What do you think?
Rate this book
Perilous #3
Priceless
It’s been two years since Jaci and her friends were kidnapped by The Hand and ultimately escaped. Jaci has done her best to re-assimilate into high school society, to put that terrifying experience behind her. As a runner on the cross-country team and the almost-girlfriend of a popular football star, it seems as if her future is finally falling into place. When a series of weird, innocuous notes begin to show up at her house and in her locker, Jaci assumes her brother is playing jokes on her. But as the notes grow more sinister, she begins to question their origin. By the time she suspects that her previous kidnappers are involved, too much is at stake to tackle this problem on her own. Somehow Jaci must avoid capture without involving her family or endangering her friends.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2016
10 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 18, 2021
Excellent YA Psychological Thriller
This was an excellent YA psychological thriller. It’s been 2 years since the kidnapping and Jacinta is still paranoid at times. Then she starts getting creepy letters, notes, and text messages. We see Jaci and Amanda tying to be “normal” high school students (if you could call it that since they feel ostracized due to the kidnapping). I was so so mad that Jaci didn’t involve her mom from the get go BUT it really does feel legitimately like what this teenage character would really do so it’s not really a stretch. I really couldn’t put this one down and can’t wait to read the next!
This was an excellent YA psychological thriller. It’s been 2 years since the kidnapping and Jacinta is still paranoid at times. Then she starts getting creepy letters, notes, and text messages. We see Jaci and Amanda tying to be “normal” high school students (if you could call it that since they feel ostracized due to the kidnapping). I was so so mad that Jaci didn’t involve her mom from the get go BUT it really does feel legitimately like what this teenage character would really do so it’s not really a stretch. I really couldn’t put this one down and can’t wait to read the next!
September 13, 2020
I wasn’t ready for this series to be over. I want to listen to more. In some areas the story dragged a little. I wondered when we would figure out who was sending the letters and other messages. I also kept wondering when Hamilton would enter the story. I was glad he was in this book. I also was glad Ricky was in this book. It was kind of hard with JC being interested in two men. I was kind of disappointed in the ending. But I suppose I won’t forget this story anytime soon.
June 25, 2016
In the beginning, this book seemed like just another popular-boy-mysteriously-falls-for-unpopular-but-attractive-outsider-girl, but it didn't take long for me to realize that there was nothing cliche about this story. And soon I found myself floundering between believing Joey's attraction to Jaci was for real, and thinking he was up to something nefarious? All the while, the author adds this sort of sinister undercurrent with Jaci's best friend's boyfriend along with other creepy elements that had me scooting closer and closer to the edge of my metaphoric seat. Then, when the adorable and witty Ricky popped into the story, suddenly there was this added tension of a possible love triangle and the plot really started to zoom forward. Personally, I was rooting for Ricky. After that, I found it harder and harder to put the book down. Honestly, the last few chapters had me white-knuckling my iPad while telling my racing heart to calm the heck down. So if you're a fan of YA, semi-love triangles, mysteries, and heart pounding suspense, then this is the book for you. Enjoy!
August 23, 2022
Priceless was... Wow. Seriously. I know I'm hooked on this series (yes, that's a testament to the author's writing skills) and I'm kinda binge-ing them (I'm reading them as fast as my own schedule allows me), and thus, with how things ended in Altercation, I was more than ready to start this one. I mean, jumping forward a couple of years, yet knowing Jaci is going to be dealing with some new issues had me picking it up as fast as I could. It was interesting seeing what has happened in her life after returning home. How it all has affected her family, her friendship with Amanda (in a good way, at least at first), but also how things have been going at school (how she's still in the track team but also how closed off she's become). This all changes when the school's QB gets to be her science project partner along with all the mystery surrounding the notes Jaci begins receiving (as well as all the secrecy and lies because of them). Things definitely escalate, and I was definitely getting back to the story as soon as I could so as to see how it'd all play out. I should have seen the love triangle from the blurb, but in a way, it didn't surprise me that much, especially considering how book 2 ended. It's not my favorite trope, and as always, it gets messy, but I guess it played well with the story. The only thing that did manage to pull me out of the story was the Spanish typos. I've said it in a different review, but I think it bears repeating: authors, it never hurts to have an extra set of eyes on your work, but especially so if you're writing in another language (even if they're just a few phrases). So please, reach out to the Spanish-speaking people in your life (I'm sure you can find some among your readers/fans as well). I'm positive you'll make their day, and they'll be glad to help you. ;)
I was honestly on the fence about starting this one since I had the audiobook version and didn't know how different the experience would be from having read the first two books in the series, but I've gotta say, the narrator did a great job! She has a really smooth voice, and I loved the ones she gave to each of the characters, especially Jaci and Amanda, as well as the guys in the story. I think the only improvement I could suggest would be regarding the Spanish pronunciation (the couple of times it happened pulled me out of the story). But other than that, her performance of the different emotions and nuances was pulled off pretty well.
Overall, a nice addition to this pulse-pounding reading experience, made even better by its narrator. Perfect for fans of the author, the Perilous series, love triangles, (slightly) romantic suspense, and/or psychological thriller genre. I'll probably take a breather before starting the next one. ~ 4 stars
Content:
Sex: none. Passionate kisses only. One make-out scene. A teenager wonders if that will lead to more, but it gets stopped in time. Another teenager does have sex with her boyfriend/ex. Talk about a pregnancy test.
Violence: mostly the threats in different forms (notes, cards, text, and video messages). Fist fights, being chased by a car, broken car window, someone being shot and dying because of it.
Other: (slight) use of heroin.
I was honestly on the fence about starting this one since I had the audiobook version and didn't know how different the experience would be from having read the first two books in the series, but I've gotta say, the narrator did a great job! She has a really smooth voice, and I loved the ones she gave to each of the characters, especially Jaci and Amanda, as well as the guys in the story. I think the only improvement I could suggest would be regarding the Spanish pronunciation (the couple of times it happened pulled me out of the story). But other than that, her performance of the different emotions and nuances was pulled off pretty well.
Overall, a nice addition to this pulse-pounding reading experience, made even better by its narrator. Perfect for fans of the author, the Perilous series, love triangles, (slightly) romantic suspense, and/or psychological thriller genre. I'll probably take a breather before starting the next one. ~ 4 stars
Content:
Sex: none. Passionate kisses only. One make-out scene. A teenager wonders if that will lead to more, but it gets stopped in time. Another teenager does have sex with her boyfriend/ex. Talk about a pregnancy test.
Violence: mostly the threats in different forms (notes, cards, text, and video messages). Fist fights, being chased by a car, broken car window, someone being shot and dying because of it.
Other: (slight) use of heroin.
October 25, 2016
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
It’s been two years since Jaci and her friends were kidnapped by The Hand and ultimately escaped. Jaci has done her best to re-assimilate into high school society, to put that terrifying experience behind her. As a runner on the cross-country team and the almost-girlfriend of a popular football star, it seems as if her future is finally falling into place.
When a series of weird, innocuous notes begin to show up at her house and in her locker, Jaci assumes her brother is playing jokes on her. But as the notes grow more sinister, she begins to question their origin.
By the time she suspects that her previous kidnappers are involved, too much is at stake to tackle this problem on her own.
Somehow Jaci must avoid capture without involving her family or endangering her friends.
MY TAKE
I didn't know a lot about this book going into it. It's the third in a series with these characters. Some of the things that happened before are referenced, as they relate both to how Jaci copes with her current-day problems (usually avoiding people) and how they are tied to what's going on in her life now.
The characters are interesting, and some of the threats Jaci experiences are creepy. I think all of us can have a sense of being watched, what with cameras in phones and on computers and even on traffic lights. To actually have photos of her at various places would have been enough to scare any normal person witless. There was plenty of suspense and lots of action in the ending confrontation, including some interesting twists.
If anything, I wish there'd been just a little more about Jaci's history. Some of the subtle references were just a little too subtle, especially about her father.
I definitely want to go back now and read the earlier books.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
It’s been two years since Jaci and her friends were kidnapped by The Hand and ultimately escaped. Jaci has done her best to re-assimilate into high school society, to put that terrifying experience behind her. As a runner on the cross-country team and the almost-girlfriend of a popular football star, it seems as if her future is finally falling into place.
When a series of weird, innocuous notes begin to show up at her house and in her locker, Jaci assumes her brother is playing jokes on her. But as the notes grow more sinister, she begins to question their origin.
By the time she suspects that her previous kidnappers are involved, too much is at stake to tackle this problem on her own.
Somehow Jaci must avoid capture without involving her family or endangering her friends.
MY TAKE
I didn't know a lot about this book going into it. It's the third in a series with these characters. Some of the things that happened before are referenced, as they relate both to how Jaci copes with her current-day problems (usually avoiding people) and how they are tied to what's going on in her life now.
The characters are interesting, and some of the threats Jaci experiences are creepy. I think all of us can have a sense of being watched, what with cameras in phones and on computers and even on traffic lights. To actually have photos of her at various places would have been enough to scare any normal person witless. There was plenty of suspense and lots of action in the ending confrontation, including some interesting twists.
If anything, I wish there'd been just a little more about Jaci's history. Some of the subtle references were just a little too subtle, especially about her father.
I definitely want to go back now and read the earlier books.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
September 28, 2018
This is a great series ! I have written my opinions on Tamara Hart Heiner’s great creativity in my previous reviews on this series, so I don’t really want to repeat myself and I don’t like leaving spoilers, so what can I say about book.3. Priceless? This storyline continues with Jaci 2yrs on from the kidnapping. She has to deal with a psychological attack on her still fragile nerves. A mind game that has her keeping more secrets than she can deal with. Manipulated and intimidated she is an emotional wreck. She becomes paranoid as everything is effectived, her awareness, feelings and motivation are so jumbled up. She thought she was finally moving on, but all that is ripped away from her. The big questions are why ? And Who ? I loved seeing parts of Amanda, Ricky, Neal and Sara. I was in tears at one point with the anguish you can feel from Jaci and Ricky when they come face to face again. The suspense of this story is carried along all the way through, you may have a guess who is doing this to her, you may have a guess why they are doing it to her. However nothing prepares you for the brutality and horror as the ending unravels and the culprits are reavealed, with some consequences that not all will survive. Tamara Hart Heiner. Fantastic book and series, I can’t wait to move onto the next one.
November 8, 2016
Priceless by Tamara Hart Heiner is a contemporary tale about a teenage girl who has a horrific experience when she is kidnapped with some of her friends. However, the book starts two years after this event and shows the struggles and adjustments that she has to face to become whole again.
The book shows how much she changes after the horrible ordeal, but it took me a long while before, as a reader, I really realized the extent of her suffering and why she acts as she does.
Priceless by Tamara Hart Heiner is a good read, especially for teens and pre-teens. It is a clean book. The characters are nice, normal teenagers on their best teenager's behaviors. You will find teen drama, self esteem issues, popularity contests, heartaches, secrets and such. On top of all this drama, you will find evil brewing between the pages of this tale and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Who can she trust? and What if she is wrong?
All in all, Priceless by Tamara Hart Heiner is worthy of your interest and will entertain you for a long while.
The book shows how much she changes after the horrible ordeal, but it took me a long while before, as a reader, I really realized the extent of her suffering and why she acts as she does.
Priceless by Tamara Hart Heiner is a good read, especially for teens and pre-teens. It is a clean book. The characters are nice, normal teenagers on their best teenager's behaviors. You will find teen drama, self esteem issues, popularity contests, heartaches, secrets and such. On top of all this drama, you will find evil brewing between the pages of this tale and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Who can she trust? and What if she is wrong?
All in all, Priceless by Tamara Hart Heiner is worthy of your interest and will entertain you for a long while.
August 1, 2018
This was another good book in the series and really a pretty solid series altogether. I'm not a huge fan of YA or free Kindle books, but these were pleasantly surprising!
The plot was predictable yet suspenseful, had a group of likeable enough characters, and the story read super quick. What did bother me, and it bothered me in all three books, was the italicized Spanish. This is a pet peeve of mine, as I think it feels like the author is trying to be 'cool', live on the edge, be something they aren't. I think a lot of authors feel like adding italicized languages randomly into a book authenticates it, but for me it does just the opposite.
Anyways, a quick, fun, and suspenseful read.
The plot was predictable yet suspenseful, had a group of likeable enough characters, and the story read super quick. What did bother me, and it bothered me in all three books, was the italicized Spanish. This is a pet peeve of mine, as I think it feels like the author is trying to be 'cool', live on the edge, be something they aren't. I think a lot of authors feel like adding italicized languages randomly into a book authenticates it, but for me it does just the opposite.
Anyways, a quick, fun, and suspenseful read.
December 4, 2018
Whoa! This was intense and sweet with a hint of tenseness. I was nervous on one part if it would go too far, but she is an awesome author and still kept it clean. It kept me guessing to the end on a lot of things. I had the one kid pretty pegged but the rest a surprise. The end was bittersweet and I have mixed feelings toward
July 15, 2017
Wow! "Priceless" is wonderfully written and will keep readers engaged.
Read full review in the 2017 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2017 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
May 27, 2018
Great read
Kept me engaged on every page. Read the whole book in just over 24 hours. Good pacing and packed storyline.
Kept me engaged on every page. Read the whole book in just over 24 hours. Good pacing and packed storyline.
September 30, 2018
Dark Thriller. So well written that Jaci's emotions were very real to me. I was unable to predict completely the culprits. May you find it an equal challenge.
April 30, 2020
Loved it like always
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book even though it is the last one to the series I couldn't stop reading this one
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book even though it is the last one to the series I couldn't stop reading this one
July 3, 2016
First off, this is the third book in a series, however, I have not read the first two. You don't have to have read them to enjoy this book, but after reading it you might want to go back and catch the first two--Perilous and Altercation.
Okay, let's talk about Jaci. I love how real she is. Sure, it's been two years since the events of the first two books--a months long ordeal where she was kidnapped, escaped, lived on the run, caught, and almost sold into the sex slave trade. One friend died, another moved away, and all she has left is Amanda. Jaci is withdrawn from society even though she's on the track team. It's too hard for her to trust anyone, even the police, thanks to her experience. At the beginning of the story she is trying to change. She wants to live again. Unfortunately for her, that decision comes at the same time as the arrival of mysterious and ominous notes, and text messages.
The one thing that bothered me was the fact she never tells Amanda. Granted, Amanda did not make confiding in her easy. Okay, I sort of understand at first, but as soon as Jaci thinks the notes might have some connection to the earlier kidnapping, she should have talked to Amanda. Both were at risk, but it's like she never considered Amanda might be in trouble.
Other than that, I loved how the author kept me wondering who was behind the stalking. I made several guesses, but I didn't see it coming together the way it did.
The romance angle is definitely complicated. And I really liked that. Jaci has finally relented and allowed herself to hang out with Joey, the star football player at school. He seems like such a nice guy! He's always trying to help his miscreant brother out of trouble, he's attentive and doesn't try anything. A perfect gentleman.
She's also hit on by Amanda's jerk of a boyfriend Gavin. Good thing she's taken self-defense classes for the last year! However, this puts an added strain between her and Amanda (Jaci doesn't tell her it happened) and contributes to the number of secrets piling up between them, making it so much harder to come clean.
Joel is sweet, but Jaci keep thinking about someone else. Two years earlier she met a boy named Ricky. He was her first kiss. However he moved away. He wrote her several times, but she never replied. After a year he stopped writing, but never forgot her. Now he's back, and staying at her house for a week with his family. Just the sight of him brings back so many memories!
I think Heiner kept a great balance between the characters age and the maturity they both gained from their experience. It was totally believable.
And you have no idea how hard it was to write this review without giving away spoilers!
I give Priceless a 4.5, rounded up to 5 because now I think I'll read the first two books in the series.
1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure
Okay, let's talk about Jaci. I love how real she is. Sure, it's been two years since the events of the first two books--a months long ordeal where she was kidnapped, escaped, lived on the run, caught, and almost sold into the sex slave trade. One friend died, another moved away, and all she has left is Amanda. Jaci is withdrawn from society even though she's on the track team. It's too hard for her to trust anyone, even the police, thanks to her experience. At the beginning of the story she is trying to change. She wants to live again. Unfortunately for her, that decision comes at the same time as the arrival of mysterious and ominous notes, and text messages.
The one thing that bothered me was the fact she never tells Amanda. Granted, Amanda did not make confiding in her easy. Okay, I sort of understand at first, but as soon as Jaci thinks the notes might have some connection to the earlier kidnapping, she should have talked to Amanda. Both were at risk, but it's like she never considered Amanda might be in trouble.
Other than that, I loved how the author kept me wondering who was behind the stalking. I made several guesses, but I didn't see it coming together the way it did.
The romance angle is definitely complicated. And I really liked that. Jaci has finally relented and allowed herself to hang out with Joey, the star football player at school. He seems like such a nice guy! He's always trying to help his miscreant brother out of trouble, he's attentive and doesn't try anything. A perfect gentleman.
She's also hit on by Amanda's jerk of a boyfriend Gavin. Good thing she's taken self-defense classes for the last year! However, this puts an added strain between her and Amanda (Jaci doesn't tell her it happened) and contributes to the number of secrets piling up between them, making it so much harder to come clean.
Joel is sweet, but Jaci keep thinking about someone else. Two years earlier she met a boy named Ricky. He was her first kiss. However he moved away. He wrote her several times, but she never replied. After a year he stopped writing, but never forgot her. Now he's back, and staying at her house for a week with his family. Just the sight of him brings back so many memories!
I think Heiner kept a great balance between the characters age and the maturity they both gained from their experience. It was totally believable.
And you have no idea how hard it was to write this review without giving away spoilers!
I give Priceless a 4.5, rounded up to 5 because now I think I'll read the first two books in the series.
1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure
June 22, 2016
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Tamara Hart Heiner has once again done a great job bringing suspense into a well-written story, and keeping her readers guessing up until the exciting climax! I enjoyed reading this story, and I am certain that fans of this series will enjoy it, as well. I was confused in places, mostly, I think, because it referenced the previous books, which I haven't read, and brought in characters who, I believe were in the other books. Jaci was a well-written, believable character. There were times, though, when I wanted to slap her and say, "Stop keeping everything to yourself! Tell an adult, tell a teacher!" etc. But that was part of the story, and her character was still sympathetic and likable. The climax was exciting, and sad, but ultimately satisfying. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, scary mystery!
Tamara Hart Heiner has once again done a great job bringing suspense into a well-written story, and keeping her readers guessing up until the exciting climax! I enjoyed reading this story, and I am certain that fans of this series will enjoy it, as well. I was confused in places, mostly, I think, because it referenced the previous books, which I haven't read, and brought in characters who, I believe were in the other books. Jaci was a well-written, believable character. There were times, though, when I wanted to slap her and say, "Stop keeping everything to yourself! Tell an adult, tell a teacher!" etc. But that was part of the story, and her character was still sympathetic and likable. The climax was exciting, and sad, but ultimately satisfying. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, scary mystery!
July 19, 2016
Exciting, Intriguing
This is the third book about Jaci and it doesn't disappoint. The whole series deals with some tough issues in a tactful, honest and upfront manner, and this one is no different. There are references to sex and the consequences are clear.
The continuing story, the mystery, is suspenseful and engaging. Even though one can guess bits of what is happening from the beginning, Tamara tells the story in such a way that I spent the whole book hoping I was wrong. I was solidly hooked from the first chapter.
There is a small amount of language.
This is the third book about Jaci and it doesn't disappoint. The whole series deals with some tough issues in a tactful, honest and upfront manner, and this one is no different. There are references to sex and the consequences are clear.
The continuing story, the mystery, is suspenseful and engaging. Even though one can guess bits of what is happening from the beginning, Tamara tells the story in such a way that I spent the whole book hoping I was wrong. I was solidly hooked from the first chapter.
There is a small amount of language.
Read
October 15, 2016This was a great read. The quick pace and clear writing kept the pages turning. I had small suspicions, but the author gave just enough clues to keep me guessing but unsure. It all made sense in the end, but I wasn't at all positive about the outcome until the whole story unfolded. This is exactly what I want from a suspense novel. At the same time, the violence and sexual content was appropriate for teens, and I am a protective mother, so I mean it is suggestive without being graphic.
July 23, 2016
Priceless is a fabulous young adult mystery-suspense with a good amount of romance thrown into the mix. I stayed up into the night to finish the book and was on the seat of my pants the whole time. Heiner's writing prowess grows with each publication. I look forward to her next!
I was given an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book!
I was given an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book!
December 21, 2016
Suspenseful
Great read that keeps you guessing from start to finish...I was wrong on both guesses. Highly recommend this book and authir.
Great read that keeps you guessing from start to finish...I was wrong on both guesses. Highly recommend this book and authir.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews