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Angel Kiss
Jacki King is 15 and adjusting to her new life in a small village. She's missing Dublin but she's making new friends: artistic Colin, feisty Emily - and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable. But no sooner is Jacki settled than the torturous headaches and nightmares begin - followed by strange visions, voices and signs.
232 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2011
8 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
About the author
Laura Jane Cassidy
8 books48 followersLaura Jane Cassidy was born in 1986 in Co. Kildare in Ireland and has taken time out from her studies at Trinity College Dublin to write full-time. She dislikes when people use the Internet to cheat at table quizzes, but likes when they use it to visit her popular blog - http://laurajanecassidy.com where she talks about book-related matters as well as playlists, fashion and lots of other stuff.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 29, 2011
I Cannot Say How Much I Loved This Book <3 I Was Obessed with It:L I Read It In One Sittin At The Beach In Wexford The Other Day (Im Still tryin to get All The Sand Out Of It :L ) It Was A Really Great Summer Read :) I Found That I Was Very Comfortable Readin It even Though Sayin That sounds Weird I Did It May Of Had Something To Do With The Fact That It Had All My Favourite Things ( Ireland Cause I Live In Dublin , Music Rock All The Way Yerrr :L , Black , Converse , Band T-shirts , Paranormal Things Going On And Most Importantly A FEMALE Irish Author Yerr Gotta LOve The Irish <3 ) Fitted Perfectly Together Into One Book. The Characters Were amazing Not One Of Them Annoyed The Life Outta Me :L But The Writing Itself Was Amazing Really Vivid And Conversational Not To Mention That You Really Get Hooked Into The Story :D I was A Little Disappointed At The End It Came To Darn Soon :( So Now Im Eagerly Awaiting 18 Kisses :) *Goes Off To Add Laura Jane Cassidy To List Of Favourite Authors*
May 25, 2011
In a Young Adult market dominated by vampires, angels and werewolves, Laura Jane Cassidy’s debut novel, Angel Kiss is a breath of fresh air. When I first heard about this one, I marked it as yet another angel novel, but I was wrong. In actual fact there’s not a celestial being in sight. Instead, Cassidy presents to us a perfect blend of mystery, spooky supernatural happenings and romance which all combine for an exciting, unique debut that will keep you reading late into the night.
Read the full review on my blog: http://daisychainbookreviews.blogspot...
Read the full review on my blog: http://daisychainbookreviews.blogspot...
June 11, 2011
Originally posted at Fragments of Life.
I loved how the mystery side of the novel was balanced with just the right amount of interaction between Jacki and the people around her. She did not lose contact and awareness of the real world amidst the burden of her duty and the onslaught of the severe headaches, visions and dreams. The haunting was not relentless but it came with a steady flow of clues that I found to be creepy. The gaps in between the arrival of these clues were filled with the colorful history and the present of Avarna. Jacki was starting to make friends. Her first friend, Colin, was her key to getting to know the people of Avarna. He was artistic and was pleased by anything related to anime. He proved himself to be a good and dependable friend. He was my favorite character in the novel. He was naturally charming and kindhearted.
Nick, the undeniably handsome but taken guy, caught Jacki’s eyes. Jacki nurtured a crush on him despite his unavailable state. I like that she didn’t give up that easily behaving herself for the sake of Nick’s relationship with Sarah, the prettiest girl in the village. I wanted more between interaction between Nick and Jacki. I felt that there could have been more. She was starting to adjust, to find a place for herself in Avarna when the strange things that were happening to her reached a higher level. Something was happening to her. But Jacki did not know what. The only thing that she knew was that it was not normal – something that she refused to believe.
As the ghost’s calling became more insistent, Jacki had to face the truth: she needed to pay attention to the ghost and help her. With the help of Colin, she tried to gather information. But in a village so small, where people have kept secrets for years, could she manage to get the information she needed to find out who the killer was? I was filled with a sense of familiarity and comfort with the people of Avarna. Cassidy breathed life into them with glimpses into their history. One of the things that I liked was how I could see the past and present of the characters. The decisions they had made, their present and the what-ifs that filled Jacki’s mind made me feel close to them.
Angel Kiss is a creepy mystery that will draw in readers with its charming characters, chilling haunting and flawless writing. I was hooked with Jacki’s life so much, enjoying how she adjusted to the village and how she interacted with people. Then there would be breaks from that, paranormal touches that would make my hair stand on end. I found the flow of the mystery natural. It was the kind that moved in a steady, unhurried pace that would weave around the story, teasing the readers. I recommend this to paranormal readers and mystery readers.
I loved how the mystery side of the novel was balanced with just the right amount of interaction between Jacki and the people around her. She did not lose contact and awareness of the real world amidst the burden of her duty and the onslaught of the severe headaches, visions and dreams. The haunting was not relentless but it came with a steady flow of clues that I found to be creepy. The gaps in between the arrival of these clues were filled with the colorful history and the present of Avarna. Jacki was starting to make friends. Her first friend, Colin, was her key to getting to know the people of Avarna. He was artistic and was pleased by anything related to anime. He proved himself to be a good and dependable friend. He was my favorite character in the novel. He was naturally charming and kindhearted.
Nick, the undeniably handsome but taken guy, caught Jacki’s eyes. Jacki nurtured a crush on him despite his unavailable state. I like that she didn’t give up that easily behaving herself for the sake of Nick’s relationship with Sarah, the prettiest girl in the village. I wanted more between interaction between Nick and Jacki. I felt that there could have been more. She was starting to adjust, to find a place for herself in Avarna when the strange things that were happening to her reached a higher level. Something was happening to her. But Jacki did not know what. The only thing that she knew was that it was not normal – something that she refused to believe.
As the ghost’s calling became more insistent, Jacki had to face the truth: she needed to pay attention to the ghost and help her. With the help of Colin, she tried to gather information. But in a village so small, where people have kept secrets for years, could she manage to get the information she needed to find out who the killer was? I was filled with a sense of familiarity and comfort with the people of Avarna. Cassidy breathed life into them with glimpses into their history. One of the things that I liked was how I could see the past and present of the characters. The decisions they had made, their present and the what-ifs that filled Jacki’s mind made me feel close to them.
Angel Kiss is a creepy mystery that will draw in readers with its charming characters, chilling haunting and flawless writing. I was hooked with Jacki’s life so much, enjoying how she adjusted to the village and how she interacted with people. Then there would be breaks from that, paranormal touches that would make my hair stand on end. I found the flow of the mystery natural. It was the kind that moved in a steady, unhurried pace that would weave around the story, teasing the readers. I recommend this to paranormal readers and mystery readers.
June 8, 2012
From LJ write-up:
[Goodreads blurb] Jacki King is fifteen and adjusting to her new life in a small village. She's missing Dublin but she's making new friends: artistic Colin, feisty Emily - and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable. But no sooner is Jacki settled than the torturous headaches and nightmares begin - followed by strange visions, voices and signs...Jacki refuses to believe that something paranormal is happening. But then she discovers the unsolved murder that occurred in the village years before...
Actually, I've just spotted something on pasting that in, though it's something that will only mean anything to a small number of readers (especially ones, like me, considerably older than the book's target readers): the tone of the book reminds me quite a bit of the stories in Jackie magazine and its like. It's very girly. Nick is gorgeous, and within one very brief and highly embarrassing meeting, Jacki is pulling petals off a flower and thinking about first love. After a second, where he's with his girlfriend (who's also gorgeous but fake, so it's okay!) , she's writing love songs about him, pretty much, and so it goes.
While this is very off-putting, there's quite a bit of good stuff in here along with the fluff. The author has a nice ear for dialogue, and the village (not a real one) is fun to read about - this isn't the kid of cod-Irish we get so fed up with seeing in books and on film/TV, and it's not played for the cheap laughs either.
The other thing I liked is that Cassidy bucks the usual trend of this type of story, in having the local GP recognise from the one office visit that something supernatural is actually going on, and send Jacki straight off to a local healer. Jacki does drag her heels a bit before giving in and going to see him, but it's rather a nice twist on the 'nobody will believe meeeee' theme. (Though that can be effective too, of course.) The characters' behaviour does occasionally seem more than a bit unlikely, and the murder is pretty obvious. But, despite the weaknesses, it kept me entertained enough, and I'm happy to try the next book, which is set up in the short framing sequences with Jacki being asked to participate in solving the murders of four girls.
[Goodreads blurb] Jacki King is fifteen and adjusting to her new life in a small village. She's missing Dublin but she's making new friends: artistic Colin, feisty Emily - and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable. But no sooner is Jacki settled than the torturous headaches and nightmares begin - followed by strange visions, voices and signs...Jacki refuses to believe that something paranormal is happening. But then she discovers the unsolved murder that occurred in the village years before...
Actually, I've just spotted something on pasting that in, though it's something that will only mean anything to a small number of readers (especially ones, like me, considerably older than the book's target readers): the tone of the book reminds me quite a bit of the stories in Jackie magazine and its like. It's very girly. Nick is gorgeous, and within one very brief and highly embarrassing meeting, Jacki is pulling petals off a flower and thinking about first love. After a second, where he's with his girlfriend (who's also gorgeous but fake, so it's okay!) , she's writing love songs about him, pretty much, and so it goes.
While this is very off-putting, there's quite a bit of good stuff in here along with the fluff. The author has a nice ear for dialogue, and the village (not a real one) is fun to read about - this isn't the kid of cod-Irish we get so fed up with seeing in books and on film/TV, and it's not played for the cheap laughs either.
The other thing I liked is that Cassidy bucks the usual trend of this type of story, in having the local GP recognise from the one office visit that something supernatural is actually going on, and send Jacki straight off to a local healer. Jacki does drag her heels a bit before giving in and going to see him, but it's rather a nice twist on the 'nobody will believe meeeee' theme. (Though that can be effective too, of course.) The characters' behaviour does occasionally seem more than a bit unlikely, and the murder is pretty obvious. But, despite the weaknesses, it kept me entertained enough, and I'm happy to try the next book, which is set up in the short framing sequences with Jacki being asked to participate in solving the murders of four girls.
May 17, 2011
They say you should always start with the bad stuff first. I’ll stick with this and start my modest review with the one thing I didn’t like so much.
I’m a sucker for love stories, and when I read in the synopsis that Jackie’s love interest is a gorgeous yet unavailable guy named Nick, I thought this would be the kind of romance I like the most (especially the “unavailable” part intrigued me). But to my disappointment it didn't turn out as I hoped. Nick’s presence in the story is just too limited for me to be able to get to know him properly. I didn’t get a chance to learn what he’s thinking or feeling, why he likes Jackie and what else goes on in his life. That’s why I couldn’t really understand what Jackie saw in him, except that he’s gorgeous and that he plays in a band.
What I really, really loved, however, and what made me forget about the unfortunately underwhelming love story, was the murder mystery. It was creeptastic, thrilling and tense!
Want some hair-raising examples? Imagine you’re alone in your back garden and you hear grave digging sounds. Picture a four-year-old girl singing a (haunting) rhyme that has something to do with what’s happening to you. Think of waking up and having unexplained bruises all over your body, sickening nightmares, vivid visions, etc. Like I said—creeptastic!
Laura Jane Cassidy’s debut novel, Angel Kiss, is a gripping murder mystery, with its share of supernatural elements that will send chills down your spine. I’m looking forward to what Laura has in store for us next.
I’m a sucker for love stories, and when I read in the synopsis that Jackie’s love interest is a gorgeous yet unavailable guy named Nick, I thought this would be the kind of romance I like the most (especially the “unavailable” part intrigued me). But to my disappointment it didn't turn out as I hoped. Nick’s presence in the story is just too limited for me to be able to get to know him properly. I didn’t get a chance to learn what he’s thinking or feeling, why he likes Jackie and what else goes on in his life. That’s why I couldn’t really understand what Jackie saw in him, except that he’s gorgeous and that he plays in a band.
What I really, really loved, however, and what made me forget about the unfortunately underwhelming love story, was the murder mystery. It was creeptastic, thrilling and tense!
Want some hair-raising examples? Imagine you’re alone in your back garden and you hear grave digging sounds. Picture a four-year-old girl singing a (haunting) rhyme that has something to do with what’s happening to you. Think of waking up and having unexplained bruises all over your body, sickening nightmares, vivid visions, etc. Like I said—creeptastic!
Laura Jane Cassidy’s debut novel, Angel Kiss, is a gripping murder mystery, with its share of supernatural elements that will send chills down your spine. I’m looking forward to what Laura has in store for us next.
January 21, 2014
I need to read this book, cause this books are awesome!
Read
March 16, 2016alright
March 1, 2017
15 year old Jacki moves to the small town of Avarna with her mum. At first she's annoyed at having to leave her Dublin life and friends behind, but she quickly comes to enjoy life in Avarna and makes some cool new friends, as well as falling for cute but unavailable local boy, Nick. But Jacki's nights are plagued by sinister nightmares that could be connected to an unsolved murder that took place in the seemingly idyllic town years before.
I was torn on how to rate this one - either 3 or 4 stars. I eventually went for 4 because:
-it started out really strongly, building a sense of mystery and unease
-I loved the cast of supporting characters - Colin and Emily, two of Jacki's new friends, and some of the adult characters - particularly Joe, Lydia, and Mary (Joe runs the village pub, Lydia has an awesome vintage shop and is Colin's aunt, and Mary runs the village store)
-the setting of the small Irish town was really well done, not kitsch but warm and friendly and the people all felt very real. I wish I could visit the Cupcake Cafe or Clancy's pub, or Lydia's vintage store
-some genuinely creepy moments
However, I found the main character, Jacki, increasingly irritating, to the extent that I skim-read the last few chapters of the book (having clocked who the killer was before Jacki did). She has some good qualities - great taste in music being one of them, but I found her whiny, a bit dumb and I could have done without the endless mooning over Nick. However, I think all of Jacki's annoying qualities make for a very accurate depiction of a teenage girl, and my annoyance with her was purely the annoyance I at 31 might feel with anyone aged around 15. I think if this book had been around when I was 15, I'd have sympathised with her more. I think one of the problems you can encounter as an adult reading YA is becoming occasionally irritated with the characters' behaviour or actions.
So 4 stars because my dislike for Jacki was actually down to the author painting her very realistically, warts and all, but I did want to just smack her upside the head at times. I'm just a grumpy old lady now, it seems! ;)
I was torn on how to rate this one - either 3 or 4 stars. I eventually went for 4 because:
-it started out really strongly, building a sense of mystery and unease
-I loved the cast of supporting characters - Colin and Emily, two of Jacki's new friends, and some of the adult characters - particularly Joe, Lydia, and Mary (Joe runs the village pub, Lydia has an awesome vintage shop and is Colin's aunt, and Mary runs the village store)
-the setting of the small Irish town was really well done, not kitsch but warm and friendly and the people all felt very real. I wish I could visit the Cupcake Cafe or Clancy's pub, or Lydia's vintage store
-some genuinely creepy moments
However, I found the main character, Jacki, increasingly irritating, to the extent that I skim-read the last few chapters of the book (having clocked who the killer was before Jacki did). She has some good qualities - great taste in music being one of them, but I found her whiny, a bit dumb and I could have done without the endless mooning over Nick. However, I think all of Jacki's annoying qualities make for a very accurate depiction of a teenage girl, and my annoyance with her was purely the annoyance I at 31 might feel with anyone aged around 15. I think if this book had been around when I was 15, I'd have sympathised with her more. I think one of the problems you can encounter as an adult reading YA is becoming occasionally irritated with the characters' behaviour or actions.
So 4 stars because my dislike for Jacki was actually down to the author painting her very realistically, warts and all, but I did want to just smack her upside the head at times. I'm just a grumpy old lady now, it seems! ;)
August 5, 2019
I know the title makes this sound like a romance; it’s not, not really, although there is a bit with the main character and one of the others. To be honest, it’s more wishful thinking on her part, but that’s not the focus of the book. No, this is a murder mystery, and a supernatural one at that.
The pace is pretty slow which kind of fits. Fifteen year old Jacki King has been moved from Dublin to live in a small rural village. The pace of life there is much slower than that which she is used to. Everyone seems to know everyone.
It is the school holiday and Jacki is lucky to begin making friends, first with Colin, then Emma and Nick. While she is getting to know the place and the people she begins to dream the same dream night after night, then to suffer headaches. She hears things, sees someone that no one else seems to notice. Perhaps she is sick, after all, her father had died from a brain tumour.
This is a long way off being my favorite read; to be honest when I got a quarter of the way through it I considered giving it up. However, once the paranormal elements got going I found it much more enjoyable, and there are lots of red herrings scattered around. It is intended to be a teen read, to be fair, and that is just what it is.
Stars out of 5? I’d give it 3.
The pace is pretty slow which kind of fits. Fifteen year old Jacki King has been moved from Dublin to live in a small rural village. The pace of life there is much slower than that which she is used to. Everyone seems to know everyone.
It is the school holiday and Jacki is lucky to begin making friends, first with Colin, then Emma and Nick. While she is getting to know the place and the people she begins to dream the same dream night after night, then to suffer headaches. She hears things, sees someone that no one else seems to notice. Perhaps she is sick, after all, her father had died from a brain tumour.
This is a long way off being my favorite read; to be honest when I got a quarter of the way through it I considered giving it up. However, once the paranormal elements got going I found it much more enjoyable, and there are lots of red herrings scattered around. It is intended to be a teen read, to be fair, and that is just what it is.
Stars out of 5? I’d give it 3.
November 22, 2019
I must say, it is pretty good. The story itself is very interesting. The characters are really relatable. If you love a touch of mystery, suspense, the supernatural and, also, romance, then you might also enjoy this book so I do recommend it. However, I do find the progression of the story a bit slow. Would've also loved for the protagonist to have had more encounters with the spirit that was haunting her. That they could've bonded and known each other more. 'Twas not 'til the story was nearing it's end that all hell broke lose (metaphorically speaking). 😅
I really meant the climax. And I had some questions at the end, like, what happened to the culprit's family? How did they take it when they found out what happened? And also the rest of their friends and the townspeople?
As I've mentioned, the story was slow at first but then, when it was almost the end, everything just happened so quickly. 😅 Soooooo,
I'm just gonna go ahead and guess that maybe it'll all be explained in the second book, Eighteen Kisses. 😊
I really meant the climax. And I had some questions at the end, like, what happened to the culprit's family? How did they take it when they found out what happened? And also the rest of their friends and the townspeople?
As I've mentioned, the story was slow at first but then, when it was almost the end, everything just happened so quickly. 😅 Soooooo,
I'm just gonna go ahead and guess that maybe it'll all be explained in the second book, Eighteen Kisses. 😊
November 4, 2017
4.5 stars. This was a fast paced story with absolutely wonderful characters (Colin and Nick were my favourites) and the best part is that I didn't guess ANY of the plot twists, which hardly ever happens. Overall a great read and I will be reading the sequel!
March 28, 2023
It was an average book ...
Twist at the end was really good..
But it was hard to keep being interested in story ....
Twist at the end was really good..
But it was hard to keep being interested in story ....
June 13, 2011
Review posted at
Amaterasu Reads
Jacki doesn't believe in ghosts. But when she experienced a strange bout of headaches, nightmares plaguing her every sleeping moment, and she started seeing a girl nobody else sees, Jacki knew something was wrong. She and her mother moved to Avarna in hopes of a fresh start, what with her father's death still heavily upon them. While Jacki was struggling to fit in a small town that was drastically different from Dublin, she was also trying to make sense of what was happening to her. Jacki is a fascinating person to read of. She's mature in more ways than you can imagine a fifteen year old can be. One who has experienced heartache and loss at such a young age, has great insight about life, love and relationships. She also writes beautiful music and lyrics, an aspect which I greatly loved in Angel Kiss. She found a great friend in Colin, whom I loved dearly. He was such a great friend to Jacki.
I do have to say though, that again, it seems that romance is a bit lacking. I have to admit I loved Nick's description as an "unattainable boy", but the romance between Nick and Jacki left a lot to be desired. Nick did not have enough exposure in the book for him to build a solid personality, much less a relationship with Jacki. But what the love story lacked, the mystery of the unsolved murder of Beth Cullen made up for. Unpredictable, thrilling and it will keep us on our toes, guessing the identity of the killer and following Jacki's quest to solve Beth's murder. I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck raising in response to a four year old singing a rhyme about a dead person.
Angel Kiss has a nice touch of the supernatural, a brush of real life and a dash of romance merged into one book. I liked how Laura was able to fuse Jacki's struggles and her grief with the fact that someone from the afterlife was trying to reach her. There were moments where the supernatural angle of the book seem to fade away, and it was just Jacki adjusting to a life in a quiet town, which was, in its own, already worth reading for. Every single person in the town of Avarna has played an integral role in the story, and their interactions combined with the dark mystery surrounding the town and its past is what makes Angel Kiss such an interesting read!
A great, steady debut for Laura Jane Cassidy! Angel Kiss is a page-turner that didn't fail to give me goosebumps while I was reading. I'm looking forward to see what else Laura has in store for us!
Jacki doesn't believe in ghosts. But when she experienced a strange bout of headaches, nightmares plaguing her every sleeping moment, and she started seeing a girl nobody else sees, Jacki knew something was wrong. She and her mother moved to Avarna in hopes of a fresh start, what with her father's death still heavily upon them. While Jacki was struggling to fit in a small town that was drastically different from Dublin, she was also trying to make sense of what was happening to her. Jacki is a fascinating person to read of. She's mature in more ways than you can imagine a fifteen year old can be. One who has experienced heartache and loss at such a young age, has great insight about life, love and relationships. She also writes beautiful music and lyrics, an aspect which I greatly loved in Angel Kiss. She found a great friend in Colin, whom I loved dearly. He was such a great friend to Jacki.
I do have to say though, that again, it seems that romance is a bit lacking. I have to admit I loved Nick's description as an "unattainable boy", but the romance between Nick and Jacki left a lot to be desired. Nick did not have enough exposure in the book for him to build a solid personality, much less a relationship with Jacki. But what the love story lacked, the mystery of the unsolved murder of Beth Cullen made up for. Unpredictable, thrilling and it will keep us on our toes, guessing the identity of the killer and following Jacki's quest to solve Beth's murder. I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck raising in response to a four year old singing a rhyme about a dead person.
Angel Kiss has a nice touch of the supernatural, a brush of real life and a dash of romance merged into one book. I liked how Laura was able to fuse Jacki's struggles and her grief with the fact that someone from the afterlife was trying to reach her. There were moments where the supernatural angle of the book seem to fade away, and it was just Jacki adjusting to a life in a quiet town, which was, in its own, already worth reading for. Every single person in the town of Avarna has played an integral role in the story, and their interactions combined with the dark mystery surrounding the town and its past is what makes Angel Kiss such an interesting read!
A great, steady debut for Laura Jane Cassidy! Angel Kiss is a page-turner that didn't fail to give me goosebumps while I was reading. I'm looking forward to see what else Laura has in store for us!
November 7, 2011
The book starts off a bit slow (ignoring the prologue, which is basically a glimpse of the future), with Jacki having just moved to a little village with her mother. She feels a bit out of place, she never wanted to move from Dublin, but she isn't irritating about it and does try to fit in with her new surroundings, which made me give a few ticks to my mental Like column. It also helped that she and her mother are close, and you can feel that in the interactions they have with one another.
Jacki (of course) meets a cute boy (unfortunately taken), meets another cute boy (gay, friendly, her new best friend in this village), and starts having strange dreams and odd headaches she can't make heads or tails of. Turns out she's (somewhat) communicating with the spirit of a murdered girl.
The book was rather decent, though a few things struck me as unrealistic. Or, at the very least, very convenient for Jacki. When she visits a doctor because of the headaches, the doctor doesn't prescribe some pills or whatnot, instead, the doctor refers Jacki to a Healer. This is because the doctor believes there's something supernatural going on. ...Yeah. I wasn't very convinced either. Then there's her crush on Nick, who has a girlfriend, but said girlfriend is somewhat the stereotypical ultra pretty shallow somewhat mean girl. Who's a bad girlfriend to boot. Sigh.
I wanted to know more about Nick other than he's cute. There was nothing there. There's no real development for him, and I'm just left feeling rather cold when Jacki talks about how hot he is or how obsessive she's getting about this crush of hers. I have no idea why she likes him so much, other than for his looks--in fact, I'm convinced that's the only reason as to why she likes him.
The ending is rather abrupt and (to me, anyway) was rather predictable. Everything sort of fell together too easily, and I wanted the mystery to be a bit more.... hm. In depth, I suppose. It's an all right book though. Not terrible, but not great. There's more potential--it could have been a lot better. It's not all bad, though. The writing is easy to read, and the dialogue and description were balanced rather well. Pacing could use some work, especially in the beginning (too slow) and the end (too abrupt). Overall, 2-3 stars, rounding up to 3.
Jacki (of course) meets a cute boy (unfortunately taken), meets another cute boy (gay, friendly, her new best friend in this village), and starts having strange dreams and odd headaches she can't make heads or tails of. Turns out she's (somewhat) communicating with the spirit of a murdered girl.
The book was rather decent, though a few things struck me as unrealistic. Or, at the very least, very convenient for Jacki. When she visits a doctor because of the headaches, the doctor doesn't prescribe some pills or whatnot, instead, the doctor refers Jacki to a Healer. This is because the doctor believes there's something supernatural going on. ...Yeah. I wasn't very convinced either. Then there's her crush on Nick, who has a girlfriend, but said girlfriend is somewhat the stereotypical ultra pretty shallow somewhat mean girl. Who's a bad girlfriend to boot. Sigh.
I wanted to know more about Nick other than he's cute. There was nothing there. There's no real development for him, and I'm just left feeling rather cold when Jacki talks about how hot he is or how obsessive she's getting about this crush of hers. I have no idea why she likes him so much, other than for his looks--in fact, I'm convinced that's the only reason as to why she likes him.
The ending is rather abrupt and (to me, anyway) was rather predictable. Everything sort of fell together too easily, and I wanted the mystery to be a bit more.... hm. In depth, I suppose. It's an all right book though. Not terrible, but not great. There's more potential--it could have been a lot better. It's not all bad, though. The writing is easy to read, and the dialogue and description were balanced rather well. Pacing could use some work, especially in the beginning (too slow) and the end (too abrupt). Overall, 2-3 stars, rounding up to 3.
August 26, 2013
Why did I choose this Book/Source?:
This book was part of a trolley dash I won through Exclusive Books in 2011. I chose it as anything with the term Angel in the title is likely to catch my 'paranormal' attention.
What is the book about:
'The dead don't talk. Unless they have a secret to tell...'
Jacki King and her mom move from Dublin to Avarna, a small village in Italy. They are living temporarily in a caravan while their new home is being renovated. Jacki is your typical 15 year old teenage girl adjusting to a new life; she loves music and her iPod. She is missing Dublin, but slowly starts making new friends. She makes friends with the artistic boy Colin who also happens to be gay, Emily who is feisty and fun, and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable.
Shortly after moving to Avarna, Jacki finds a mysterious letter in their post box, addressed to the previous owner. When Jacki starts getting intense headaches and nightmares, her mom stresses and send her to the doctor, as her dad died a few years ago from a brain tumour. The doctor then advises she sees a healer before any diagnoses are made. Jacki's headaches are followed by strange visions, voices and signs.
Jacki refuses to believe that something paranormal is happening. But then she hears about the unsolved murder that happened in the village years before...
My Review:
The part I enjoy most about Laura's writing is that it is very modern, and she includes relevant, current subjects. She captures how teenagers act today, what they wear, and refers to current bands like Paramore and Metallica. It helps me to relate and connect more to the story; I could picture what she was describing and hear the music to go with it. (Since I also love my iPod and take it with me everywhere).
The pace of the story is perfect. I found this a very young read, Laura's writing isn't very deep and the chemistry she creates isn't very captivating - but it's still enjoyable. Colin is definitely my favourite character in the story - his quirkiness and the 'bff' role had me giggling whenever he was around, though I could still relate to and enjoy Jacki's journey.
Yes, I would read her 2nd book, Eighteen Kisses, just to see where the story goes, and how Jacki grows and handles all the new aspects of her life that she discovers during Angel Kiss. A good, easy read.
This book was part of a trolley dash I won through Exclusive Books in 2011. I chose it as anything with the term Angel in the title is likely to catch my 'paranormal' attention.
What is the book about:
'The dead don't talk. Unless they have a secret to tell...'
Jacki King and her mom move from Dublin to Avarna, a small village in Italy. They are living temporarily in a caravan while their new home is being renovated. Jacki is your typical 15 year old teenage girl adjusting to a new life; she loves music and her iPod. She is missing Dublin, but slowly starts making new friends. She makes friends with the artistic boy Colin who also happens to be gay, Emily who is feisty and fun, and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable.
Shortly after moving to Avarna, Jacki finds a mysterious letter in their post box, addressed to the previous owner. When Jacki starts getting intense headaches and nightmares, her mom stresses and send her to the doctor, as her dad died a few years ago from a brain tumour. The doctor then advises she sees a healer before any diagnoses are made. Jacki's headaches are followed by strange visions, voices and signs.
Jacki refuses to believe that something paranormal is happening. But then she hears about the unsolved murder that happened in the village years before...
My Review:
The part I enjoy most about Laura's writing is that it is very modern, and she includes relevant, current subjects. She captures how teenagers act today, what they wear, and refers to current bands like Paramore and Metallica. It helps me to relate and connect more to the story; I could picture what she was describing and hear the music to go with it. (Since I also love my iPod and take it with me everywhere).
The pace of the story is perfect. I found this a very young read, Laura's writing isn't very deep and the chemistry she creates isn't very captivating - but it's still enjoyable. Colin is definitely my favourite character in the story - his quirkiness and the 'bff' role had me giggling whenever he was around, though I could still relate to and enjoy Jacki's journey.
Yes, I would read her 2nd book, Eighteen Kisses, just to see where the story goes, and how Jacki grows and handles all the new aspects of her life that she discovers during Angel Kiss. A good, easy read.
January 22, 2012
Jacki King is a normal 15 year old girl. She loves her guitar, performing and writing songs. She is really upset with her mother for taking her away from all her friends and activities in Dublin to the small rural village of Avarna.
However, it doesn’t take Jacki long to start making new friends and even fall in love with the gorgeous but unavailable Nick. In fact, she would say her new life is quite promising, if it weren’t for the nightmares and headaches she’s been having ever since the move. And things get worse when she starts seeing strange visions, hearing voices and acting out of control.
Although Jacki is a realist and has always believed that the dead are dead and gone, she slowly comes to the realisation that not only is there at least one deceased person definitely not gone, that person also wants her to solve a mystery.
But investigating a decades old murder brings with it dangers of a more worldly nature.
I really enjoyed this debut by Laura Jane Cassidy.
In Jacki King the author has created a believable and likeable character. The issues Jacki deals with in her daily life ring completely true for someone her age and her conversion from sceptic to believer, if somewhat quick, also makes sense.
The mystery around the old murder is interesting and although I did have the solution figured out before Jacki, it was not too obvious.
While this is a shortish and fast-paced story, the author takes the time to describe her characters and the surroundings they live in with enough detail to make them come off the page and create real pictures.
Although this book is a complete story in itself, it could also be the first part in a series. I wouldn’t mind at all if there were future books about Jacki and the mysteries she solves and would most definitely read them. Not just because of the mysteries, but also to find out more about Jacki, her friends and her musical future.
However, it doesn’t take Jacki long to start making new friends and even fall in love with the gorgeous but unavailable Nick. In fact, she would say her new life is quite promising, if it weren’t for the nightmares and headaches she’s been having ever since the move. And things get worse when she starts seeing strange visions, hearing voices and acting out of control.
Although Jacki is a realist and has always believed that the dead are dead and gone, she slowly comes to the realisation that not only is there at least one deceased person definitely not gone, that person also wants her to solve a mystery.
But investigating a decades old murder brings with it dangers of a more worldly nature.
I really enjoyed this debut by Laura Jane Cassidy.
In Jacki King the author has created a believable and likeable character. The issues Jacki deals with in her daily life ring completely true for someone her age and her conversion from sceptic to believer, if somewhat quick, also makes sense.
The mystery around the old murder is interesting and although I did have the solution figured out before Jacki, it was not too obvious.
While this is a shortish and fast-paced story, the author takes the time to describe her characters and the surroundings they live in with enough detail to make them come off the page and create real pictures.
Although this book is a complete story in itself, it could also be the first part in a series. I wouldn’t mind at all if there were future books about Jacki and the mysteries she solves and would most definitely read them. Not just because of the mysteries, but also to find out more about Jacki, her friends and her musical future.
May 29, 2011
Not at all what I was expecting it to be but amazing nonetheless. I could not put it down in the two days I was reading it and when I couldn't read it because of other plans, it was always on my mind. I even read it instead of studying for an important English exam I had the next day. I liked the characters and how well Jacki thinks like a teenager. I like how I can relate to the character personality-wise so well it's like I'm staring into a mirror. I like the description of the clothes and how original lyrics were put in there. No doubt have I got a new favourite book and I just cannot wait for the next in the series!
January 2, 2012
This is one of those books that you are annoyed to finish.
It's set in rural ireland i found this refreshing as many of the books relating to Ireland in the least are very.....leprechaun-y of some sort and it had a great story line too very relevant! and it was as though i was looking out my window in some of the scenes describing the area.It was a very easy book to relate to and i could see a lot of the characterstics of my closest friends in the charachters.
The story line was brilliant,but the conclusion happened in the last few pages.It felt as though the end of it was in story book form ,the start so well described and detailed whereas the ending so fast it was dissappointing.Apart from that minor fault the rest was brilliant - Romance, Comedy, mystery, suspense and a hint of the supernatural. Completely deserves the stars :D
It's set in rural ireland i found this refreshing as many of the books relating to Ireland in the least are very.....leprechaun-y of some sort and it had a great story line too very relevant! and it was as though i was looking out my window in some of the scenes describing the area.It was a very easy book to relate to and i could see a lot of the characterstics of my closest friends in the charachters.
The story line was brilliant,but the conclusion happened in the last few pages.It felt as though the end of it was in story book form ,the start so well described and detailed whereas the ending so fast it was dissappointing.Apart from that minor fault the rest was brilliant - Romance, Comedy, mystery, suspense and a hint of the supernatural. Completely deserves the stars :D
October 31, 2012
First book of 2012.
Damn you, exams! *shakes fist*
Having said that, I am so glad it was THIS book which led me into the literary year. I now have renewed faith in YA Literature. A touch of romance, a touch of the supernatural, and a touch of mystery.
This book was super. All my favourite genres combined into one lovely slice of fiction. The writing style was easy-going, and I zipped through the book with a sense of anticipation. I hope to see more of this author in the future.
P.S.
Was I the only one who knew who the killer was about half-way through the book? Because, let's face it, it was pretty obvious, right? RIGHT? Or am I just amazing like that?
(I prefer the latter, actually...)
:P
Damn you, exams! *shakes fist*
Having said that, I am so glad it was THIS book which led me into the literary year. I now have renewed faith in YA Literature. A touch of romance, a touch of the supernatural, and a touch of mystery.
This book was super. All my favourite genres combined into one lovely slice of fiction. The writing style was easy-going, and I zipped through the book with a sense of anticipation. I hope to see more of this author in the future.
P.S.
Was I the only one who knew who the killer was about half-way through the book? Because, let's face it, it was pretty obvious, right? RIGHT? Or am I just amazing like that?
(I prefer the latter, actually...)
:P
July 30, 2011
Couldn't put it down! Some of the prose tends to be a little purple, especially with regards to Nick, but I sat down in the afternoon and starting reading, and the next thing i knew, it was bedtime. I think that LJ's characters and her plot were so excellent that it made up for some of the more awkward turns of phrase, and the expertise that she needs in that area will come with time and practice. The author should be insanely proud of herself, she got me reading supernatural crime fiction, a genre i would not otherwise go near with a long pole! Can't wait for 18 kisses.
June 1, 2011
I read this book in a day and I really enjoyed it. Laura's writing is very conversational and really hooks you into the story. The characters are very believable and I loved spending time with Jacki and her new friends. The only problem I had was that the ending came too quickly I could have happily stayed in Avarna for much longer. Laura Jane Cassidy is a name to watch out for in Teen fiction and this debut is a triumph. I can't wait to read the next installment.
August 1, 2013
Eh I haven't had my morning coffee yet so Imma keep this short. Not as good as I was hoping it would be. The writing was very simple the characters had no depth to them and the story line was pretty botched up like the murderer was found out and caught in one paragraph. Not a real big conflict kinda mid school type reading.
September 12, 2011
I the beginning it was really slow, and it took a while to get to know all the necessary characters, but once you did the story unfolded so well. The ending was a bit short though, it all happened so fast and then it was over, and I wasn't quite fond of the really super young age, although that doesn't affect the quality of the book itself.
February 1, 2012
At the begining i was sceptical as this is writers 1st book, and the plot was set in ireland..somehow i didnt expect to like this book. But im impressed of very intersting story and i couldnt put it down, until i finished it. Great created detective for teens and not only, and it gave a sad feeling that book is over>so im loking forward for the next book!
April 21, 2013
a paranormal story where a teenage girl is sensitive to the ghosts and it seems like we will be seeing more of jacki in her role as a 'spiritual consultant' to the police to solve cold cases, whereby the witnesses or victims are deceased.
the book is readable as it also has some BG relationship, friendship stories.
the book is readable as it also has some BG relationship, friendship stories.
May 16, 2011
I love a thriller, especially one that keeps me guessing. Well drawn, rounded characters, an intriguing premise, and laugh out loud moments combine to make this a page turner. Loved that I wasn't a hundred per cent sure who did it until the reveal--doesn't happen that often. Highly recommend.
June 4, 2011
It was amazing!!! I love romantic (ish) mysteries!
I read it in two days flat when I was supposed to be revising!
A real page turner. When I was called for meals I would shout I'm just finishing this page, but I kept reading until they came and got me!
I was soo annoyed when I finished it!
I read it in two days flat when I was supposed to be revising!
A real page turner. When I was called for meals I would shout I'm just finishing this page, but I kept reading until they came and got me!
I was soo annoyed when I finished it!
July 28, 2013
I am not a big fan of the oaranormal but this book was amazing! I wish i could just give it to everyone to read, it is the perfect book. It keeps you turning pages; wanting, needing more. It definetly has changed the type of books i read to much more crime based.
August 7, 2011
read this in one sitting couldnt put it down and now i have 4 hours to get some sleep before i have to get up for work.. worth it tho cant wait for 18 kisses any ideas on the release date?
September 1, 2011
A fab YA book with a dark side. Looking forward to the next - 18 Kisses
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