What do you think?
Rate this book
Blackout #2
Deserted
Seventeen-year-old Kara is done spying on people for her father, the wealthy and morally corrupt businessman Dr. Ellison. Last summer, when her father’s project literally blew up, she fell hard for one of his victims: Leo, the hot musician who made her question her family’s rules. Now Leo’s clear across the country, and Kara’s ready to reinvent herself in Las Vegas.
Of course her father has to mess up that plan, too. He claims a rogue environmental group wants him dead because of his latest alternative energy business venture, and that he needs Kara back on his payroll as the only one he can fully trust. With nowhere else to turn, Kara sends Leo a distressed text message – just before she’s kidnapped, a bargaining chip of the vigilantes who are determined to end her father’s moneymaking plans.
Leo is battling the pains of his last run-in with Dr. Ellison but he wastes no time hopping a plane to Vegas to rescue Kara. As he struggles to find her, the pair tries to learn all they can about the project Dr. Ellison is directing in the hopes of using the information to free Kara. Because if there’s one thing they’ve learned from Dr. Ellison, it’s that no risk is too big when it comes to fame and fortune, life and death.
Of course her father has to mess up that plan, too. He claims a rogue environmental group wants him dead because of his latest alternative energy business venture, and that he needs Kara back on his payroll as the only one he can fully trust. With nowhere else to turn, Kara sends Leo a distressed text message – just before she’s kidnapped, a bargaining chip of the vigilantes who are determined to end her father’s moneymaking plans.
Leo is battling the pains of his last run-in with Dr. Ellison but he wastes no time hopping a plane to Vegas to rescue Kara. As he struggles to find her, the pair tries to learn all they can about the project Dr. Ellison is directing in the hopes of using the information to free Kara. Because if there’s one thing they’ve learned from Dr. Ellison, it’s that no risk is too big when it comes to fame and fortune, life and death.
258 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2013
6 people want to read
About the author
Deena Lipomi
3 books31 followersDeena Lipomi grew up in western New York with an older sister, younger brother, and parents who encouraged the creation of fictional worlds. She has a BS in Creative Writing and Communications from SUNY Brockport, and a Masters in Library Science from the University at Buffalo. By day she works as a Young Adult Services Librarian in a busy public library, and by night she dives into her novels.
Besides reading and writing, Deena is also a fan of traveling, Muppets, Project Runway, and baking gluten free recipes. She lives near her home town with her musician husband and a large number of guitars, computers and, of course, books.
Besides reading and writing, Deena is also a fan of traveling, Muppets, Project Runway, and baking gluten free recipes. She lives near her home town with her musician husband and a large number of guitars, computers and, of course, books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 4, 2018
Review copy provided by Xpresso Book Tours for an honest review.
Deserted was a rather dull and somewhat shallow book. Once I finished though, I found out that this is actually the sequel to Blackout - a book that I have not read. Now I don't know whether any of my opinions are really justified. Maybe if I had understood the storyline more I would have appreciated it more...? I'll never know so I'm just going to keep this short.
• The writing was bland. It felt like the debut novel of a teenager.
• The characters were pretty annoying, especially the protagonist, and Torrey and Leo didn't feel realistic.
• The situation just didn't grab me and I was confused by what Dr Ellison was actually up to. I didn't know if he was truly lying or which one version of events was the truth.
• Kara's situation didn't feel desperate which is ridiculous - obviously it was! There was no sense of urgency, no fear, no desperation. We how it would end. It turned into a waiting game.
• For such a short book, it seemed to drag on and on.
Deserted was a rather dull and somewhat shallow book. Once I finished though, I found out that this is actually the sequel to Blackout - a book that I have not read. Now I don't know whether any of my opinions are really justified. Maybe if I had understood the storyline more I would have appreciated it more...? I'll never know so I'm just going to keep this short.
• The writing was bland. It felt like the debut novel of a teenager.
• The characters were pretty annoying, especially the protagonist, and Torrey and Leo didn't feel realistic.
• The situation just didn't grab me and I was confused by what Dr Ellison was actually up to. I didn't know if he was truly lying or which one version of events was the truth.
• Kara's situation didn't feel desperate which is ridiculous - obviously it was! There was no sense of urgency, no fear, no desperation. We how it would end. It turned into a waiting game.
• For such a short book, it seemed to drag on and on.
December 30, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was disappointed by “Deserted”. It read to me like a teen wrote it. It used words that I didn’t know off the top of my head. I didn’t understand how or why these supposed teens lived and acted the way they did. I understand that books don’t need to be totally realistic; but if it’s not a fantasy novel, I’d expect it to be more realistic than “Deserted”. I didn’t understand how Leo, a high school student, was able to book a flight to Las Vegas with no questions asked. I understand that he was 18, but it just didn’t jive with me as being realistic. Everything that happened in this book should have happened to someone much older. The way Kara acted after she was kidnapped didn’t seem age appropriate to me also. I sure wouldn’t want my 17 year old daughter using sex to get her kidnappers sympathy. I’m also not sure that I’d feel comfortable with my 12 or 14 year olds reading this book because of the reference of prostitutes handing out business cards. I understand that they might know about these things, I’m just not comfortable with it.
I also didn’t like Dave and how whiny he was. I also didn’t like any of the Dad’s and the way they used their children.
Overall, this was a fast-paced and easy-to-read book. It did keep my attention throughout, and that is the only reason I’m giving it 3-Bombs. I did need to see how it turned out. However, this book just wasn’t for me.
3-Bombs
Reviewed by Tracy
I was disappointed by “Deserted”. It read to me like a teen wrote it. It used words that I didn’t know off the top of my head. I didn’t understand how or why these supposed teens lived and acted the way they did. I understand that books don’t need to be totally realistic; but if it’s not a fantasy novel, I’d expect it to be more realistic than “Deserted”. I didn’t understand how Leo, a high school student, was able to book a flight to Las Vegas with no questions asked. I understand that he was 18, but it just didn’t jive with me as being realistic. Everything that happened in this book should have happened to someone much older. The way Kara acted after she was kidnapped didn’t seem age appropriate to me also. I sure wouldn’t want my 17 year old daughter using sex to get her kidnappers sympathy. I’m also not sure that I’d feel comfortable with my 12 or 14 year olds reading this book because of the reference of prostitutes handing out business cards. I understand that they might know about these things, I’m just not comfortable with it.
I also didn’t like Dave and how whiny he was. I also didn’t like any of the Dad’s and the way they used their children.
Overall, this was a fast-paced and easy-to-read book. It did keep my attention throughout, and that is the only reason I’m giving it 3-Bombs. I did need to see how it turned out. However, this book just wasn’t for me.
3-Bombs
Reviewed by Tracy
December 30, 2014
Wow, action packed story, loved it. I loved the dual central characters POV through the chapters, it added more depth to see what each thought of the situation. Kara has a father who lets face it is deceitful and just plain horrible. He uses Kara to get her on his side, and it is only the connection Kara and Leo felt that could be her saving grace, by sending the distress signal to Leo. Leo is all kinds of action man in his attempts to get to Kara, and i loved their relationship and how he flew so far to come to her aide. That is the sort of man you want on your speed-dial :) The book was a great read, 5 stars as there was plenty of action and romance, my preferred kind of book for the romance genre, and it whizzed by got check out Deena Lipomi and her work i am glad i got the chance to.So after reading this book, i put my review up on goodreads like normal and i was amazed to see this is book 2 in a series, but could be read as a stand-alone story. So i will most certainly be looking into book one Blackout when i can.
January 5, 2015
The action starts out right away in this book and never stops until the last page.
Kara's dad claims a rogue environmental group wants him dead because of his latest alternative energy business venture, and that he needs Kara back on his payroll as the only one he can fully trust. She refuses but then is she’s kidnapped and used as a bargaining chip of the vigilantes who are determined to end her father’s moneymaking plans.
Kara had sent a SOS text message to Leo. He can't get ahold of her and decides on a whim to take off for Vegas to see if he can find her. He is lead on an action filled adventure as he tries to find Kara after she has been kidnapped.
This is a sequel to Blackout. I did not read Blackout before reading this book but I don't feel that deterred me from understanding the story. The characters in this story are well developed and the story is face paced and full of action.
I received a gift copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and Reviewed for Kylie's Fiction Addiction.
Kara's dad claims a rogue environmental group wants him dead because of his latest alternative energy business venture, and that he needs Kara back on his payroll as the only one he can fully trust. She refuses but then is she’s kidnapped and used as a bargaining chip of the vigilantes who are determined to end her father’s moneymaking plans.
Kara had sent a SOS text message to Leo. He can't get ahold of her and decides on a whim to take off for Vegas to see if he can find her. He is lead on an action filled adventure as he tries to find Kara after she has been kidnapped.
This is a sequel to Blackout. I did not read Blackout before reading this book but I don't feel that deterred me from understanding the story. The characters in this story are well developed and the story is face paced and full of action.
I received a gift copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and Reviewed for Kylie's Fiction Addiction.
January 11, 2015
I don't have a lot to say about this book, except that it was a quick exciting read! There is minimal language in it and I grabbed my attention from the start. At only 171 pages (on my phone), I already want more of this story! I just need to find it...
I can't wait to read more from Deena. This book is a Young Adult, suspenseful, thriller (at least in my opinion). The protagonist is a sarcastic, quick witted teenage girl, who knows what she wants and tries every possible scenario to get it... Seriously, when you find this book, you need to buy it and read it!
I can't wait to read more from Deena. This book is a Young Adult, suspenseful, thriller (at least in my opinion). The protagonist is a sarcastic, quick witted teenage girl, who knows what she wants and tries every possible scenario to get it... Seriously, when you find this book, you need to buy it and read it!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews