a ghost who is claiming candice as his own, so that's kind of awkward.
let's put the ghost aside for now and focus on candice's fraught relationship with her mother, because it's the most interesting aspect of the book, to me, being the romance-resistor that i am.
candice is stubborn, proud, and secretive. she's embarrassed by her home life and her mother's drunken rages, and she's taken steps to prevent herself from the complications a relationship would add to her already full emotional plate, even in minor matters:
My only focus is to find my next class before I have to ask for help. I don't want favors and I don't want charity because nothing in my world is free. Everything is conditional. I thought by now I'd be used to the way we live but what I really do is fake it. Just like my mom. Most of the time I feel like I'm on autopilot, trudging through life with no direction, only hers.
so in that hallway interaction, she regards brad with skepticism - I'm not used to sincerity, not even a little bit.
she doesn't see the point of starting a romantic relationship doomed to fail: I've never had roots and I sure as hell don't think we'll stick around here long enough for them to grow.
however, candice is not some fragile creature scared of intimacy; if anything she's more pissed than fearful about the way her mother's behaviors have influenced her own choices.
I would love to tell her that she's destroyed my life and to go straight to hell. But I can't. I have no doubt she would slap the shit out of me if I did. So I go off on her in my mind instead. I've done it countless times.
no matter how justifiably angry she is at her mother, candice isn't without sympathy for her, and she genuinely loves her mother, regardless of how hard she makes it to do so.
Sometimes I think I'm a bad person for hating her, but the truth is, I actually don't hate her at all. I hate what she's become.
despite candice's resolve to remain unattached through her final year of school before she can start over at a college far away from her mother's emotional baggage, despite the instability she's come to expect, I pretty much stay in a perpetual state of uneasiness thanks to the unpredictable world I live in, through a steady stream of good-natured teasing, chivalrous acts, and well, being dreamy (it IS a romance novel, after all), brad manages to win over the reluctant candice and they begin to enter into a cautious relationship.
which brings us to 4: sex scenes. oh, lordy, the sex scenes in romance novels are terrible. the euphemisms, the contortions - they mostly just make me laugh with how hot they are not making me. i know i read a lot of monsterporn, which are nothing but sex scenes, but i read those for entertainment purpose only - because they are SO over-the-top that it can't help but cause the helpless giggles. this book circumvents that issue entirely, and it is a true romance novel, about people falling for each other who never actually hook up on the page.
and what could easily have turned into some wholesomely generic story of white teenagers falling in gum commercial love in the hands of a different author goes off in another direction entirely when candice finds herself repeatedly drawn to an abandoned house with its own dark secrets, inhabited by the ghost of a man who sees in candice the echoes of a woman he has been longing for for over a hundred years. because of candice's shaky background no matter where we end up, no place ever feels like home, when she enters the abandoned decay of the emory house, she feels intoxicated. not "safe" so much as "devoured" by lassitude and calm, not unlike the effects of the venom some predators release into their prey.
from there it goes straight to spooky paranormal horror-romance town.
she gets bonus points for the correct usage of "nauseated" instead of "nauseous" - david foster wallace would be so pleased! that's a bad habit i still can't break myself of, so kudos to ms. fear!
again - paranormal romance fans - come read this!
and thank you again for daring to place your baby in front of my romance-resisting eyes!!
come to my blog!
but to paranormal romance fans - come read this!
okay, i'm back!! so, yeah - i may not be a fan of romance novels in general, but i am a fan of ms. leslie fear, who co-authored two books i would never have read on my own, but she's such a delightfully effervescent and genuine person (on the internet, anyway. she may drown baby koalas IRL for all i know), that i took a chance and read both Villere House and Bayou Grise: Sins of Sanite, and while they may not have been within my typical reading-sphere, i enjoyed them both so of course i was gonna read this new book that she wrote all by herself!
i'm not sure of this book is intended for a YA audience, but it is certainly suitable for one, unless cussin' is something you find too distressing to put before the vulnerable eyeballs of teenagers, who would never ever themselves use profanity. but the characters are high-school age, and there is zero smut or even a whisper of adult situations. just some good clean fun and one vengeful, homicidal ghost.
first let me tell you everything i don't like about romance novels, and the ways in which this book avoids them.
1: i hate it when two people fall in love/lust just by virtue of proximity - where you are told these characters are attracted to each other without the author supplying any rationale for their supposed chemistry.
this one has a pretty typical meet-cute moment, where candice, on her first day in a new school (just one first day in a steady succession of first days at new schools), bumps into a cute guy and her stuff flies everywhere, resulting in casually cruel teenage mockery by the hallway rabble, which mockery cute boy diffuses.
which is a little damsel in distress, but she's no damsel, and she isn't instantly smitten with her rescuer, brad. in fact, she's reluctantly grateful, with a little resentment smeared in, since her only plan right now is to kill time until graduation, forming as few attachments as possible.
I learned my lesson a long time ago to keep a low profile. I can't allow anyone to get too close or find out my life is a complete disaster. I just want to graduate as soon as humanly possible. I'm not going to fall for the first guy who's nice to me.
which leads to "romance novel convention dislikes 2 and 3":
2: sole focus on the female character's internal monologues which tend to idealize the love interest into a mythologized version of a human being without nuance.
this book is told from both candice and brad's perspective, so it's not a case of the woman throwing herself at some faceless monolithic archetype - they are both fully formed characters whose attraction seems genuine according to their personalities.
brad's version of their meeting and candice's frosty reception of his assistance, in which he appreciates the unexpectedness of her reaction; almost charmed by her rudeness:
I offered my help when the bell rang because I was pretty sure she didn't know where her next class was, either, but she turned me down. I couldn't help but laugh, even though she was a complete stranger to me; she was trying to be tough and do everything on her own.
3: i do not like the obstacles that prevent two people from being together - they are usually either trivial situations blown up for dramatic purpose or so farfetched that they have no resonance within the reader; no way in through their personal life experiences.
here we have two obstacles, where one falls into the second part of my complaint, but it's permissible THIS TIME. for the first, we have a girl who has built walls around her emotional self because of the difficulties of her home life: she lives with her abusive alcoholic mother who has difficulty holding a job, money is tight and they move frequently, so candice has trained herself not to form what are bound to be fleeting attachments. additionally, her mother's romantic life hasn't exactly set up healthy expectations for candice, so she's not looking to perpetuate that cycle.
obstacle #2 - there's a ghost who is claiming candice as his own, so that's kind of awkward.
let's put the ghost aside for now and focus on candice's fraught relationship with her mother, because it's the most interesting aspect of the book, to me, being the romance-resistor that i am.
candice is stubborn, proud, and secretive. she's embarrassed by her home life and her mother's drunken rages, and she's taken steps to prevent herself from the complications a relationship would add to her already full emotional plate, even in minor matters:
My only focus is to find my next class before I have to ask for help. I don't want favors and I don't want charity because nothing in my world is free. Everything is conditional. I thought by now I'd be used to the way we live but what I really do is fake it. Just like my mom. Most of the time I feel like I'm on autopilot, trudging through life with no direction, only hers.
so in that hallway interaction, she regards brad with skepticism - I'm not used to sincerity, not even a little bit.
she doesn't see the point of starting a romantic relationship doomed to fail: I've never had roots and I sure as hell don't think we'll stick around here long enough for them to grow.
however, candice is not some fragile creature scared of intimacy; if anything she's more pissed than fearful about the way her mother's behaviors have influenced her own choices.
I would love to tell her that she's destroyed my life and to go straight to hell. But I can't. I have no doubt she would slap the shit out of me if I did. So I go off on her in my mind instead. I've done it countless times.
no matter how justifiably angry she is at her mother, candice isn't without sympathy for her, and she genuinely loves her mother, regardless of how hard she makes it to do so.
Sometimes I think I'm a bad person for hating her, but the truth is, I actually don't hate her at all. I hate what she's become.
despite candice's resolve to remain unattached through her final year of school before she can start over at a college far away from her mother's emotional baggage, despite the instability she's come to expect, I pretty much stay in a perpetual state of uneasiness thanks to the unpredictable world I live in, through a steady stream of good-natured teasing, chivalrous acts, and well, being dreamy (it IS a romance novel, after all), brad manages to win over the reluctant candice and they begin to enter into a cautious relationship.
which brings us to 4: sex scenes. oh, lordy, the sex scenes in romance novels are terrible. the euphemisms, the contortions - they mostly just make me laugh with how hot they are not making me. i know i read a lot of monsterporn, which are nothing but sex scenes, but i read those for entertainment purpose only - because they are SO over-the-top that it can't help but cause the helpless giggles. this book circumvents that issue entirely, and it is a true romance novel, about people falling for each other who never actually hook up on the page.
and what could easily have turned into some wholesomely generic story of white teenagers falling in gum commercial love in the hands of a different author goes off in another direction entirely when candice finds herself repeatedly drawn to an abandoned house with its own dark secrets, inhabited by the ghost of a man who sees in candice the echoes of a woman he has been longing for for over a hundred years. because of candice's shaky background no matter where we end up, no place ever feels like home, when she enters the abandoned decay of the emory house, she feels intoxicated. not "safe" so much as "devoured" by lassitude and calm, not unlike the effects of the venom some predators release into their prey.
from there it goes straight to spooky paranormal horror-romance town.
she gets bonus points for the correct usage of "nauseated" instead of "nauseous" - david foster wallace would be so pleased! that's a bad habit i still can't break myself of, so kudos to ms. fear!
again - paranormal romance fans - come read this!
and thank you again for daring to place your baby in front of my romance-resisting eyes!!
come to my blog!
September 17, 2017
4 stars!!!
When I read the blurb and saw the cover for Atticus, I knew right away it was a book I wanted to read. I’ve read both of Leslie Fear’s ‘Blood of My Blood’ books so I knew I’d enjoy the writing style. Atticus is different from her other books. It’s paranormal and YA- and I love YA books so I was excited to jump in. This story held my attention the entire book and when I finished left me thinking about it for days!
Candice is starting a new high school… again. She’s been the new girl more times than she can count due to her mother. She has the type of mom who goes from one town to the next for one guy or another. She can’t wait to graduate and start her own life.
Candice doesn’t let herself make many friends or get attached to anyone, and for good reason. But there is a guy at her school named Brad who is more persistent than anyone else. Eventually, he wears her down and they start dating. So, this sounds like a nice and happy YA book, right? Well, there is this whole other thing going on with this abandoned house that Candice is drawn to…
I loved the Candice and Brad story line, I loved the mystery and suspense of the house and Atticus. Overall, I enjoyed this book lots. It was interesting, suspenseful, well written and fast paced. If you’re in the mood for something other than the same old romance, give this one a shot. It’s full of adventure and mystery and hopefully, you’ll become as captivated with the story as I was! Atticus was a solid 4 star read for me.
When I read the blurb and saw the cover for Atticus, I knew right away it was a book I wanted to read. I’ve read both of Leslie Fear’s ‘Blood of My Blood’ books so I knew I’d enjoy the writing style. Atticus is different from her other books. It’s paranormal and YA- and I love YA books so I was excited to jump in. This story held my attention the entire book and when I finished left me thinking about it for days!
Candice is starting a new high school… again. She’s been the new girl more times than she can count due to her mother. She has the type of mom who goes from one town to the next for one guy or another. She can’t wait to graduate and start her own life.
Candice doesn’t let herself make many friends or get attached to anyone, and for good reason. But there is a guy at her school named Brad who is more persistent than anyone else. Eventually, he wears her down and they start dating. So, this sounds like a nice and happy YA book, right? Well, there is this whole other thing going on with this abandoned house that Candice is drawn to…
The house made me feel welcome, like it knew what I needed at that precise moment, melting all my anxiety away. It’s as if it has a conscience.The Emory house is more than just a house. It’s a presence. There is one particular spirit there that is pulling Candice in. His name is Atticus. Atticus is something else. I spent most of the book with conflicting feelings towards him. He seems good, then he seems creepy at the next turn. Either way, Candice can’t help but come back to the house again and again. Until it becomes detrimental to her and her health.
I loved the Candice and Brad story line, I loved the mystery and suspense of the house and Atticus. Overall, I enjoyed this book lots. It was interesting, suspenseful, well written and fast paced. If you’re in the mood for something other than the same old romance, give this one a shot. It’s full of adventure and mystery and hopefully, you’ll become as captivated with the story as I was! Atticus was a solid 4 star read for me.
May 9, 2016
It has been way too long since I've read a good Paranormal book. I was so excited to read Atticus. GAHHHH....that synopsis.
It was good, a solid three stars. It started out strong, teasing me with vagueties (yes it's a word if I say it's a word) and intrigue. It was extremely creative, and kept me engaged the entire time. I was entertained, but it didn't really go further than that. Atticus pulled me along a little too fast. Even though it is a full length novel, it read more like a novella. There were so many amazing aspects of this story that could have been developed a little bit deeper. The characters, the history of Atticus, the romance. Without truly developing the quality of the story, there were so many random coincidences that just seemed to be thrown in. Mrs. Stephens' involvement was crucial, but it seemed to come out of nowhere, and the ending wrapped up way too quickly. Even in the end, it was hard for me to tie everything together. However, the cliffhanger has me believing that this book has just scratched the surface of what's to come. I'm excited to see where this story is headed, and I definitely need more Brad (love me some Brad). Despite my critiques, what the author did give me was enough to make me want more, to need more development. To crave more story. That right there, is what a good story is all about.
This story is perfect for any paranormal fan that it looking for something a little on the lighter side. A quick read, wrapped in a lot of mystery.
READ ON!!
It was good, a solid three stars. It started out strong, teasing me with vagueties (yes it's a word if I say it's a word) and intrigue. It was extremely creative, and kept me engaged the entire time. I was entertained, but it didn't really go further than that. Atticus pulled me along a little too fast. Even though it is a full length novel, it read more like a novella. There were so many amazing aspects of this story that could have been developed a little bit deeper. The characters, the history of Atticus, the romance. Without truly developing the quality of the story, there were so many random coincidences that just seemed to be thrown in. Mrs. Stephens' involvement was crucial, but it seemed to come out of nowhere, and the ending wrapped up way too quickly. Even in the end, it was hard for me to tie everything together. However, the cliffhanger has me believing that this book has just scratched the surface of what's to come. I'm excited to see where this story is headed, and I definitely need more Brad (love me some Brad). Despite my critiques, what the author did give me was enough to make me want more, to need more development. To crave more story. That right there, is what a good story is all about.
This story is perfect for any paranormal fan that it looking for something a little on the lighter side. A quick read, wrapped in a lot of mystery.
READ ON!!
May 8, 2016
Atticus has all the things I love in a book: a strong protagonist, a sweet romance (with a hottie, of course), and a creepy mystery. I was torn between wanting to go into the house with Candace because it felt so good there, and saying, NO, don't go! I stayed up wayyyy to late (as in 4am!) reading this book. That alone should tell you how much I enjoyed it!
May 2, 2016
I'll admit, Atticus is not my usual genre. I'm not a huge fan of YA, I'm not a huge fan of paranormal stuff....yet...here I am, giving Atticus five stars.
Atticus is one of those books that makes you fall in love with the characters and their story. Candice has it rough. Really rough. She's mature beyond her years and has built up some very tall, very strong walls. When she moves, yet again, she is thrust into yet another school. She's determined not to attach herself to anyone because she knows how it'll end. Her mom will pack up and leave. Again.
Then she runs into Brad. Literally. He's a charmer, yet his intentions are heartfelt. There's an instant attraction, but she's not going to let him in. He's just another pretty boy in Smalltown, USA.
Oh, then there's the Emory House. It's a rundown, topic of gossip in town. Candice is inexplicably drawn to the house. What follows is downright creepy and will have you checking over your shoulder, for sure.
Atticus is quite a bit different from Ms. Fear's other books but that definitely doesn't make it any less of a page turner. The author has a way with words and that shines through.
Atticus is one of those books that makes you fall in love with the characters and their story. Candice has it rough. Really rough. She's mature beyond her years and has built up some very tall, very strong walls. When she moves, yet again, she is thrust into yet another school. She's determined not to attach herself to anyone because she knows how it'll end. Her mom will pack up and leave. Again.
Then she runs into Brad. Literally. He's a charmer, yet his intentions are heartfelt. There's an instant attraction, but she's not going to let him in. He's just another pretty boy in Smalltown, USA.
Oh, then there's the Emory House. It's a rundown, topic of gossip in town. Candice is inexplicably drawn to the house. What follows is downright creepy and will have you checking over your shoulder, for sure.
Atticus is quite a bit different from Ms. Fear's other books but that definitely doesn't make it any less of a page turner. The author has a way with words and that shines through.
September 8, 2016
This was an easy read. It was also definitely a what the f*ck book. I really enjoyed reading it. There was plenty of WTF moments going on.
August 12, 2016
This is a nice, quick paranormal that keeps you wanting to read all night long. Only wish it was longer.
April 22, 2016
5 Through the Window Stars
You know how you think something is going one way and then it doesn't? Like you think you had a great conversation with someone and then you find out they got really mad at you. Or you knew...just knew....what you were getting a new bike for Christmas and you really got socks. Or the worst....biting into what you think is a great piece of chocolate only to find out it's that strawberry filling stuff.
Yeah, Ms Fear pulls a switcheroo on us. She takes you down on path and then....BAM takes you through a whole other door. Or in this case... a window. But this time it's not strawberry filling. This time the filling is dark chocolate liqueur. Intoxicating.
Candice is in a new town. Again. She and her mom have been bouncing from one place to the next. Every time her mom gets fired or breaks up with some random man, Candice gets a new school. She is pretty tired of it, but only has to last a few more years until she can take off on her own.
...telling myself to suck it up because sucking it up is what I do on a daily basis.
Brad meets Candice on her first day at school. He is cute and sweet and wants to get to know her better. Brad does exactly what Candice doesn't want him to do. He sees her. And pays attention to her. Candice gets by on getting by. Under the radar. And she is definitely on Brad's radar.
I needed to make the suffering behind those beautiful eyes go away.
But every town has its's secrets. The places you shouldn't go. Or at least not tell you parents about. Candice is finding more than just a new boyfriend in her new town. She is also finding that she is drawn to a place she shouldn't be. Drawn to someone she should avoid. Someone she can't explain. New feelings she can't process.
What's even scarier is my overwhelming urge to go inside. And that's probably a really bad idea.
'
She finds that she is more confused than ever. Between her mom's temper, Brad's cute smile and the house she can't stay away from, she is losing herself.
This is not what I had planned. It feels like my world is spinning out of control...
Ms Fear likes that out of control feeling. She likes make the reader feel it too. Ms Fear sets you up...leads you on. You are never really sure you trust her to characters. There is just too much going on for you to know what they will do. The story is unpredictable and unconventional. And you will love it. Atticus is not the story you think it will be. It's better.
It's as if he's a raging river, and I'm swirling in the rapids. Maybe for once I should allow myself to let go and drift over to the other side.
Doesn't that make you want to dive in? So let go. Drift over. Step through the window. Find yourself in Atticus' world.
You know how you think something is going one way and then it doesn't? Like you think you had a great conversation with someone and then you find out they got really mad at you. Or you knew...just knew....what you were getting a new bike for Christmas and you really got socks. Or the worst....biting into what you think is a great piece of chocolate only to find out it's that strawberry filling stuff.
Yeah, Ms Fear pulls a switcheroo on us. She takes you down on path and then....BAM takes you through a whole other door. Or in this case... a window. But this time it's not strawberry filling. This time the filling is dark chocolate liqueur. Intoxicating.
Candice is in a new town. Again. She and her mom have been bouncing from one place to the next. Every time her mom gets fired or breaks up with some random man, Candice gets a new school. She is pretty tired of it, but only has to last a few more years until she can take off on her own.
...telling myself to suck it up because sucking it up is what I do on a daily basis.
Brad meets Candice on her first day at school. He is cute and sweet and wants to get to know her better. Brad does exactly what Candice doesn't want him to do. He sees her. And pays attention to her. Candice gets by on getting by. Under the radar. And she is definitely on Brad's radar.
I needed to make the suffering behind those beautiful eyes go away.
But every town has its's secrets. The places you shouldn't go. Or at least not tell you parents about. Candice is finding more than just a new boyfriend in her new town. She is also finding that she is drawn to a place she shouldn't be. Drawn to someone she should avoid. Someone she can't explain. New feelings she can't process.
What's even scarier is my overwhelming urge to go inside. And that's probably a really bad idea.
'
She finds that she is more confused than ever. Between her mom's temper, Brad's cute smile and the house she can't stay away from, she is losing herself.
This is not what I had planned. It feels like my world is spinning out of control...
Ms Fear likes that out of control feeling. She likes make the reader feel it too. Ms Fear sets you up...leads you on. You are never really sure you trust her to characters. There is just too much going on for you to know what they will do. The story is unpredictable and unconventional. And you will love it. Atticus is not the story you think it will be. It's better.
It's as if he's a raging river, and I'm swirling in the rapids. Maybe for once I should allow myself to let go and drift over to the other side.
Doesn't that make you want to dive in? So let go. Drift over. Step through the window. Find yourself in Atticus' world.
May 25, 2016
My review:
It's no secret that I love a good paranormal book and when a malevolent spirit with intentions is at the crux, as with Atticus, I have a page turner filled with mystery and suspense. Set in a small town in Georgia, Atticus takes on a Southern gothic feel, adding to the already spooky atmosphere.
The story centers around Candice, a high school senior from a broken and dysfunctional family; Brad, a boy at school who is attracted to and protective of Candice; and Atticus, the malevolent spirit who visits Candice in her dreams. Candice's background and family life are disclosed early in the book, revealing her vulnerability and opening a door for Atticus to manipulate Candice's memories and actions. Atticus is very spooky and while I really wanted to like him and find something redeemable in him, the longer I immersed myself into the story, the more I hated and feared this apparition. Questions of intent and why Atticus is the way he is are answered, which led me to feel a compassion for him near the end, but it wasn't enough to fully credit him as anything other than malicious in my eyes.
The prologue was a bit of a surprise in the way it set the tone of the story. The entire prologue, with exception to a sentence or two, is written in dialogue. Dialogue can easily set a character's intentions and demeanor for me, but rarely does it set the mood of a story on its own, but the author managed to set the climate with just the dialogue of a few curious teenagers. With this book catering to the young adult age group, the author handled Brad and Candice's emotions eloquently without going over the top. Both Candice and Brad had a mutual respect for each other that guided their decisions and actions toward one another. Taking these two any further in their romance would have added unnecessary drama to the story. As it is, their blossoming romance adds a sweet flavor to complement the primary scheme.
There is one issue I have with the character, Mrs. Stephens, Candice's school counselor, and I'm not sure that issue is the correct word to use here. The author insinuates early on that Mrs. Stephens is aware of Candice's past, but the disclosure of how Mrs. Stephens knows of Candice's troubles felt rushed. I would have liked little snippets of Mrs. Stephens's background and involvement scattered throughout the story because she proves to be a prominent character in the climax. Overall, Atticus is a story I loved and read straight through. It's a compelling book with strong characters, an interesting plot and while I have a sense of resolution, for the most part, the author leaves just enough of an open window to continue the story and make me want more.
It's no secret that I love a good paranormal book and when a malevolent spirit with intentions is at the crux, as with Atticus, I have a page turner filled with mystery and suspense. Set in a small town in Georgia, Atticus takes on a Southern gothic feel, adding to the already spooky atmosphere.
The story centers around Candice, a high school senior from a broken and dysfunctional family; Brad, a boy at school who is attracted to and protective of Candice; and Atticus, the malevolent spirit who visits Candice in her dreams. Candice's background and family life are disclosed early in the book, revealing her vulnerability and opening a door for Atticus to manipulate Candice's memories and actions. Atticus is very spooky and while I really wanted to like him and find something redeemable in him, the longer I immersed myself into the story, the more I hated and feared this apparition. Questions of intent and why Atticus is the way he is are answered, which led me to feel a compassion for him near the end, but it wasn't enough to fully credit him as anything other than malicious in my eyes.
The prologue was a bit of a surprise in the way it set the tone of the story. The entire prologue, with exception to a sentence or two, is written in dialogue. Dialogue can easily set a character's intentions and demeanor for me, but rarely does it set the mood of a story on its own, but the author managed to set the climate with just the dialogue of a few curious teenagers. With this book catering to the young adult age group, the author handled Brad and Candice's emotions eloquently without going over the top. Both Candice and Brad had a mutual respect for each other that guided their decisions and actions toward one another. Taking these two any further in their romance would have added unnecessary drama to the story. As it is, their blossoming romance adds a sweet flavor to complement the primary scheme.
There is one issue I have with the character, Mrs. Stephens, Candice's school counselor, and I'm not sure that issue is the correct word to use here. The author insinuates early on that Mrs. Stephens is aware of Candice's past, but the disclosure of how Mrs. Stephens knows of Candice's troubles felt rushed. I would have liked little snippets of Mrs. Stephens's background and involvement scattered throughout the story because she proves to be a prominent character in the climax. Overall, Atticus is a story I loved and read straight through. It's a compelling book with strong characters, an interesting plot and while I have a sense of resolution, for the most part, the author leaves just enough of an open window to continue the story and make me want more.
June 11, 2016
Candice Crawford has not had an easy go of it lately. Ever since her mom and dad split up, her and her mom have been moving and now she is entering grade 12 in another new school. Lately her mom is angrier than normal and drinking more than she ever did and all Candice wants to do is graduate and get a scholarship far away.
Candice hates being the new kid and is confused when the handsome Brad Davis helps her out and is nice to her. She's also worried that she is hearing her name being called by the haunted Emory House down the street.
As Brad and Candice get closer strange things are happening and someone is drawing Candice into the old Emory house with a single agenda. Will Brad trust Candice when she tells him what is happening and will they be able to escape the demons of the past?
This was a great paranormal YA book filled with mystery and romance!
I was instantly drawn to Candice and everything that she has gone through. She is trying her best and protecting her mother from everything that could come their way. The insecurity she shows initially to Brad is a result of feeling like she isn't worth much was very sad that she felt that way. I loved how Brad didn't give up and gradually got her to trust him.
I had mixed feelings toward Atticus as I initially thought he just wanted a friend but when I saw how far he would go I hated him and wanted him taken care of. Mrs.Stephens does what she can but I wish she would have maybe told Candice a little more about what was happening, although she probably would have thought her crazy!
I love how the book was left and I wonder if there is going to be another one soon!!
Candice hates being the new kid and is confused when the handsome Brad Davis helps her out and is nice to her. She's also worried that she is hearing her name being called by the haunted Emory House down the street.
As Brad and Candice get closer strange things are happening and someone is drawing Candice into the old Emory house with a single agenda. Will Brad trust Candice when she tells him what is happening and will they be able to escape the demons of the past?
This was a great paranormal YA book filled with mystery and romance!
I was instantly drawn to Candice and everything that she has gone through. She is trying her best and protecting her mother from everything that could come their way. The insecurity she shows initially to Brad is a result of feeling like she isn't worth much was very sad that she felt that way. I loved how Brad didn't give up and gradually got her to trust him.
I had mixed feelings toward Atticus as I initially thought he just wanted a friend but when I saw how far he would go I hated him and wanted him taken care of. Mrs.Stephens does what she can but I wish she would have maybe told Candice a little more about what was happening, although she probably would have thought her crazy!
I love how the book was left and I wonder if there is going to be another one soon!!
August 2, 2016
"You know that feeling you get when you finally have a glimmer of hope?"
"You just gave that to me."
I thought I knew what this book was going to be about. I was wrong. It was so much more.
Candice changes schools often because of her Mom's bad habits. This doesn't allow her to create a close bond with anyone, which leaves her feeling alone and just ready to be done with high school all together. She bumps into Brad, on her first day in a new school, and he's determined to get to know her. He proves that he's genuine in his feelings for her, so Candice lets her guard down.
The problem is that Candice cannot get the old abandoned Emory house out of her mind. There are rumors that it's haunted, but that's not what has Candice curious about it. The house seems to have a pull on her.. it even invades her dreams.
I don't read a lot of paranormal books because they just aren't my go to genre. But this one... it held my attention right to the very end. I just couldn't put it down. It had all the best pieces of a YA Romance along with suspense and intrigue. As the story progressed, I became more and more impressed with Leslie Fear as an author. She weaved a young romance and creepy ghost story together, seamlessly and effortlessly.
I don't want to give too much away, but this story is so much more than the blurb reveals. It has so many facets. Think you don't like paranormal books? Give this one a try because I guarantee it'll change your mind.
Leslie is an author to watch out for. I can't wait to read more from her.
"You just gave that to me."
I thought I knew what this book was going to be about. I was wrong. It was so much more.
Candice changes schools often because of her Mom's bad habits. This doesn't allow her to create a close bond with anyone, which leaves her feeling alone and just ready to be done with high school all together. She bumps into Brad, on her first day in a new school, and he's determined to get to know her. He proves that he's genuine in his feelings for her, so Candice lets her guard down.
The problem is that Candice cannot get the old abandoned Emory house out of her mind. There are rumors that it's haunted, but that's not what has Candice curious about it. The house seems to have a pull on her.. it even invades her dreams.
I don't read a lot of paranormal books because they just aren't my go to genre. But this one... it held my attention right to the very end. I just couldn't put it down. It had all the best pieces of a YA Romance along with suspense and intrigue. As the story progressed, I became more and more impressed with Leslie Fear as an author. She weaved a young romance and creepy ghost story together, seamlessly and effortlessly.
I don't want to give too much away, but this story is so much more than the blurb reveals. It has so many facets. Think you don't like paranormal books? Give this one a try because I guarantee it'll change your mind.
Leslie is an author to watch out for. I can't wait to read more from her.
June 29, 2016
If there is something Leslie excels at it's the creep factor in her books. She is the queen. I never ever know what I'm getting into but I can be assured it will probably at least give me the chills and not in a good way. These are the bone chilling ones that you keep wondering if someone is in the room with your even if you can't see them.
Atticus is no different. I wanted to read the book by the cover alone and then I read the blurb and I was sold. Little did I know it would take me twice as long to get through this one as it does my normal books. Why? Because I had to keep putting the book down to breath. I had to remind myself it was just a book but I never wanted to stop turning the pages. I wanted to know why Atticus had such a hold on Candice and why he seemed to be stuck in the house but still had so much power. I shouldn't say wanted to know, I should say I needed to know. There were too many things about this book that keeps you on your toes. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book to keep them guessing. What I don't recommend is reading it in the dark. I look forward to see what Mrs. Fear has planned next and to see if she keeps up with her last name.
Atticus is no different. I wanted to read the book by the cover alone and then I read the blurb and I was sold. Little did I know it would take me twice as long to get through this one as it does my normal books. Why? Because I had to keep putting the book down to breath. I had to remind myself it was just a book but I never wanted to stop turning the pages. I wanted to know why Atticus had such a hold on Candice and why he seemed to be stuck in the house but still had so much power. I shouldn't say wanted to know, I should say I needed to know. There were too many things about this book that keeps you on your toes. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book to keep them guessing. What I don't recommend is reading it in the dark. I look forward to see what Mrs. Fear has planned next and to see if she keeps up with her last name.
May 27, 2016
Leslie Fear has hit it out of the park again! Atticus is different from her Blood of My Blood series but it still takes you on a fun, spooky, paranormal journey. I was grabbed from the beginning trying to figure out what the connection was between Candice and the old abandoned house. Then Atticus shows up and I was unable to sleep until I knew how it would end. Then I reached the end and just like any good ghost story I was left wanting more. What happened next??? This is a good YA story. That is not saying it's immature but that it is a good read for multiple ages. It doesn't cross the line of "too adult" but it's not too innocent either. I thoroughly enjoyed it and you can bet in two years I'll be handing it to my daughter. Congratulations Leslie on your first solo book, you are headed for great things!
July 12, 2016
wow! this was alot different than "normal" paranormal books. If I had known what it was about, I probably wouldn't have read it because this stuff scares the crap out of me. (I had nightmares months after watching paranormal activity 3) however....I am so glad I read it. I really loved it. It didn't traumatized me and I loved the main characters. All three of them! Oh Atticus, I hope you find your peace but please leave Brad alone...I love him! I'm ready for more of this story and I believe I have found a new one click author!
September 6, 2016
Really intriguing paranormal read that kept me on my toes. Candice and her mom's relationship instantly built my sympathy toward Candice and made me want to rescue/protect her (just like Brad wants to). I wasn't sure whether Atticus was good or evil so it really left me guessing until Candice figured it out. The almost love triangle between Candice, Atticus, and Brad was definitely an interesting dynamic. I really enjoyed the characters...and the very, very end left me eagerly awaiting the next one!
January 17, 2017
Ohhhmyyy Leslie Fear.. I really enjoyed reading about Attics!
I went in blind, had no idea really what this book was about, just the way I like it lol.
it was mysterious
It was gripping.
It was a page turner
I don't want to give anything away but I just want to say that I loved reading this book and gave it 5 mysterious Stars...Who is Attics? Well you better go one click this bad boy cuz you are going to love finding out! = )
I went in blind, had no idea really what this book was about, just the way I like it lol.
it was mysterious
It was gripping.
It was a page turner
I don't want to give anything away but I just want to say that I loved reading this book and gave it 5 mysterious Stars...Who is Attics? Well you better go one click this bad boy cuz you are going to love finding out! = )
December 24, 2016
I give it a solid 3.5 stars. Some things about it bugged me but I enjoyed it overall. I stayed up late reading to finish it! That doesn't happen often any more.
August 23, 2019
Loved it!
Its so refreshing to find a book about teenagers/young adults that is all plot and no sex. This book was a unexpected page turner!
Its so refreshing to find a book about teenagers/young adults that is all plot and no sex. This book was a unexpected page turner!
May 13, 2016
OMG!!!!
PAGE TURNER!!!
MUST READ!!!
I loved this book; Leslie Fear is an author that takes me outside my comfort zone with each and every book she writes. Atticus was a novel that kept me guessing, the characters had depth and were complex, each time I thought I had a handle on one of them the author surprised me.
The novel is set in modern time, or is it??? I am not going to give you that much detail because the book is newly released, but the story start with Candice and her adventure in ANOTHER new city. I loved getting to know this character and her willingness to get through what was put in front of her. She had strength in spades.
In comes Brad, the guy every mom wants for her own daughter. The chemistry between Candice and Brad is undeniable from the get go, that is until…..
Yes the above picture is whom I envision as Atticus. And, yes, this is all you are getting from me on this character; you must read the story to discover your own version of this mysterious man.
Well Done Leslie!!! I cannot wait for your next book!!! That is it, that is all I got…..
PAGE TURNER!!!
MUST READ!!!
I loved this book; Leslie Fear is an author that takes me outside my comfort zone with each and every book she writes. Atticus was a novel that kept me guessing, the characters had depth and were complex, each time I thought I had a handle on one of them the author surprised me.
The novel is set in modern time, or is it??? I am not going to give you that much detail because the book is newly released, but the story start with Candice and her adventure in ANOTHER new city. I loved getting to know this character and her willingness to get through what was put in front of her. She had strength in spades.
In comes Brad, the guy every mom wants for her own daughter. The chemistry between Candice and Brad is undeniable from the get go, that is until…..
Yes the above picture is whom I envision as Atticus. And, yes, this is all you are getting from me on this character; you must read the story to discover your own version of this mysterious man.
Well Done Leslie!!! I cannot wait for your next book!!! That is it, that is all I got…..
April 19, 2016
This isn't the type of book I usually go for. I'm more of a contemporary romance or YA chick -maybe a little erotica and perhaps a vampire here or there. But there was something about the cover and the description that drew me in. I'm so glad I read it! It opened up my eyes to a genre I haven't even tried! What was I thinking? What took me so long?
Without giving anything anyway, there's this creepy house. In this house is this mysterious, dark, hot guy. Candice is drawn to the house and to the guy and even though she thinks she should stay away, she can't. He's like her own personal magnet! Every time I thought I knew where this story was going, Leslie Fear switched it up. Leslie has this way of making you feel for her characters and just when you think you understand them -BAM! She throws in something completely unexpected! Let's just say I was WAY off! I love a book that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. I read this book in less than a day. I couldn't put it down. I just HAD to know the truth! I cannot wait to add this paperback to my shelf! I highly recommend it! Leslie Fear is now one of my favs! Definitely a one click!
Without giving anything anyway, there's this creepy house. In this house is this mysterious, dark, hot guy. Candice is drawn to the house and to the guy and even though she thinks she should stay away, she can't. He's like her own personal magnet! Every time I thought I knew where this story was going, Leslie Fear switched it up. Leslie has this way of making you feel for her characters and just when you think you understand them -BAM! She throws in something completely unexpected! Let's just say I was WAY off! I love a book that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. I read this book in less than a day. I couldn't put it down. I just HAD to know the truth! I cannot wait to add this paperback to my shelf! I highly recommend it! Leslie Fear is now one of my favs! Definitely a one click!
May 4, 2016
4.5 Stars
Candice just wants to finish High School and hopefully get a scholarship to anywhere that's far away from her mother. Determined not to get attached to anyone that is quickly thrown out the window by the Charming Brad who is not only cute and funny but sweet and caring and genuinely honest.
For the first time she has a true connection to someone. But then there's the other part that keeps being drawn into the old house in their small town. Then the dreams start.
Torn between the world's Candace must choose which one she truly belongs in.
Candice is strong and fierce and even though there is pain she has endured in her past, she wants to live for her future.
The characters draw you into their world and make you feel like you are a part of it. The story sucks you into it making you wonder what will happen next. Combined it created a picture so vivid you're no longer reading the story but living in it!
Candice just wants to finish High School and hopefully get a scholarship to anywhere that's far away from her mother. Determined not to get attached to anyone that is quickly thrown out the window by the Charming Brad who is not only cute and funny but sweet and caring and genuinely honest.
For the first time she has a true connection to someone. But then there's the other part that keeps being drawn into the old house in their small town. Then the dreams start.
Torn between the world's Candace must choose which one she truly belongs in.
Candice is strong and fierce and even though there is pain she has endured in her past, she wants to live for her future.
The characters draw you into their world and make you feel like you are a part of it. The story sucks you into it making you wonder what will happen next. Combined it created a picture so vivid you're no longer reading the story but living in it!
June 14, 2016
I had a feeling this was going to be a great book, but after finishing it in a couple of days, it's confirmed. Atticus was a fantastic book! It had me from the beginning. Maybe because it was set back when I was in high school, or just the way it was so easy to relate to the characters. I really enjoyed Brad and Candice, they were real, they were normal teens in any town. They could have been any of us. I have been a fan of Leslie Fear' s writing for a while and this solo book just shows why. She is incredibly wonderful. Thank you for another great read! I hope there will be more to come!!
April 17, 2016
As one who has written very few reviews, I must say I really enjoyed this book. Perfect combination of new, young love of very like-able characters to downright creepy, cruel individuals, both potentially detrimental to our heroine, both despicable in different ways. For fear of giving away too much, I'll just say I recommend this book as a good summer read that may just leave you wanting for more....
Read
May 16, 2016did not work for me : (
May 22, 2018
This was a very good book. I would love to see a continuation of the story! It seems as though there should be a continuation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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