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Dark Blossoms #1
Tiger Lily
Lily Madison thought dying because of a bad manicure was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong.
Waking up in the hospital and realizing she's being stalked by an entire herd of naughty little ghosts turns her entire world upside down. She begins to doubt her own sanity until she realizes she isn't alone. A Goth girl, named Zoe, can see the ghosts, too.
Most of the ghosts look like fuzzy blobs, but one is not blobby at all. He's a very hot, very annoying dead guy named Nick. Although they dislike each other on sight, Nick soon realizes Lily is his only hope. With the help of Zoe and Mr. Wan, the manicurist who almost killed her, she has only days to get Nick and the other ghosts back where they belong or the whole world will be in terrible danger.
But sending the ghosts back means saying goodbye to Nick forever, and Lily isn't sure she'll ever be able to let him go.
Waking up in the hospital and realizing she's being stalked by an entire herd of naughty little ghosts turns her entire world upside down. She begins to doubt her own sanity until she realizes she isn't alone. A Goth girl, named Zoe, can see the ghosts, too.
Most of the ghosts look like fuzzy blobs, but one is not blobby at all. He's a very hot, very annoying dead guy named Nick. Although they dislike each other on sight, Nick soon realizes Lily is his only hope. With the help of Zoe and Mr. Wan, the manicurist who almost killed her, she has only days to get Nick and the other ghosts back where they belong or the whole world will be in terrible danger.
But sending the ghosts back means saying goodbye to Nick forever, and Lily isn't sure she'll ever be able to let him go.
- GenresYoung AdultRomance
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
28 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Abigail Drake
42 books418 followersAbigail Drake is the award-winning author of twenty-one novels, but she didn’t start her career in writing. She majored in Japanese and economics in college, and spent years traveling the world, collecting stories wherever she visited. She collected a husband from Istanbul on her travels, too, and he is her favorite souvenir.
Abigail is a coffee addict, a puppy wrangler, and the mother of three adult sons. She writes contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and young adult fiction, and has taught workshops for many different writing organizations. In her spare time, she blogs about her dog, Capone, and teaches writing classes for children at her local library.
In 2019, Abigail was awarded an honorable mention for her book "Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone" in the Writer's Digest Self-Published E-book Awards. She is the winner of the 2017 Prism Award for her book "Traveller", the International Digital Award for her young adult novel, "Tiger Lily", and the Stiletto Contest for "Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone." In addition, she was named a finalist in the Golden Pen, the Golden Leaf, the Dante Rossetti Book Award, and the Cygnus Award for Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction.
Abigail is represented by Lauren Bieker of FinePrint Literary Management. For more information, visit her website at www.abigaildrake.net.
Abigail is a coffee addict, a puppy wrangler, and the mother of three adult sons. She writes contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and young adult fiction, and has taught workshops for many different writing organizations. In her spare time, she blogs about her dog, Capone, and teaches writing classes for children at her local library.
In 2019, Abigail was awarded an honorable mention for her book "Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone" in the Writer's Digest Self-Published E-book Awards. She is the winner of the 2017 Prism Award for her book "Traveller", the International Digital Award for her young adult novel, "Tiger Lily", and the Stiletto Contest for "Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone." In addition, she was named a finalist in the Golden Pen, the Golden Leaf, the Dante Rossetti Book Award, and the Cygnus Award for Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction.
Abigail is represented by Lauren Bieker of FinePrint Literary Management. For more information, visit her website at www.abigaildrake.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 12, 2019
3.5 satisfied ★★★✬✩
⇝Preface.
As I read more and more books that are varying from one another in so many aspects, I try to make an effort to always see and review a book within its framework. Tiger Lily, for instance, is a pretty short book of the YA genre, which is why there are certain limits to what a writer can do.
See how I am preaching the ideal? Ready for me to totally not stick to it? Okay, so here it comes...
⇝Overall.
Overall, this was a super pleasant and fast-paced read that I went through in just 3 short hours. The writing style was evidence to the author's skill, wit and humour and I always enjoy a book that gives way to sarcasm and self-irony (mostly, because that reflects my humble self). I am of the opinion that this is crucial to a good story. Oftentimes, decent and fun writing is more important than the actual story, because it can sound oh-so-glorious in the writer's head, but it will be messed up by bad writing. Likewise, good writing can make up for faults in a story. I noticed this on the first page already and knew I was in for a pleasant read. BUT (ain't that everyone's favourite word)...BUT
I really feel like that within just a few pages more, the Abigail Drake could have definitely given a bit more dimension to the story.
➺What’s happening.
On a first glimpse, people might conclude Lily to be a shallow and fashion-obsessed little brat with little to no sense for anything that is outside of her pink bubble, created for her by wealthy parents. This conception might be owed to stuff like this:
Except the obvious one to clean it up yourself?!
On the day she dies and comes back to life, Lily is confronted with something that will make her show people how much more is underneath that ginger, manicured and orderly appearance of hers. The moment she wakes up in the hospital it becomes clear to her that she now sees a part of reality that most people can't: ghosts. The fuzzy, dark-ish grey blobs follow her around with no intention of leaving her in peace. Just like hot dark Shadow Guy Nick, your average brooding angsty teenage boy with a smirk to break hearts. Except nobody can see that flashing appearance either, except for Lily. While the other ghosts at least don't talk to her, this one has no intention to stop disrupting her life until she helped him solve the mystery that is his existence. Or semi-existence, rather? Because Nick ain't a ghost, or so he says. But what is he, then?
Dangerous, that's for sure. Because ghosts and Nick are not the only things that are a problem now, not if Lily is to believe her pedicurist Mr Wan, a Chinese enthusiast for everything spooky, and his ghost-experienced friends. Joining forces with the local Goth Queen and a beach-boy-quarterback-football scholarship-everybody's darling-Ken, Lily starts to investigate Nick's past as his memories start to fade more and more just as their time is running out. Will Lily be able to let Nick go, though?
I cannot say much more to the story without spoilers, so let's get to the juicy part of the review. YA always includes a couple of not so sympathetic eye-roll moments for anyone who feels outside of that age group. I just want to use this opportunity to point out again that this is a really short book that didn't give space to a more complex plot development. Of course, there is an occasional twist to the story, without these, most stories simply wouldn't exist. Yet some parts of the story felt overly rushed and did not make use of the YA potential of young relationship/love/triangle stuff, whatever. Just wanted to put it out there because it really bugged me.
___________________
Writing Quality + ease of reading = 5*
pace = 4* (pretty fast, obviously)
plot development = 3* (I actually foresaw a few of the developments and as I've stated above, I felt like some things just felt too rushed and simple)
characters = 3.5* (I don't care what y'all saying, everybody needs that friend that is hollering you on in leather-gear)
enjoyability = 4*
insightfulness = 2* (didn't really get a big takeaway message from this, something I usually very much look forward to in a book)
___________________
This eArc was provided via #NetGalley by Backlit PR in exchange for an honest review.
This book is for you if… you don't have too many requirements for a good ya book.
⇝Preface.
As I read more and more books that are varying from one another in so many aspects, I try to make an effort to always see and review a book within its framework. Tiger Lily, for instance, is a pretty short book of the YA genre, which is why there are certain limits to what a writer can do.
See how I am preaching the ideal? Ready for me to totally not stick to it? Okay, so here it comes...
⇝Overall.
Overall, this was a super pleasant and fast-paced read that I went through in just 3 short hours. The writing style was evidence to the author's skill, wit and humour and I always enjoy a book that gives way to sarcasm and self-irony (mostly, because that reflects my humble self). I am of the opinion that this is crucial to a good story. Oftentimes, decent and fun writing is more important than the actual story, because it can sound oh-so-glorious in the writer's head, but it will be messed up by bad writing. Likewise, good writing can make up for faults in a story. I noticed this on the first page already and knew I was in for a pleasant read. BUT (ain't that everyone's favourite word)...BUT
I really feel like that within just a few pages more, the Abigail Drake could have definitely given a bit more dimension to the story.
➺What’s happening.
On a first glimpse, people might conclude Lily to be a shallow and fashion-obsessed little brat with little to no sense for anything that is outside of her pink bubble, created for her by wealthy parents. This conception might be owed to stuff like this:
I sprinkled the powder from Mrs Chang ll around the room, paying special attention to the doors and windows, as Mr Wan had instructed, our cleaning lady would have a field day with this tomorrow, but I had no choice.
Except the obvious one to clean it up yourself?!
On the day she dies and comes back to life, Lily is confronted with something that will make her show people how much more is underneath that ginger, manicured and orderly appearance of hers. The moment she wakes up in the hospital it becomes clear to her that she now sees a part of reality that most people can't: ghosts. The fuzzy, dark-ish grey blobs follow her around with no intention of leaving her in peace. Just like hot dark Shadow Guy Nick, your average brooding angsty teenage boy with a smirk to break hearts. Except nobody can see that flashing appearance either, except for Lily. While the other ghosts at least don't talk to her, this one has no intention to stop disrupting her life until she helped him solve the mystery that is his existence. Or semi-existence, rather? Because Nick ain't a ghost, or so he says. But what is he, then?
Dangerous, that's for sure. Because ghosts and Nick are not the only things that are a problem now, not if Lily is to believe her pedicurist Mr Wan, a Chinese enthusiast for everything spooky, and his ghost-experienced friends. Joining forces with the local Goth Queen and a beach-boy-quarterback-football scholarship-everybody's darling-Ken, Lily starts to investigate Nick's past as his memories start to fade more and more just as their time is running out. Will Lily be able to let Nick go, though?
I cannot say much more to the story without spoilers, so let's get to the juicy part of the review. YA always includes a couple of not so sympathetic eye-roll moments for anyone who feels outside of that age group. I just want to use this opportunity to point out again that this is a really short book that didn't give space to a more complex plot development. Of course, there is an occasional twist to the story, without these, most stories simply wouldn't exist. Yet some parts of the story felt overly rushed and did not make use of the YA potential of young relationship/love/triangle stuff, whatever. Just wanted to put it out there because it really bugged me.
___________________
Writing Quality + ease of reading = 5*
pace = 4* (pretty fast, obviously)
plot development = 3* (I actually foresaw a few of the developments and as I've stated above, I felt like some things just felt too rushed and simple)
characters = 3.5* (I don't care what y'all saying, everybody needs that friend that is hollering you on in leather-gear)
enjoyability = 4*
insightfulness = 2* (didn't really get a big takeaway message from this, something I usually very much look forward to in a book)
___________________
This eArc was provided via #NetGalley by Backlit PR in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2016
****SPOILER ALERT-----ISH review****
Hi, my name is Lily!
I’m what you would call a good girl.
I’m rich, good looking, have parents who they're negligent try to compensate with money.
I’m very prim, and proper young girl.
I wore ribbons in my hair, beautiful colorful dresses, (no awful jeans or black stuff in my wardrobe). I love everything organized (I have minor OCD), and I love, love, my nails to be done every week in different color.
Well, one color I will not be wear ever again. Pretty and Pink
You see, that color Is reason I died. (Well, at list the first time)
Don't worry, I was saved by some hot gay. Oh, and let me tell you, dying is peaceful, coming back to life is fricking painful. (Sorry my language, it's stress of dying)
There is one little inconvenient when you come back from be dead, (besides bad look), and that is, you don't come back alone.
There are some black, furry, blobby things, floated all over me, who nobody else sees but me, and one scary goth girl from my school.
She tells me they are ghosts. (She also tell me, I'm stupid and ignorant). But later, she become my friend and call me Ginge, ( “shortened form of Ginger Princess, almost like an endearment.”)
But wait, there's more!
Your see, there is one very hot “bad boy“ kind of guy, who is with me all the time, and I think I'm falling for him. I also think that that goes both ways.
He is somebody I never in a million years think that I will be drawn to. He is all in black, wears snickers, has black hair all over the place, he has fr...(sorry, no more swearing) has a tattoo, and he is totally wrong for me.
His name is NICK
Oh, yeah!!! One little thing I forget to tell you. Nobody can't see him but I, not even the goth girl.
He is sort of ghost, but not really, and we can't touch each other. That is a problem when all I want is to kiss him. Ok, and help him, but you know what I mean!!!
Like I tell you, nothing to worry about, just small inconvenient. Let's not make big deal over it, ok!?
Uh, who I'm kidding?
Luckily, I have some help. Zoe (goth girl,), Josh (jock), a couple of Chinese people, and one small ghost a there with me.
I'm doing whatever it takes to help Nick, I even wear this outfit, TWICE, if you can believe that?! (Girl must do what the girl must do!)
Oh, yeah, I died one more time but that is ok, I'm almost used to it by now!!!
By the end, I beat the monster, get the hot boy, and have great nails.
**********
I'm freaking (not sorry for my language ), love this book.
It's YA humor, romance story, with little paranormal, and it's suitable for younger teens. It's funny, interesting and quick read.
I love this tape of humor and laugh out loud few times. That got me some serious questions from my husband.
But its ok, we sort that out. (Blush, blush!!!)
***Kindle book received as gifts from the author in exchange for an honest review***
December 27, 2016
Lily dies because of a bad manicure. Fortunately someone rescues her. When she wakes up in the hospital a while later she sees all kinds of black blobs. She soon finds out that they are ghosts. One of them is different. He isn't a blob, he's a real person, a very hot one, and his name is Nick. He needs Lily's help, but Lily has no idea where to start. She isn't afraid to ask for help though and together with her new friend Zoe and Mr. Wan from the nail salon she starts to unravel the truth. She doesn't have much time left and when she finds out what it is she has to take immediate action, otherwise something really bad will happen...
Tiger Lily is a fun and romantic ghost story. Lily is completely herself. She has a distinct personality. She loves to have her nails done in certain colors, she uses a lot of hand sanitizer and she wears cute outfits. Nick is a bad boy and at first he mostly annoys her, but soon they find out they like each other. He's kind and supportive, but he doesn't remember much about who he is and why he needs Lily's help. She has to figure out why he's by her side and what's happened to him. I liked the friendship aspect of the story. Lily is lucky in that department. There are many people who want to help her with her search. The accident has changed her, but not so much that she's a completely different person. She lets her friends transform her when it's needed, but she stays the same Lily underneath. Lily knows who she is, she knows what her problems are and she isn't afraid to face them.
Tiger Lily is a wonderful story. I really enjoyed reading it. There's a lot going on and I often had a smile on my face while I was reading this story. There are also serious aspects, but there were many things that made me smile. Lily has her quirks and she doesn't hide them. She is who she is, which is refreshing. She often lands herself in situations that are out of her comfort zone and they made me laugh. I loved this story, it's sweet, it's fast paced and Wende Dikec has a great sense of humor. If you like entertaining paranormal romance you should definitely try this book.
Tiger Lily is a fun and romantic ghost story. Lily is completely herself. She has a distinct personality. She loves to have her nails done in certain colors, she uses a lot of hand sanitizer and she wears cute outfits. Nick is a bad boy and at first he mostly annoys her, but soon they find out they like each other. He's kind and supportive, but he doesn't remember much about who he is and why he needs Lily's help. She has to figure out why he's by her side and what's happened to him. I liked the friendship aspect of the story. Lily is lucky in that department. There are many people who want to help her with her search. The accident has changed her, but not so much that she's a completely different person. She lets her friends transform her when it's needed, but she stays the same Lily underneath. Lily knows who she is, she knows what her problems are and she isn't afraid to face them.
Tiger Lily is a wonderful story. I really enjoyed reading it. There's a lot going on and I often had a smile on my face while I was reading this story. There are also serious aspects, but there were many things that made me smile. Lily has her quirks and she doesn't hide them. She is who she is, which is refreshing. She often lands herself in situations that are out of her comfort zone and they made me laugh. I loved this story, it's sweet, it's fast paced and Wende Dikec has a great sense of humor. If you like entertaining paranormal romance you should definitely try this book.
January 25, 2016
Review by Whitney at The Club
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Lily comes from a family who sweeps all their issues under a rug. Her parents are in denial and choose to take off on trips to wherever just to try and forget about the tragedy they have faced losing a child. Lily understands and knows her parents love her but when she needs them most they are gone and instead is a guy who happens to be annoying and oh so sexy. Too bad he's in spirit form.
When Lily nearly dies in. Car accident and drowns before being saved, she wakes up to a new way of life. A life where spirits hang around. The handsome Nick who has attached himself to her needs help and they try and figure out how she can help him
This story had me from page one. It's a perfect teen romance with a twist. The author did a great job in bringing everything together in a way you may not have expected. It was sweet and the banter between Lily and Nick was entertaining.
I give this a 5 star.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Lily comes from a family who sweeps all their issues under a rug. Her parents are in denial and choose to take off on trips to wherever just to try and forget about the tragedy they have faced losing a child. Lily understands and knows her parents love her but when she needs them most they are gone and instead is a guy who happens to be annoying and oh so sexy. Too bad he's in spirit form.
When Lily nearly dies in. Car accident and drowns before being saved, she wakes up to a new way of life. A life where spirits hang around. The handsome Nick who has attached himself to her needs help and they try and figure out how she can help him
This story had me from page one. It's a perfect teen romance with a twist. The author did a great job in bringing everything together in a way you may not have expected. It was sweet and the banter between Lily and Nick was entertaining.
I give this a 5 star.
March 20, 2016
When Lily wakes up in a hospital room after "dying" in a car accident, she starts seeing things. Mysterious black blobs are floating around the room, and there's a shadowy boy called Nick, who may or may not be dead. But something evil may have followed her back from the brink of death as well. Will Lily be able to solve her current predicament with the help of her new friends, Josh and Zoe?
From the moment Lily Madison has a near-death experience as a result of a bad nail job in the first scene, you just know you're going to be in for a fun ride. The author maintains her dry wit and dark humor throughout, and manages to craft some laugh-out-loud moments. There is a great cast of amusing support characters, including Mr Wan, Mrs Chang, Miss Lin, Uncle Johnny, and Uncle Danny. The Chinese proverbs at the beginning of each chapter are a nice touch, as are Lily's weekly manicures with nail polish names to suit the occasion.
A beautiful, funny, heart-warming story about the power of love.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (21 March): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
From the moment Lily Madison has a near-death experience as a result of a bad nail job in the first scene, you just know you're going to be in for a fun ride. The author maintains her dry wit and dark humor throughout, and manages to craft some laugh-out-loud moments. There is a great cast of amusing support characters, including Mr Wan, Mrs Chang, Miss Lin, Uncle Johnny, and Uncle Danny. The Chinese proverbs at the beginning of each chapter are a nice touch, as are Lily's weekly manicures with nail polish names to suit the occasion.
A beautiful, funny, heart-warming story about the power of love.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (21 March): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
January 13, 2016
I read this book with my mom (yes, she knows I'm here and monitors my account).
I laughed while reading the book and I cried too.
When Lily died at the beginning of the book I thought she'd come back as a ghost or be a side character even though her name is in the book title. (haha) But what happened was even better!
If Lily hadn't died she wouldn't have met Nick or Zoe so it was actually a good thing.
Zoe's my favorite character. I'm not sure why but I think she's really, really cool in my opinion, and I just like everything about her in general.
Even though Zoe is my favorite Nick and Lily come close. Really, really close!
I like Nick because he's a pain in the butt and every book needs a pain in the butt ;)
Lily probably has a great wardrobe and fashion sense due to what she wears in the book.
The book teaches you not to judge people by what they look like and to fight for the people you care about.
If you like ghost, romance, comedy, and adventure then this is the book for you!
I laughed while reading the book and I cried too.
When Lily died at the beginning of the book I thought she'd come back as a ghost or be a side character even though her name is in the book title. (haha) But what happened was even better!
If Lily hadn't died she wouldn't have met Nick or Zoe so it was actually a good thing.
Zoe's my favorite character. I'm not sure why but I think she's really, really cool in my opinion, and I just like everything about her in general.
Even though Zoe is my favorite Nick and Lily come close. Really, really close!
I like Nick because he's a pain in the butt and every book needs a pain in the butt ;)
Lily probably has a great wardrobe and fashion sense due to what she wears in the book.
The book teaches you not to judge people by what they look like and to fight for the people you care about.
If you like ghost, romance, comedy, and adventure then this is the book for you!
January 13, 2016
I read this with my husband and 10 year old daughter. All three of us loved it!
With her combination of witty humor, whimsical yet realistic characters, and engaging plot Wende Dikec drew me in from her first word to her last.
From Lily, the neurotic, spoilt princess to Nick, the sexy and mysterious boy no one but Lily can see nor hear, to snarky Zoe, herculean Josh, sprightly Mrs Chang, and the eccentric Mr Wan the cast of characters kept me laughing and even crying on occasion.
Tiger Lily is a strong beginning from a promising new author who has already secured a firm spot on my favorite author list.
With her combination of witty humor, whimsical yet realistic characters, and engaging plot Wende Dikec drew me in from her first word to her last.
From Lily, the neurotic, spoilt princess to Nick, the sexy and mysterious boy no one but Lily can see nor hear, to snarky Zoe, herculean Josh, sprightly Mrs Chang, and the eccentric Mr Wan the cast of characters kept me laughing and even crying on occasion.
Tiger Lily is a strong beginning from a promising new author who has already secured a firm spot on my favorite author list.
June 4, 2016
Tiger Lily is that special kind of book that makes the reader laugh and cry as the plucky heroine comes into her own and finds she's stronger than she could ever imagine. The supporting cast is a joy. Each of the characters is changed by Lily's adventure and rejoice in her well deserved happy ever after.
This is a fantastic book for a mother and daughter to experience together.
Write faster, Ms. Dikec. We need more books like this in the world.
This is a fantastic book for a mother and daughter to experience together.
Write faster, Ms. Dikec. We need more books like this in the world.
June 9, 2016
My nine-year-old daughter read this book in one night before bed because it was that good.(She admitted she stayed up until 11:52PM, which is waaaay past bed time! But I'll excuse it since it was in the name of a good book!) She loved the ghosts and said the book was mysterious and funny. She can't wait to read more books by Wende Dikec and already has plans to read this one again. Highly recommended for girls who like mystery books!
November 19, 2016
Tiger Lily
A cute ya romantic fantasy. Although geared towards a younger audience it was still sweet and enjoyable. I wish it would've been less predictable though. It might be that I read too much or something but I like surprises and twists I never see coming. But in the end, I did still like it and recommend it for anyone looking for a sweet ya romance.
A cute ya romantic fantasy. Although geared towards a younger audience it was still sweet and enjoyable. I wish it would've been less predictable though. It might be that I read too much or something but I like surprises and twists I never see coming. But in the end, I did still like it and recommend it for anyone looking for a sweet ya romance.
December 25, 2021
I rarely ever watch or read ghost stories, ghost phobic I believe I am but this surprisingly was fun.
Had been reading some heavy stuff lately so needed something light and quick for a change and this turned out to be exactly what I was looking for, infact better than my expectations.
The book is about a teenage girl Lily who dies in a car accident and is bought back to life but unfortunately she doesn't come back alone. A whole herd of blobby ghosts come back with her. The ghosts are all fuzzy except one, a boy called Nick almost her age, who says he's not dead but is invisible to all but her. Now Lily has to send back all the ghosts but she starts falling for Nick.
This is a cute YA fiction with very interesting and lovable characters. The story is very well written with bits of everything from friendship, love, humour, supernatural elements, emotions, mystery and lot of NAILPAINT :) Along with this, the author also tries to deliver a positive message on coping up from grief and loss.
Its a feel good book, a fairytale which turned out to be the perfect Christmas eve read for me :)
Had been reading some heavy stuff lately so needed something light and quick for a change and this turned out to be exactly what I was looking for, infact better than my expectations.
The book is about a teenage girl Lily who dies in a car accident and is bought back to life but unfortunately she doesn't come back alone. A whole herd of blobby ghosts come back with her. The ghosts are all fuzzy except one, a boy called Nick almost her age, who says he's not dead but is invisible to all but her. Now Lily has to send back all the ghosts but she starts falling for Nick.
This is a cute YA fiction with very interesting and lovable characters. The story is very well written with bits of everything from friendship, love, humour, supernatural elements, emotions, mystery and lot of NAILPAINT :) Along with this, the author also tries to deliver a positive message on coping up from grief and loss.
Its a feel good book, a fairytale which turned out to be the perfect Christmas eve read for me :)
February 20, 2022
This was a sweet story about how a girl fights powers of darkness to keep the guy she loves. It's lighthearted, funny, and has music, the power of friendship, and the love of family threaded throughout. If you like paranormal young-adult stories, then you will love this one!
June 22, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 Stars)
Title: Tiger Lily
Author(s): Abigail Drake
Character(s):
― Lily Madison: Red
― Dominick "Nick" Fortuna: Brown Eyed
Setting: ―
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Teen
Content Rating: PG-13
POV: First Person (Heroine)
Smexy Level: Subtle
Favorite Quote(s):
― "I had an accident and died for a few minutes. Apparently, now I see dead people. Lucky me.”
― "I’m not a fragile flower. I’m not Lily White, or Lily Fair, or Lily the Vestal Virgin. I’m Tiger Lily. I have claws and teeth and I’m stronger than I look.”
―“If you care about someone enough, nothing else matters.”
Overall Opinion:
This Young Adult novel was far more impressive than I anticipated, the characters were a breath of fresh air, the overall premise was quite enjoyable to read. I love the dynamic between the characters Nick and Lily, and thus far the funny bickering moments between the two. Despite falling under the opposites attract trope, they mesh together and you could help but hope there able to figure out the mystery of what Nick was. Is he a ghost? Or someone having an out of body experience? That's something for you to find out. Moreso as much as I loved the relationship between the fiery red and the bad boy, I will say they were quick to drop the "I love yous" but it was easy to ignore when there was the mystery of the black blobs, Nick ghostly appearance and their dealings of teenage hormones. In conclusion I will definitely consider this a 2019 standout and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different from their typical norm.
May 28, 2019
4.5 Stars
I requested this ARC strictly based on the cover. It is super cute. And the contents of the book are also super cute. So, I wasn’t disappointed by the contents of this barely 200 page book. This book is completely YA (young adult) and easy to blow through in an evening. I will call it a surprising guilty pleasure.
I could see this story playing out on television under a Disney Channel label. A young fashion conscious girl nearly runs over a gaggle of kids with her car but at the last minute swerves to avoid them and ends up plunging her vehicle into the water. Then, she dies. Before she goes completely lights out, she sees a young man who looks like he has hazy edges. When she gets revived by a totally different boy (of course, the hottest boy in school) she doesn’t see boy #1 again until later when she is in the hospital. With the ghostly appearing boy #1 also come a ton of little gray blobs of energy which follow her around.
I don’t want to get too much into the complete details of this but it is a really fun read. I enjoyed the crazy girl with her ADD tendencies where her wardrobe was color coded. I enjoyed the sulking Zoe, Goth Girl, whom Lily befriends to help figure out her whole “ghostly situation.”
If I knew a lot of teen or middle grade kids, I woulds totally recommended this to them. Pure fun and excitement. I wouldn’t mind seeing a follow up story. Check it out if you like YA. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
I requested this ARC strictly based on the cover. It is super cute. And the contents of the book are also super cute. So, I wasn’t disappointed by the contents of this barely 200 page book. This book is completely YA (young adult) and easy to blow through in an evening. I will call it a surprising guilty pleasure.
I could see this story playing out on television under a Disney Channel label. A young fashion conscious girl nearly runs over a gaggle of kids with her car but at the last minute swerves to avoid them and ends up plunging her vehicle into the water. Then, she dies. Before she goes completely lights out, she sees a young man who looks like he has hazy edges. When she gets revived by a totally different boy (of course, the hottest boy in school) she doesn’t see boy #1 again until later when she is in the hospital. With the ghostly appearing boy #1 also come a ton of little gray blobs of energy which follow her around.
I don’t want to get too much into the complete details of this but it is a really fun read. I enjoyed the crazy girl with her ADD tendencies where her wardrobe was color coded. I enjoyed the sulking Zoe, Goth Girl, whom Lily befriends to help figure out her whole “ghostly situation.”
If I knew a lot of teen or middle grade kids, I woulds totally recommended this to them. Pure fun and excitement. I wouldn’t mind seeing a follow up story. Check it out if you like YA. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
March 30, 2016
"Tiger Lilly"
By: Wende Dikec
CUTE, CUTE, CUTE! My first thoughts that I had and they never changed through the entire story. A seriously nice, proper, privileged, ribbon wearing teenager dies not once but twice and finds herself empowered with the ability to see ghosts. Her somewhat OCD lifestyle turned upside down when she finds herself with a gaggle of "groupie" ghosts and one hunky young man who claims to be neither dead or alive.
Adorable young adult novel with the right hint of sensuality and paranormal tributes. The story deals with loss, friendship, young love and finding strength within yourself when it comes to protecting something you love. Heartstrings, smiles and warm feelings all around this read.
Even as a seasoned urban fantasy romance reader I found this tame story intriguing and addicting. I read it in one setting because I found myself needing to find out what Lily's "undead" stalker was all about. Lily reminded me of Alicia Silverstone's character from the movie "Clueless" if you would add a little paranormal twist.
I can't imaging anyone not liking this read, it flows well and gives you that fairy tale "happily ever after" feeling.
I give this story 4 "blobby" sheep.
By: Wende Dikec
CUTE, CUTE, CUTE! My first thoughts that I had and they never changed through the entire story. A seriously nice, proper, privileged, ribbon wearing teenager dies not once but twice and finds herself empowered with the ability to see ghosts. Her somewhat OCD lifestyle turned upside down when she finds herself with a gaggle of "groupie" ghosts and one hunky young man who claims to be neither dead or alive.
Adorable young adult novel with the right hint of sensuality and paranormal tributes. The story deals with loss, friendship, young love and finding strength within yourself when it comes to protecting something you love. Heartstrings, smiles and warm feelings all around this read.
Even as a seasoned urban fantasy romance reader I found this tame story intriguing and addicting. I read it in one setting because I found myself needing to find out what Lily's "undead" stalker was all about. Lily reminded me of Alicia Silverstone's character from the movie "Clueless" if you would add a little paranormal twist.
I can't imaging anyone not liking this read, it flows well and gives you that fairy tale "happily ever after" feeling.
I give this story 4 "blobby" sheep.
January 24, 2016
Fantastic read! I don't typically read YA, but the gorgeous cover and intriguing blurb, lured me in. The opening pages captured me and I couldn't put it down. The characters are diverse and entertaining, the plot exciting. When Lily plunges her car into a lake, after being distracted by a bad manicure, she's rescued from death, yet she brings some unwanted creatures along with her. Lily sets out to help them all, but ends up causing more heartache for herself. I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what would happen to Lily & Nick next. Dikec is a gifted writer who took the fantasy element and made it perfectly believable and enchanting. I can't wait to see what this talented author produces next! I recommend this to people of all ages! <3
January 30, 2016
Tiger Lily by Wende Dikec is a charming, laugh-out-loud, page turner for all ages. The cover caught my eye, and the topic - a teen who dies because of a bad manicure - is so funny and fresh, I had to get my hands on this one. Lily Madison, a privileged teen whose life revolves around her weekly manicure appointments, is in for the surprise of her life (literally) when she swerves to miss an ice cream truck and finds herself stuck in her BMW and sinking into Lake Eugene. The adventures that follow are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The cast of characters are hilarious and I loved that Tiger Lily is the only one who can see/hear Nick. So clever and twisty and fun. Curl up this winter with this one! I can't wait to read her next one coming out soon!
January 16, 2016
I really enjoy YA fiction.
And am always proud to be surrounded by friends who are authors!
While I'm not into ghost stories or super-natural love stories, I have to say, this was a FUN read. Just enough humor, romance, and twists to keep me engaged. Interesting start, defined characters. I can't help but cast the role of Mr. Wan as "Seinfeld! Party of four!"
Great job, Wende!
And am always proud to be surrounded by friends who are authors!
While I'm not into ghost stories or super-natural love stories, I have to say, this was a FUN read. Just enough humor, romance, and twists to keep me engaged. Interesting start, defined characters. I can't help but cast the role of Mr. Wan as "Seinfeld! Party of four!"
Great job, Wende!
January 10, 2019
YA, Paranormal, Romance, Eastern Philosophy
Yin & Yang. Preppy Lily Madison has a manicure to die for - literally! Which turns her world upside down - she sees 'ghosties.' Aided by 'Goth Girl' and others who bring extra-sensory-perceptions to the table, they join forces to close the hole to the 'other side' before an evil force claims permanent residence in their world. A fast and fun read.
Yin & Yang. Preppy Lily Madison has a manicure to die for - literally! Which turns her world upside down - she sees 'ghosties.' Aided by 'Goth Girl' and others who bring extra-sensory-perceptions to the table, they join forces to close the hole to the 'other side' before an evil force claims permanent residence in their world. A fast and fun read.
January 16, 2016
What a great young adult romance! Very creative and well written. I was immediately pulled into the story. The writer was able to portray the characters in such a way that you could feel each emotion! Loved it!
January 18, 2016
I truly loved this story! Once I started reading it was hard to put the book down. The characters are vivid and fun, often sassy (which I love). Though the story is mostly fun, it really pulls at your heart in places.
January 23, 2016
Adorable...
Funny, captivating, could not put this book down!
I absolutely love the mix of humor and young love. The use of name polish names to match the upcoming events is brilliant!
I would recommend this book to any one who loves a good romantic comedy!!!
Funny, captivating, could not put this book down!
I absolutely love the mix of humor and young love. The use of name polish names to match the upcoming events is brilliant!
I would recommend this book to any one who loves a good romantic comedy!!!
January 25, 2016
I just finished reading this book. It was written by my cousin Wende. It is a young adult book with a paranormal twist. Even though it is a YA book, I loved it. The characters were colorful and enjoyable. It was a quick read that kept me wanting more.
Read
May 11, 2016Although this book is written for YA, I was drawn in and stayed there for the whole read. I laughed out loud, shed a tear, and really wanted to know how Lily would solve Nick's problem. The ending didn't fail to satisfy.
Read
December 11, 2017I really cared what happened to these characters and grew to really NEED everything to work out ok for them. Dikec does a great job of making her characters feel real and getting you on their side. I rarely read anything with a supernatural element but I'm glad I read this!
April 21, 2019
Great story that hooked me from the first page, Zoe is so funny, relatable and likeable. The story is great, so interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Witty, fast paced and fun, highly recommended read
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
July 26, 2016
Fun Story
I loved this book! Such a treat! Was somewhat predictable in some places, but was so enjoyable I couldn't have cared less.
I loved this book! Such a treat! Was somewhat predictable in some places, but was so enjoyable I couldn't have cared less.
February 28, 2016
Great read
Light hearted and easy to read as it was fun, witty and allowed your mind to think what would super powers be like
Light hearted and easy to read as it was fun, witty and allowed your mind to think what would super powers be like
June 15, 2016
Excellent book! So well written...I laughed, cried and felt a true connection. Such a wonderful story!
April 22, 2021
I received a digital ARC of Tiger Lily by Abigail Drake in exchange for an impartial review. This is a lovely young adult book, perfect for the young teen and pre teen (12/13) market.
The protagonist, Lily, initially comes across as a spoiled bubblehead, but my opinion soon changed. With frequently absent parents and tragedy already in her past, Lily is involved in an accident not long into the book.
When Lily awakens in hospital she gets to meet the swoon worthy boy who rescued her, but not all is peachy keen. She seems to have acquired a cluster of unidentifiable shapes that won’t leave her alone. Worried of how her doctor and parents will react, she keeps it a secret from them. When the dark masses continue to haunt Lily after she is discharged from the hospital, she sets out on a journey to find out what they are and how to get rid of them.
Along the way Lily enlists the help of her quirky manicurist, a ghost seeing Goth girl, the cute boy who rescued her and another boy that only Lily can see and talk to. Who is this invisible guy, and how is Lily going to cope with the feelings she starts to develop for him?
This entertaining ghosty story includes the following topics: family relationships, death, friendships, stereotypes, young love/romance, and personal growth.
The protagonist, Lily, initially comes across as a spoiled bubblehead, but my opinion soon changed. With frequently absent parents and tragedy already in her past, Lily is involved in an accident not long into the book.
When Lily awakens in hospital she gets to meet the swoon worthy boy who rescued her, but not all is peachy keen. She seems to have acquired a cluster of unidentifiable shapes that won’t leave her alone. Worried of how her doctor and parents will react, she keeps it a secret from them. When the dark masses continue to haunt Lily after she is discharged from the hospital, she sets out on a journey to find out what they are and how to get rid of them.
Along the way Lily enlists the help of her quirky manicurist, a ghost seeing Goth girl, the cute boy who rescued her and another boy that only Lily can see and talk to. Who is this invisible guy, and how is Lily going to cope with the feelings she starts to develop for him?
This entertaining ghosty story includes the following topics: family relationships, death, friendships, stereotypes, young love/romance, and personal growth.
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