Tantalizing Trailers: Cracks by Caroline Green

I came across this one thanks to a fabulous review by Luisa on Chicklish (read it HERE)

Title: Cracks

Author: Caroline Green

Publisher: Piccadilly Press

Publication Date: 1 May 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Who do you trust when you discover your whole life has been a lie?

Cal thinks he's losing his mind when cracks start appearing that no one else can see. But his life splinters apart when he discovers that, far from leading an ordinary life in a northern town in 2012 as he thought, he has spent his whole life so far in a deliberately induced coma. The year is actually 2024 and a repressive regime is in force: it plans to brainwash the whole population. Set free by the local resistance movement, he finds himself drawn into their struggle; and he gets involved with Kyla, a girl who lives on the streets. But are they all just using him: is there anyone he can really trust?

A nail-biting thriller that never lets the reader relax!

Trailer Tuesday: Dark Ride by Caroline Green

Title: Dark Ride

Author: Caroline Green

Publisher: Piccadilly

Publication Date: 1 May 2011

Synopsis: From Amazon

A mysterious boy. A haunting secret ...

A shiver crawled up my spine. It felt like the loneliest place in the world. For a second I thought I caught a snatch of music in the air, but it was just the wind whistling through cracks in the fairground hoardings.

My instincts screamed, `Run away, Bel! Run away and never return!'

But instead my fingers closed around the ticket in my pocket. ADMIT ONE.

Bel has never met anyone like Luka. And the day she follows him into the abandoned fairground, she is totally unprepared for the turn her life is about to take.

Dark Ride Sneak Peek

Review: My So-Called Haunting by Tamsyn Murray

Title: My So-Called Haunting

Series: Afterlife
Author: Tamsyn Murray
Publisher: Piccadilly
Publication Date: 24 Sep 2010

UK Author

Synopsis: From Amazon

Skye, a fourteen-year-old who can see ghosts, is very stressed. Not only is the ghost of a sixteenth-century witch giving her fashion tips, but she's struggling to settle into life with her aunt, and is developing a crush on the most unattainable boy in the school, Nico. When her aunt asks her for help with a troubled teen ghost called Dontay, she's glad of the distraction. But then Nico starts paying her attention, and she's soon facing a battle to keep her love life and her psychic life separate. As things get ever more complicated, it looks as though Dontay's past might cost Skye her future.

Review:

The dramatic first line instantly drew me into the story.

Written in first person narrative from Skye’s point of view. At 15/16 she is small for her age, something she constantly mentions; I did feel perhaps Skye had a bit of a complex about her height. For the most part I think being petite generally aids girls/women as people want to protect them. Skye was born with psychic ability she deals with it very well and is lucky to have her Aunt Celeste for guidance.

It was so nice to see Celeste and Jeremy’s characters progress from My So-Called Afterlife . A great piece of character and relationship development on behalf of Tamsyn Murray.

Although I liked Skye I can’t say I fully connected with her. A myriad of unfortunate incidents add to the plot. The description of Nico and the Romanian Gypsy connection to psychics gave a multi-layered storyline. Not at all what I was expecting and the dramatic direction the action undertook was simply sensational.

I adore Tamsyn’s writing style which seems naturally humorous on a personal level beyond just subjective reading – if that makes any sense at all. Very easy to relate to, each reader will take something different away with them. Some serious and topical issues are woven into the story, including gang culture, gun crime, suicide, death and bereavement. I know you are wondering how books containing these elements can be funny. It is difficult for me to explain but thanks to Tamsyn’s writing style these subjects are tackled with sensitivity and humor while making you think about the consequences. I am obviously not be very articulate in my explanation SORRY. A mixed bag of a plot that blends surprisingly well together.

I haven’t gone into detail about the other characters in the book especially Dontay as the plot really revolves around him and I don’t want to spoil it for you. Just remember looks can be deceiving [ ; D ]

There are a number of plot threads left open involving other characters such as Mary (the resident poltergeist) and Nico (the love interest). I think these are the main characters in the next book My So-Called Phantom Love Life, at least I hope so as I would love to know more about these characters. I am so glad it is on my shelf waiting for me.