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Untraceable (The Nature of Grace #1)

by S.R. Johannes (Goodreads Author)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 925 ratings · 234 reviews

Book 2 Uncontrollable is also now available!
Book 3 is scheduled for Summer 2013.

16-year-old Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival.

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials...more

Kindle Edition, 315 pages

Published November 29th 2011 by Coleman & Stott (first published November 15th 2011)

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Untraceable (The Nature of Grace, #1)
by S.R. Johannes (Goodreads Author)

Uncontrollable - Book 2 is available
Unstoppable - Book 3 coming Summer 2013

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Nov 25, 2011 Laura Pauling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Thrillers seem to be up and coming in the young adult arena and UNTRACEABLE leads the way. A unique, well-written story about Grace, who uses her tracking skills to find her missing father.

Danger lurks at every turn, and the secrets she needs to uncover can’t all be found in the woods. So she takes to sleuthing and nosing around where she shouldn’t be to find the clues.

When she runs into two hillbilly suspicious-looking hunters, Grace pulls a thread that unravels a mystery that runs farther and...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Ashley Fierro rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lovely-covers, proper-heroine

The story is fast passed and the way it all tied together in the end was whirl wind ride I never saw coming.

I had been eyeing Untraceable for awhile, looking at the cover, its lovely in a subtle sort of way; then while in the process of ‘should I or shouldn’t I read’, I finally said:

Once the story moves into some of the deeper mystery and betrayal things really pick up, plus add in a fine English boy and I am sold. Somehow action-packed moments managed to convey a quite thoughtfulness as well a...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Grace's father goes missing and no matter how many times she's told that her father is dead and there is not hope of finding him, she won't give up. But the more Grace looks for her father, she realizes that her father's disappearance is part of something bigger--a crime involving her whole town.

I really enjoyed reading this. There is definitely the who-done-it? feel to this story where you're questioning every character and wondering if they're the bad guy. In the beginning, the story starts a...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-of-age, cultural, current_issues, mystery, relationships, romance, suspense, young-adult

Told in first person, Untraceable by S. R. Johannes follows a girl with plenty of backcountry knowledge as she tries to find some trace of her missing father. Refusing to accept his death, she’s made herself the bane of school, psychologists, local cops and even her best friend Wyn, but Grace is not one to give up easily. Chapter headings remind her, and the reader, of the skills she’ll need (and sometimes forgets). A fine motorbike called Lucifer carries her deep into hidden terrain. A gentle s...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Debbie W rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: around-the-states, mystery, read-in-2013

4.5 stars round down to 4

I am a book cover hoarder. When I see a book cover that catches my eye, I have to stop and take a look at the book. I have even been known to buy a book just because of the cover. Untraceable’s cover is bright green and very outdoorsy so I had to read the back cover. I’ve had this book on my TBR for quite some time and this book satisfied 2 challenges. I struggled with a 4 or 5 star rating and decided to give it a 4, because the ending was not what I expected. It left me...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Vilja rated it 2 of 5 stars

I feel like apologizing for the low rating. There was some a lot of good stuff in here, and I see what the author intended to convey, but no, sorry.

Good stuff:

- Protagonist was independent and active, and despite being very much disadvantaged in her quest never simply allowed events to carry her along. She was not helpless, despite running into a number of situations where she needed to be rescued.
- I admit I am fond of tomboy heroines who don't mind getting dirty.
- Surprises! After the midpoin...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Nia rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Grace's father goes missing and no matter how many times she's told that her father is dead and there is not hope of finding him, she won't give up. But the more Grace looks for her father, she realizes that her father's disappearance is part of something bigger--a crime involving her whole town."

I don't read many thrillers, this was my first. But I seen this for free on my Kindle, so I thought, why not?
I don't regret it. This book was amazing. Layered, unique characters, Outstandingly amazing...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, read-in-2012

I was lucky enough to receive an email from author S. R. Johannes asking if I would be interested in a free copy of her book Untraceable in exchange for an honest review. Well, of course I jumped at the opportunity. As I have read...and Loved...Shelli's other two books, On The Bright Side and Suffocate, I knew that I would enjoy Untraceable. Not only did I enjoy it? I loved it!! Shelli had me hooked from the beginning and I could not put this one down. First off I loved the storyline. I am a lov...more I was lucky enough to receive an email from author S. R. Johannes asking if I would be interested in a free copy of her book Untraceable in exchange for an honest review. Well, of course I jumped at the opportunity. As I have read...and Loved...Shelli's other two books, On The Bright Side and Suffocate, I knew that I would enjoy Untraceable. Not only did I enjoy it? I loved it!! Shelli had me hooked from the beginning and I could not put this one down. First off I loved the storyline. I am a lover of the outdoors, camping and of course wild life, so that alone had me hooked. But these characters?

Grace is an amazing young women. She is strong, smart, funny and everything I like to see in a YA female character. But we also get to see that she is vulnerable too. She is put through an array of very tough and often horrific situations, that as an adult, I am not sure could withstand. I love Grace.

Then we have Mo. Yummy, yummy Mo. I must admit, that I was a bit worried that the relationship between Grace and Mo was going to be too quick, and forced like is often seen in a lot of YA books. However, it was not forced at all. These two were just made for each other. I was also worried that we were going to have to deal with an annoying love triangle between Grace, Mo and Wyn. But no. We got to see Grace's internal struggles, but it was not an in your face type of thing. And Wyn? Well, I must admit I am a fan of his as well. He's the perfect 'best friend' turned boyfriend.

I also love how each and every character had a part in this book. I know, I know. Of course they did. No really. This book would not have been what it was without each and every one of them. Including the river, the forest and the animals. Everything just came together and fit perfectly. This book really has it all. It is a mystery, coming of age, romance, suspense and adventure story all rolled into one amazing little package.

In the end? I would highly recommend Untraceable. Author S. R. Johannes is one of my new go to authors. I look forward to more in the Nature of Grace series and anything else she 'Graces' us with!!
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Jun 02, 2012 Sharonm rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This first in a projected series introduces us to Grace, a teenager who is attempting to find her game warden father who has been missing in the Smoky Mountains for three months. Grace should be able to carry a series, as she is well developed as a character, full of teenage angst even while she faces the wilderness alone.

Grace’s father taught her wilderness survival skills from an early age, and each chapter opens with a survival tip which is loosely tied to the events in the chapter. Although...more This first in a projected series introduces us to Grace, a teenager who is attempting to find her game warden father who has been missing in the Smoky Mountains for three months. Grace should be able to carry a series, as she is well developed as a character, full of teenage angst even while she faces the wilderness alone.

Grace’s father taught her wilderness survival skills from an early age, and each chapter opens with a survival tip which is loosely tied to the events in the chapter. Although he’s been missing for months and the entire town, including her mother and the local police chief, all believe he is dead, Grace has not given up hope of finding him alive. She gives up all other summer activities to search for him, day after day, and in the process finds a teenage boy who is spending his summer living in the wilderness and studying the geology of the area. By the time she meets up with Mo, it has become clear that this book is targeted toward young adults, and her relationship with him captures the lightheaded kissing and heart thumping of adolescence. I’m not usually a fan of young adult novels, but I had nonetheless been captured by the character and by the location by the time I figured out that this was a book meant for teens.

As Grace continues her search, she enlists the help of an ex-boyfriend to gather evidence from both the backcountry and the police station, eventually uncovering a bear poaching ring. The sinister nature of the poachers combines with a growing knowledge that she must be careful who she trusts, to bring the book to a climactic, emotional ending. In spite of the simplicity of the story telling and straightforwardness of the narrative, or perhaps because of it, the unlikeliness of the ending was overshadowed by the sense of being right there with Grace through it all.

The book ends with just enough questions to provide an opening for the sequel. I liked Grace, and I look forward to picking up her story in the next book in the series, Uncontrollable, which is due out in September…even if it is a young adult book!
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May 21, 2012 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

When it comes to Untraceable, I am pretty split down the middle. There were many things I loved about the story and many things that I wish had been done differently. I always like to start off with the good - so here goes:

This novel has an awesome storyline - a girl searching for her father, who has been missing for nearly three months. Trained by her dad in a variety of wilderness skills - tracking, hunting, protection - she never gives up hope that her father is alive. I love that faith is on...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Jennifer Monzon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

I am at a lost of words when writing this review. I don't know where to start or how to describe this book. It has a mixture of everything from mystery, to investigation, to romance to murder making this book a fantastic read. Grace reminds me a lot of Veronica Mars who will stop at nothing to learn the real truth behind her father's disappearance. No one can stop her, she's strong willed, independent, and although, everyone including her mother and the town sheriff have given up and believe tha...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Reading Teen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would like to say two things first of all...

One - being that I freaking love the cover of this book! Simply phenomenal, those blue eyes and dark lashes... WOW!

Two - is that this book has the BEST, I say the best first two pages of any book ever! It was high speed, non-stop action/thriller. Any book that has you biting your nails the first two pages in, is a definite winner for me.

Now I love the way S.R. Johannes wrote this mystery. The romance, guessing games, and action is a huge plus for me....more I would like to say two things first of all...

One - being that I freaking love the cover of this book! Simply phenomenal, those blue eyes and dark lashes... WOW!

Two - is that this book has the BEST, I say the best first two pages of any book ever! It was high speed, non-stop action/thriller. Any book that has you biting your nails the first two pages in, is a definite winner for me.

Now I love the way S.R. Johannes wrote this mystery. The romance, guessing games, and action is a huge plus for me. I like to not be bored while reading and this book delivered. I like that most everyone was a suspect, most of the characters seemed 'iffy' to me. That's not bad as far as the characters go, some were really good people like Grace's ex boyfriend Wynn... he was amazing and adorable, so lovable/witty. I haven't even started with the hunk Grace meets in the woods... Mo. He was my favorite, English accent and all. He was just so terribly cute and sweet. My favorite was when he would say his famous last words; ABSO-BLOODY-LUTELY! Mo also gave Grace the cutest nickname. Just listen to me I'm sputtering non-sense.

This book actually has a great storyline of how Grace's father goes missing, and everyone (except for Grace) thinks he's dead. Grace does not give up so easily. She risks her life and the lives of many others to prove everyone in her small close-knit town differently. I really loved this mystery, how it was written, all the characters; some bad, some good. The violence was perfect, some died horrible meaningless deaths, some needed to die more horrible deaths, and some died risking their life to save the one's they loved. Yes, this book has romance, non-stop action... but most of all, this book has characters you come to respect and hate. Some very powerful emotions will come out of you while reading this book. Let me just say, I kept glancing over to my husband's shotgun, for I wanted to help Grace and take care of business myself.

-Amy
Reading Teen

Content:

Sexual: Mild
Violence: Heavy
Profanity: Moderate w/ 1 F-bomb(less)

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Jan 16, 2012 Valette M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was a satisfying read and held so much more than I expected.
While Grace (Main Character) was your average strong female lead, her first-person perspective allowed the reader clear insight into how her mind worked. I could feel her determination to save her father and her pain over her crumbling world. Mo (Romantic Interest) was very ... well, romantic but he seemed to fall for Grace a little fast. And there was one instance at the end, due to a plot twist, that I didn't think was cons...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m not sure of the category of Untraceable by S.R. Johannes. Probably young adult since the protagonist, Grace, is a teenager. But you don’t have to be a teen to enjoy the book. I did and I’m a few years past nineteen.

Grace’s dad has been missing for so long, everyone assumes he’s dead – everyone except Grace. He disappeared into the vast forest filled with cliffs and bears and other dangers. But Grace feels inside that he’s alive. He was a Forest Ranger and he taught her everything she knows....more

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Jan 11, 2012 Trisha Wolfe rated it 5 of 5 stars

UNTRACEABLE is packed with suspense, action, tension, and enough romance to make you swoon. I didn’t know what to expect when diving into this read. From the blurb, I had a different picture painted in my mind. But I was surprised how easily I was sucked into Grace’s world, and how much I cared about her plight to save her father. Also, I think I could go trekking through the wilderness and know exactly how to survive, as there are some amazing survival skills learned throughout this story.

The w...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Heard a lot of buzz about how this self-published work aspired to be more professionally done than your usual self-pubbed novels. I enjoyed the story and it was indeed a breath of fresh air from what's getting conventionally published today.

Yeah, the story was a bit dark and I can see why it might not be suitable for the mass market. Something about the mystery at the center of this novel rubbed me the wrong way, though I'm not saying it can't be covered as YA. I think I might have given this no...more Heard a lot of buzz about how this self-published work aspired to be more professionally done than your usual self-pubbed novels. I enjoyed the story and it was indeed a breath of fresh air from what's getting conventionally published today.

Yeah, the story was a bit dark and I can see why it might not be suitable for the mass market. Something about the mystery at the center of this novel rubbed me the wrong way, though I'm not saying it can't be covered as YA. I think I might have given this novel a pass if I had known what the mystery was about before I started to read, but there's really no hint in the description at all and I find that a bit problematic since the subject matter might be disturbing to some teens (or even adults). This isn't an outright spoiler, though it does make the mystery more guess-able, but I think it might be worthwhile for those wondering if this is the right book for you to know about the content beforehand: (view spoiler)

That aside, I loved that Grace is a competent outdoors woman who partakes in flyfishing and hiking. There's not enough of them in the YA world. However, I got the feeling the book wasn't as immaculately researched as it should have been. Trees are just trees, birds are described as birds; you don't really get a very detailed sense of place that Grace should have been able to notice if she really spent that much time in the wild. A Barbara Kingsolver novel this is not. It made it accessible to people who might not be familar with the outdoors, but might not leave avid outdoorspeople satisfied. There was one geology terminology mistake I caught, too (which wouldn't have been such a problem except the character who made the mistake was allegedly...a geology major. Whoops.)

There were just parts that could have been tightened with better editorial assistance. Grace doesn't ever seem to go to school, which was baffling since she's supposedly a teen. Also, her love interest lives in the backcountry in a shack and she doesn't seem to think, "Well, that's a little creepy?" I've done enough camping to know that a guy in the backcountry isn't going to smell like roses, and pretty much starts looking like a homeless vagabond within two or three days. Seriously, Grace? You've got pretty odd taste in men, because I don't know who would find a man who seems, well, homeless, attractive or good dating material.

The cover's great and a refreshing step up from the cringe-worthy covers on most self-published novels, but it doesn't make up for the fact there were way more easy-to-catch typos than could be excused - about one per chapter. I hope that gets corrected in later editions.

It was a pretty good book, and a thrilling page turner, but the errors above really bogged it down. It's better than most self-published books, but I can't really give it a higher rating that 3 stars.(less)

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Dec 30, 2011 Katie Cody rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult

A father’s love for his children is a strong bond, but what about a daughter’s love for her father?

Grace is one kick butt heroine and she has learned everything she knows about the forest from her father. Her skills in wilderness survival and tracking will be tested when her father comes up missing. How far will she go in order to save the one she loves?

Grace is one of my favorite heroines she doesn’t give up easily and I admire that. Her journey to save her father is full of some intense scenes...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ramblings: This book sounded like just my cup of tea, and it was! Full of mystery, suspense, and romance, Untraceable pulled me in and never let me go! This is a captivating book that revved up my emotions and led me on a wild goose bear chase!
Characters: Grace is the main character of this book and she is the strongest, bravest, and most determined heroine I've read about in a long time! But aside from the action, there is also romance in this book. Grace's ex Wyn and a new found friend Mo lead...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Felicia Chien rated it 4 of 5 stars

E-book: Untraceable by S.R. Johannes
Pages: 185
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Source: Sent from author

Short Synopsis: Ever since Grace's father has been missing for at least three months, Grace does everything she can to track him down. But she has no clue what she's gotten herself into.

My Thoughts: A surprisingly interesting read, with characters that I couldn't get enough of!

Ever since Grace's father has been missing for three months, Grace has been on a mission. A mission to find her father. When...more E-book: Untraceable by S.R. Johannes
Pages: 185
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Source: Sent from author

Short Synopsis: Ever since Grace's father has been missing for at least three months, Grace does everything she can to track him down. But she has no clue what she's gotten herself into.

My Thoughts: A surprisingly interesting read, with characters that I couldn't get enough of!

Ever since Grace's father has been missing for three months, Grace has been on a mission. A mission to find her father. When all hope is lost, Grace refuses to give up on the fact that her father is in fact dead. Without any real proof, Grace tries to investigate on her own, to find out what happened the night her father went missing.
As if things weren't bad enough, Grace encounters two outsiders who seem intent on bear hunting, which is illegal. Grace knows she must put a stop to these men and what they are doing in order to save the wildlife species of the town. But little does Grace know that this particular operation affects more than just the wild life, but the people of the town as well. Can Grace find out the truth of what happened to her father and put a stop to these men?

I was kind of reluctant at first, but I was blown away by how I wanted to keep reading. I wanted to find out what Grace's next move was, and who she could actually rely on and trust. I was really surprised by all the twists that occurred in the novel.
I enjoyed reading the easy going friendship that Grace had with her friend Wyn, and how he was always there to help her. I also loved reading about the relationship between Grace and Mo, but didn't really understand why she felt like she had to keep it as a secret. I wasn't too pleased with the ending when Wyn felt betrayed that Grace never told him, and felt that he over reacted a bit.
The character that intrigued me the most was Mo and was curious to find out more about him. At times, the novel seemed a bit slow to me, and I'm not a big fan reading about the whole nature scenes, but I understand that it was a big part of the novel. I was really interested with who Grace could trust and who actually turned on her. Overall, an interesting read, and I can't wait to read what happens next.

Would I recommend this book: Sure

Rating: I give this book a 4/5.(less)

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Dec 09, 2011 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Untraceable is a little different from the usual books we talk about here at Tynga’s Reviews because it’s set in the real world. No dystopia, no paranormal elements, no steampunk gadgets in sight. But I love a good thriller so there was no way for me to pass Untraceable up after reading the book description! And you know what? Untraceable is an amazing debut, filled with rich worldbuilding, strong characters, and an unpredictable plot (though there were a couple moments that made me go “hmm” sli...more Untraceable is a little different from the usual books we talk about here at Tynga’s Reviews because it’s set in the real world. No dystopia, no paranormal elements, no steampunk gadgets in sight. But I love a good thriller so there was no way for me to pass Untraceable up after reading the book description! And you know what? Untraceable is an amazing debut, filled with rich worldbuilding, strong characters, and an unpredictable plot (though there were a couple moments that made me go “hmm” slightly before Grace).

Grace is a great main character. Shelli’s done a great job of capturing Grace’s voice. I have this amazing mental picture of her searching the woods, all disheveled and spunky, hopeful and despairing. She’s got such a strong personality and is so determined to find her father and you can’t help but feel for her as everyone encourages her to accept that her father is dead. I was rooting for Grace the whole time, particularly when things got dicey, and I loved how quippy she was throughout the novel. And while some of the pop culture references seem a bit too old for Grace, who’s sixteen, who am I to judge? I love British shows from the 60s so perhaps it’s not all that odd.

Plot-wise, Untraceable really moves. Grace’s search for her father gives us a lot of woods lore and also propels her into some dangerous situations. There’s a fantastic narrative flow that makes you desperate to find out if Grace will figure out what’s going on. Some of these situations felt like they shouldn’t be in a YA book because the content was kind of dark but they made sense in the narrative and are very well written. And if the Hunger Games books qualify as YA then there’s no reason Untraceable shouldn’t be shelved there too. I want to be clear: I’m not criticizing Untraceable for tackling mature subject matter; some of the moments made me sit back and say, “Whoa.” It’s heavy stuff but the book as a whole is a great read.

The B storyline in Untraceable revolves around Grace’s romantic life. Grace has justifiably back-burnered romance since she’s on a mission but, just like in real life, connections pop up when she’s least expecting them, and Grace finds herself torn between her ex, Wyn, and her new interest, Mo. It’s a sweet triangle and you can see the draw of both guys, though it’s pretty clear who Grace prefers by the end. It was refreshing to see a character who wanted to choose and who does her best not to lead on the guy she’s not as interested in. I’m all for love triangles – I think they make stories a lot of fun when they’re done well – but it’s cool to see a heroine make a choice.

All in all, Untraceable was a thrilling rollercoaster of a book and I can’t wait to see what happens to Grace next!

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Dec 01, 2011 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: in-my-kindle, favourites

I sent an email to the author last week asking her where I could purchase her book. I'm not sure if she could tell but I was a little...er, frantic. I literally searched all the on line bookstores and I couldn't find a copy! Well, she was nice enough to tell me that her book wasn't available yet. Duh! Anyway, I waited {im}patiently like a good little bookworm that I am and when the day finally arrived, I wasted no time and devoured this baby right away.

Untraceable is a story about a teen who do...more I sent an email to the author last week asking her where I could purchase her book. I'm not sure if she could tell but I was a little...er, frantic. I literally searched all the on line bookstores and I couldn't find a copy! Well, she was nice enough to tell me that her book wasn't available yet. Duh! Anyway, I waited {im}patiently like a good little bookworm that I am and when the day finally arrived, I wasted no time and devoured this baby right away.

Untraceable is a story about a teen who doesn't know the words surrender, relinquish, defeat, give up, submit or any other words synonymous to concede. Grace is practically the only person in the whole town who believes that there's something suspicious about her father's disappearance. The rest of the population of small town North Carolina just tolerated her inquisitiveness as a way to deal with grief, even her own mother. Grace seem to keep finding herself in a heap of trouble as she digs up clues to her father's whereabouts. But she's determined. She refuses to give up hope; as long as there's no body, Grace will scour every square inch of the Smokies to find her father. What she discovers along the way is the gruesome reality of what extremes people will do for money and a boy with a history connected to her search.

Grace is such a refreshing character. Her rock hard determination and belief that her father was still alive parallels her will to do whatever she sets her mind into. Her best trait is that she just wouldn't give up, no matter how ludicrous she may seem to other people or no matter how many times she'd hit a dead end. She just keeps going. Nothing fazes this girl, not even a knife to her throat. Heck, she'd pet a bear one moment and give a guy a roundhouse kick on the next! I truly enjoyed reading her POV. She has this funny opinion about herself; not so much self-deprecating but just candidly real.

The action in this novel was unrelenting. It made for a fast read, in my opinion. The gruesome parts were a bit unBEARable - I found myself tearing up on some scenes, especially the one with a trapped cub. If you're an animal lover, there are some hard-hitting, hard-to-swallow facts about poaching. It was disturbing and yet I was oddly thankful for the education.

I've never been a fan of camping or any outdoor activities myself. But after reading this book, I may sign up for the next fly fishing class. I have no clue how Ms. Johannes did it, but she somehow romanticized all the things I hated about any outdoor activities known to man.

Now, I'm sure you've read me lamenting about annoying love triangles many a times and unfortunately, this book has it. FORTUNATELY, it wasn't the kind that made me want to yank my hair out. It almost felt like the author was running two different stories. It wasn't that Grace was a completely different person when she was with either guys, it was just the way she compartmentalized either boys. Never did I feel the usual annoyance that I usually feel when I read love triangles and I think it also had something to do with the way Ms. Johannes gave Grace a feeling of certainty on who her heart truly belonged. I know there were some instances where she could've gone either way but I wasn't fooled. The boy whom she ended up with (?) just felt like her other half. There's just no ifs and buts about it...and I may or may not be biased to the Brit boy because he kept calling her, "blossom". Sawwwwwwooooon (oh crap! did I just spoil that?)

This book ended in a cliffy and I'm dying to read the next one. If you're looking for a change of pace, this YA suspense will just be the ticket. This book had me up and at 'em at four in the morning. I just couldn't get it out of my head. Untraceable is a well conceptualized, well written novel that's truly one of a kind. It had an environmental message woven in a tale about a family's way of dealing with a loss of a loved one. Unconventional, yes but oddly appropriate. Everyone's got a way of telling a story and I thought that S.R. Johannes did a marvelous job. I love finding great reads that really wasn't even in my radar up until seven days ago. Don't pass up on this book.

"Everything that touches this earth leaves a special imprint, a unique mark that proves we existed in some way - no matter how invisible we may feel." - S.R. Johannes

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Nov 25, 2011 Amanda (Letters Inside Out) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reviewed at Letters Inside Out

I had been eyeing Untraceable for awhile. Look at the cover, it’s lovely in a subtle sort of way. When the author emailed me about reviewing it, I immediately jumped on the chance and managed to fit it in right away.

Grace’s father has been missing for other 3 months and she’s convinced he’s still alive, despite everyone around her saying he isn’t. She knows that he knows the mountains so well that something is obviously wrong. To the point of obsession and at the ri...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Angel Valdes rated it 4 of 5 stars

I didn't think this was going to be good, honestly because the beginning started out so slow, with details i thought were unnecessary at first. But as the characters, (such as Mo being not so insignificant as i thought, and rose not as drama queen ish), and plot developed the book completely surprised me! If was fantastic with multiple twists I did not expect, and the way the author weaves around the pieces of her fathers disappearance, pulling from previous pieces of smaller info is well done a...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Mattie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was great. A few parts did make me a bit queasy, but nothing too bad. I loved the main character and admired her for her strength (mental and physical) and loyalty. I also learned quite a few new things about how to survive better in the wilderness!

There really isn't anything that I hate about this book except how much work she has to do to get people to see the truth that is right in front of their faces! If I could have, I would have smacked a few of those people upside the head, but...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Untraceable by S.R. Johannes is a novel about Grace, a 16-year-old girl who is saddened and confused by the disappearance and presumed death of her father. But unlike many other teenagers, Grace is determine to explore the Smokey Mountains where her father disappeared and search for clues as to where he might be. It's been three months since they last saw her father and the local authorities are closing the case and ruling her father's disappearance as death by drowning.

One day while Grace is...more Untraceable by S.R. Johannes is a novel about Grace, a 16-year-old girl who is saddened and confused by the disappearance and presumed death of her father. But unlike many other teenagers, Grace is determine to explore the Smokey Mountains where her father disappeared and search for clues as to where he might be. It's been three months since they last saw her father and the local authorities are closing the case and ruling her father's disappearance as death by drowning.

One day while Grace is out in the woods tracking her father she meets Mo, a teenage boy who is living in the woods and studying to be a geologist. Not only does Mo know what he's doing in the woods, he's funny and good looking as well. The two begin meeting up to fish and talk.

Then Grace overhears two men talking about illegal poaching of bears. She can only imagine that they could be involved with the disappearance of her father since he was hot on the tail of some local poachers when he went missing. Grace follows the men into the woods only to be caught by then. In a daring rescue Mo shoots one of the men and gets her to safety.

That's when everything Grace thought she knew about her town, the people in her town, and even Mo gets blown wide open. Grace has stumbled upon something much bigger then finding her father and the people involved will do anything to keep her quiet. The last pages of the novel are a series of lies, betrayals, hope, and tragedy as Grace struggles to process what she has learned and to keep herself alive in time to tell the authorities what she has learned.

While I thought the book started out slow, it quickly gripped my attention once it got moving. Grace is a strong young woman who not only knows how to take care of herself but is smart as well. Even when no one else believes her father is still alive, she trucks on determined to find out the truth. The side story of romance between her and Mo is sweet. The ending of the book may be a little graphic for younger readers and is a bit over the top, but overall it fits with the theme of the book. This young adult novel is action packed and full of heart racing moments, heart breaking moments, and many different kinds of love.

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Dec 28, 2011 Dorothy Dreyer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I got wrapped up in this story right away. Grace is a very strong-minded, stubborn girl whose top priority is to find her father. He went missing, and now everyone seems to have lost faith that he's still alive. Everyone except Grace, that is. In her efforts to find him, she runs into trouble -- both good and bad trouble. Bad trouble as in disputes with reservation chiefs, risking getting caught hacking into police computers, and face-offs with shady, gun-toting characters. Good trouble as in ha...more

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May 06, 2013 Hersheys rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, adventure, arc-or-galley

Nothing is Untraceable

This book was awesome! I really liked it a lot.

photo tumblr_mir7y4okmd1qh9nffo1_500.gif

Grace is a very strong female lead. She's searching for her father who was claimed to be missing and dead but Grace does not believe it. So, she hunts for her father on her own strongly believing he is still alive somewhere.
Then she meets Mo whom she really likes. Mo is nice. He is simple, interesting and realistic.
Grace is a very inquisitive person and she pokes her nose into everything and unfortunately her inquisitive...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Emily Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-on-kindle

I downloaded this book on a whim when I was browsing free ebooks on amazon. Basically I loved the pretty cover and was also intrigued by the synopsis.

Usually the quality of obscure free books on amazon isn't the best, but I'm pleased to report that I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

First of all, I totally connected with the main character, Grace. She was written in a way that even though we have very little in common (for example, settings, interests, situations, etc) I was really able to fall in lo...more I downloaded this book on a whim when I was browsing free ebooks on amazon. Basically I loved the pretty cover and was also intrigued by the synopsis.

Usually the quality of obscure free books on amazon isn't the best, but I'm pleased to report that I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

First of all, I totally connected with the main character, Grace. She was written in a way that even though we have very little in common (for example, settings, interests, situations, etc) I was really able to fall in love with her as a character because of her determination to be strong. She absolutely refuses to allow herself to be weak and sees emotion as weakness. She is confused by Mo, who wears his heart on his sleeve and says everything he thinks. I LOVE this because I can totally relate with it! It's so realistic! I'm amazed how very three dimensional Johannes made her characters. If nothing else, I would read this book again just for Grace.

This plot is rich. I was happily surprised. Some plot twists I totally saw coming... until it turned into yet ANOTHER plot twist! and I'm talking about in a non-confusing, fast-paced, exhilarating, OH MY GOSH 'what is going on here?' kind of way!

Oh, and I can't forget about Mo! HE IS HOT. I LOVE the dark edge to his personality/story! Everyone has one of those and I'm so glad he got one! I hate perfect heroes in books... because perfect men don't exist! Wynn is nice too, but... I was definitely team putting Wynn in the friend zone and leaving him there....
I'm really tired of love triangles, and I'm happy to report that this love triangle lasts for like five seconds, and then she makes up her mind. THANK YOU, S.R. Johannes for being the one who finally writes a satisfying love triangle!

The only reason I took a star away from my rating is that I felt like the romantic scenes were a little cheesy at times. I was a little disappointed that this book was so REAL but then when it got to romance it would build and then leave me like, uh... what? I'm hoping this improves in the next book!

And I finished it right in time for the second to come out! Definitely high up on my to read list!(less)

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Dec 29, 2011 Baby T-Rex rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm a bit conflicted about Untraceable. On one hand, it was a good mystery and I never guessed who the actual bad guy was. I read the book quickly and was with Grace for the entire ride, cheering for her to find her dad. The setting was also unique and described very well.

But, this is one of those books that I think would have been better if it wasn't YA, mainly because of Grace. She's a wilderness survival expert, drives a motorcycle, works at a fishing shop (no mention of going to school), kno...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Literary rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mandy's Review:

Grace is a 16-year-old tomboy who grew up as her daddy's shadow. He was a park ranger who taught Grace everything he knew about tracking, plants, animals, and nature in general. She never dreamed all of that knowledge would be needed to track down her missing father.

During her investigations, she encounters some unsavory men who catch her spying on them. A stranger comes along and rescues her. Grace and her rescuer, Mo, get to know each other better and start developing feelings f...more

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Authors, Readers ...: Seeds of Discovery	1	3	Apr 25, 2013 09:16am
YA Lovers: Untraceable by S.R. johannes	3	12	Oct 02, 2012 09:38pm
♥Teen Book Club♥: I'm Reading This!	1	4	Feb 02, 2012 08:07pm

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About S.R. Johannes

When Shelli was younger, she spent all her time outdoors, hiking, camping and living the Girl Scout Way.

Somewhere along the way, she got away from nature and earned an MBA in Marketing, kicking off an 18-year marketing career in Corporate America.

Eventually, Shelli traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She started her own...more

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Books by S.R. Johannes

Uncontrollable (The Nature of Grace, #2)

In His Eyes Anthology (Stories from a Cute Guy)

Unspeakable (The Nature of Grace short story, #1.5)

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“I smile. "I thought time was nothing but an illusion."
He takes in a raspy breath. "It was until i got more of it.” — 2 people liked it

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Untraceable (The Nature of Grace #1)

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