Whispering Hills

Whispering Hills #1

by Taryn Browning

Life and death, love and hate, friends and enemies...

For as long as she can remember, 17-year-old Alexis Forbes can hear the thoughts of others. Most recently, she is disturbed by the dark, unfamiliar voice of a frightening killer: callous, cunning, charismatic…and dead.

She hears his every sinister thought. But she can’t tell anyone. No one would believe her. Alexis is suddenly being haunted by a terrifying past she doesn’t remember, and a ghost with a serious score to settle. Even Chance, the gorgeous new guy she’s falling for, has his own ghostly secret. He’s definitely not like any guy she’s ever met. Alexis soon discovers she has a connection to the dead and it runs much deeper than she could ever imagine. And if the sociopathic entity has his way, she’ll finally be sentenced to the fate she escaped thirteen years ago.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Ghosts, Fantasy, Horror, Ebooks

306 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2012

About the author

Taryn Browning writes action-packed YA romantasy filled with dangerous magic, unforgettable characters, and romances that burn as fiercely as the worlds they inhabit. Her stories blend heart-pounding adventure with dark twists on mythology, where love is rarely safe—and power always comes at a cost.

Her debut urban fantasy romance, Dark Seeker (Seeker, Book 1), introduces a bold new take on vampire mythology, followed by Dark Return (Seeker, Book 2) and the newly released Dark End (Seeker, Book 3). She also authored the prequel novella Dark Beauty, available on Kindle and as bonus content inside Dark End.

Taryn is also the author of the YA paranormal romance Whispering Hills, a fan-favorite featuring ghosts, witches, buried secrets, and shocking twists readers never see coming—earning over four-star ratings on Amazon.

For readers drawn to epic fantasy romance, Emanare delivers angels, demons, shifters, and mythic bloodlines forged into weapons.

Taryn enjoys pulling readers into dark, magical worlds where enemies fall in love, forbidden love is tested, fate is challenged, and nothing stays buried for long.

She graduated with a B.S. in Education from Towson University and went on to earn a M.S. in Reading from Hood College. When I'm not writing, I enjoy reading, spending time with friends and family, dancing, music, nature, and the beach.

Reviews

[Giselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whispering Hills' plot which involves ghosts, witches, and telepathy is a sure way to lure me in, especially after having previously enjoyed Taryn's work in Dark Seeker. It's vastly different from her other series, however, and even though I never grew very fond of the characters in this novel, I was easily kept entertained by its suspense and mystery that are aplenty.

The characters are honestly the only reason that this novel failed to get me glued to its pages. The protagonist, Alexis, can come off as being a bit too naive for my taste: easily falling prey to traps and believing obvious lies. Then we've got Chance, the love interest, who is intriguing and mysterious, but his and Alexis' romance never claimed my heart. There isn't enough build up or natural progression to their relationship for me to have gotten a feel of their attraction. They start throwing the L word around after a mere few weeks and also seem to be a tad awkward with each other. Furthermore, we've got the villain, who is supposed to be terrifyingly powerful, not to mention evil, but only amounted to irritate me with his high and mighty attitude and embarrassingly weak jokes. I did, however, really click with Summer. I found her to be the most complex character. Her being a witch instantly pulled me in, but her cynical, yet caring attitude makes her compelling.

As far as the plot goes, it's exciting with a creative approach to ghosts; touching base with fate and the order of things. It's filled with twists that I never would have predicted, dramatic chapter cliffhangers that refuse to let you go, closing off with a chilling ending. It does take a couple of chapters to get a hint of what type of book we're getting into. After this, though, it doesn't take long for the action to begin for a non stop thrill ride to the end. The ghost story itself is very well crafted; both refreshing and original. The abilities also play a big part in the story: Witches with epic powers, and mind-reading - which is a very bittersweet ability to possess if you stop to think about it; Taryn makes use of these brilliantly, presenting them as equally creepy and enticing.

Whispering Hills, unique and action-packed, is perfect for readers who enjoy ghost stories with an extra paranormal punch. I was hoping for a bit more substance when it came to character building, but the captivating plot-line and fluid writing makes it easy to get caught up it the story regardless.

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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Source: Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk)
17-year-old Alexis can hear other people’s thoughts, but only when they are making a decision to do something. When she hears someone thinking ‘I’m going to dump her dead body in the lake’, she knows that she is hearing the thoughts of a murderer.

The new boy at school Chance seems to be showing an interest in her though, and she arranges to go with him to the autumn dance, even though she is worried over who is about to be killed.
What is Chance hiding though? Who is about to be murdered and who is the murderer? And are they coming for Alexis next?


This book was okay. I liked it up to a point, but I found myself getting a bit bored towards the end.

Alexis was an okay character, although she seemed to take a lot of things in her stride that would maybe have not been believed by anyone else. She just accepted that people could be witches or ghosts without really wondering if it was possible, and I’m not sure whether this was just because she could hear people’s thoughts, or whether she was just a bit too believing.
I did like Chance, although I guessed his secret a lot quicker than Alexis did. I didn’t quite get why he believed the things he did though, and why he was so set on protecting Alexis.

The storyline in this book was okay, but as it went along I started to notice plot holes, which started to annoy me. I also found myself getting a bit bored with this one towards the end. While the beginning was quite good, by the 70% mark I wasn’t even sure I wanted to keep reading.
There were some surprises in this book, although the main one – Chance’s secret, I guessed a lot earlier than Alexis did, and I wondered why Alexis didn’t catch on a lot earlier too. He dropped plenty of hints, but they just went right over her head.

There were some parts of this book that annoyed me a bit. Alexis at one point complains that Chance doesn’t open the car door for her, which I really didn’t understand. It wasn’t like she was incapable of opening the door herself, and what girl in this day and age wants to sit around waiting for someone to open the car door for her? Has she got nothing better to do? I also didn’t see why she felt the need to lie to her parents about a certain event as well. For me this was just a bit short-sighted, and could have potentially made the situation a lot worse.

Another thing that really annoyed me about this book, is that the ‘ghosts’ in this book, had previously lived in Whispering hills, and yet they were walking around town as if nothing had happened. If the town was really as small and gossipy as Alexis claimed, and it certainly seemed that way considering that her mother had the name of every family in the town written down in her planner, wouldn’t someone have twigged that certain people who had died 13 years ago were walking around town looking no different than they did when they died? I mean, surely there would be at least one person who would notice this!
I also wasn’t 100% happy with the sexual relations that one character had with a ghost. I mean sex with a ghost? That’s a bit weird for me.

The ending of this one was okay, but it was obvious that there would be more books to follow this one, as things weren’t tied up completely at the end. I’m not sure that I really want to read any more books in this series though, as I found the second half of this book a bit flawed and boring.
Overall; an okay YA paranormal ghost story, but watch out for the plot holes.
4.5 out of 10.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of my reviews @ www.obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

I am a huge fan of Taryn Browning's Dark Seeker novel so I was quite excited to get hold of and participate in her Whispering Hills blog tour.

Alexis Forbes has the unique ability to hear the thoughts of others, but its a gift that can be quite sporadic. When she starts hearing a callous murderer thinking of his victim she begins to wonder who the sociopath could possibly be and unable to inform the authorities she relies on the school outcast, Summer to help her find the killer.

When new student Chance Whitehead arrives in Whispering Hills he is instantly drawn to Alexis for reasons she is yet to understand. She is curious about him and why she can’t hear his thoughts. Chance was certainly a mystery, his interactions in the early stages of the book with his uncle had me intrigued - I was really keen to find out what he was so secretive about.

As the story progresses, we learn about who is behind the murder and the connection Alexis shares with this person, trying to stop him proves to be quite difficult so seeing them work out a resolution was interesting (I won’t reveal any details to avoid spoilers).

I liked Alexis and Chance as characters and as a couple, the only thing which put me off with them was their relationship moving at an unrealistic pace, I generally enjoy a slow build-up between a h/h rather than it being too much too soon. In saying this, I am quite eager to see how their relationship will pan out and if it is at all possible.

Each of the secondary characters were thought out well, Summer was absolutely wonderful! I was intrigued by her past and of her witchy abilities, she was fascinating and believable. I also liked the relationship Alexis shared with her sister Brooke, it was a sweet and open bond that I enjoyed reading about. Gabriel I was torn about, I loved him but hated him at the same time, I really felt for him and the grudge he had held on to for so long.

Whispering Hills has an edgy, dark feel to it; I am impressed by its originality. I was so eager to find out the mystery of the Whitehead boys and their history and I must admit it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting.

I haven’t read many ghostly YA books and the premise I found to be fascinating, Whispering Hills has an engaging and intriguing plot with so many exciting twists and turns, the characters were each likeable and the world building was strong. I also enjoy Taryn Browning’s descriptive and entertaining writing.

All in all, a great start to this new series.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so great! This is not your average ghost story by any means. Whispering Hills keeps you guessing, intrigued and engaged. I was sucked in from the very first page and then the next thing I know I'm done with the book and immediately wanting more.

Alexis is cool and I immediately connected with her. I thought Chance was beyond adorable too. Plus Chance is a great name. I have actually been seeing it a lot lately. He was great, but it certainly took Alexis long enough to actually realize that.

The writing is so easy. Your eyes just flow over the words and you get sucked right into the story. It just seems effortless for Taryn Browning. I need to read more books by her ASAP! She really knows how to use character building to a story's advantage. I fell in love with Alexis and Chance. I am dying to find out what will happen with them next. This is such a unique take on your average ghost story, and its really refreshing and interesting to see how it all comes together.

What I loved the most about Whispering Hills was how well it set up the stage for a kick ass second book. With a lot of the puzzle pieces falling into place, and a few surprise twists and turns, book two seems like it would be super interesting! There had better be a book 2! Great book, read it now! What are you waiting for? Go!

[Heather Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

find the rest here... http://supagurlbooks.blogspot.com/201...

I was so excited to read this! Taryn has a way with words and this book is NO exception. Whispering Hills is like no other story I've read. It has mystery, suspense, action, and of course Romance! It's a Ghost Story...a love story and man do I enjoy both of those :)


The story line is so interesting and has loads of twists and turns but not so much that you get lost. It is just the right amount and it will KEEP you turning the pages to find out what is happening next. You think one thing is going on and wham! nope that is so not it... I LOVED IT! Not much surprises me anymore with as much as I read well this totally did.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I promise to be brutally honest with my opinion, but it should not be taken as fact. Any reader should read it for themselves, before they decide if this book has any merit or not. Do not judge this book baised solely on my opinion. If you do, you might miss out on a great read. You never know. It could happen.
1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: Alexis is a complicated individual with a lot on her plate and she deals with every situation as it comes. She is a strong character that thinks quick on her feet and instantly makes connections between certain events, even though the reader never sees it coming. Instead of dramatic irony, where the reader knows what is going on but the character doesn't, this book is the total opposite with the character making connections that the reader never saw coming. I found this to be quite enjoyable instead of the opposite. What I did not find enjoyable what-so-ever was how clingy Alexis is with Chance. This girl really needs to learn to stop being so stupidly in love. She is a kickarse character though and having a tragic flaw makes this character, oh-so-real. 5 out of 5 stars
2. Strong Minor Characters: Brooke is so sassy and a real girl version of an older doting sister. It is refreshing to not have siblings argueing all the time and since I think most siblings get along MOST of the time, the character is very convincing. She reminds me of a bewildered puppy. She is so innocent in everything. Chance's character I find a little boring only because he is always so wrapped up in Alexis. It annoys me a little that he always thinks about her, but that is his tragic flaw that makes him more real to me. Plus, he has a lot of his plate. Plus, I loved the fire-girl and creepy, dark ghost man. I do not want to name them in keeping with the mystery of the story, but you will be pleasantly surprised. 5 out of 5 stars
3. The Setting: The area is so diverse that I feel as if I have been there before. The details of the setting are so sharp like a picture. I guess, the saying is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, only in reverse. A thousand words is worth a picture. I enjoy a setting that takes place all over, whether a town, community, or really all over. Being in one place, one setting too long takes the fun out of reading, because the setting gets boring and isn't diverse enough. This book had a great balance. It did all the regular teen stuff, like a majority of school, but the author took the reader all over town, which was great. 5 out of 5 stars
4. The Plot: This was one unique read. I have never read a story like it before and I have read a lot of books. The only thing remotely traceable is the star-crossed lovers thing going on between Alexis and Chance. Even with that though, the novel is very unique. It is not like a remake of Romeo and Juliet. Anything that isn't a remake or similar to another book's story, is unique to me. I would hate to read the same book twice with different titles. 5 out of 5 stars
I am looking forward to reading the next installment of this series. I would love a free copy inexchange for an intensive review like this one or something stronger. No one will know until I get a free book. Hint, hint.

[Chapter by Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Whispering Hills completely blind. I didn’t know what to expect and my predictions of the novel sounded outrageous. My first guess was that it was going to be some creep-show thriller and my next guess was that it was going to literally be about whispering hills. Thankfully, the novel is nothing like my guesses—it was even better! Instantly as the novel began I was brought back to memories of the Shade series and began falling in love with Whispering Hills from the opening sentence: “I’m going to kill her.” Come on. If you aren’t already interested in the novel…well, then *la pretzel face*. Oh and just in case that hasn’t reeled you in yet (which I am shocked by) I’ll also mention that we get such a fast introduction to the romantic male lead Chance.

Oh Chance… who is so charming, witty and romantic. Readers are bound to fall in love with him, I know that I did. Not only does Chance manage to end up in a relationship with the main character Alexis in record time after knowing her for only a period of days (pretty speedy there tough guy), but there are chapters in his POV (point of view) and they are told in the third person.Personally, I found these third person chapters more enjoyable than the story itself sometimes. Mainly because they held so much mystery, not only did author Taryn Browning manage to put in so many details that hinted at Chance not having normal teenage experiences (ex: his first high school dance, but he’s seventeen…) and at him not being normal in general. Kind of fishy, but it’s definitely worth it.

Alexis’s psychic ability played a major role in the novel, and it was one of those abilities that I wouldn’t mind having; Mind reading. The way that Browning wrote about the thoughts that Alexis could hear and the impact that they had on her physically had me thinking of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where Buff could hear everybody’s thoughts and one of the thoughts being a killers. Maybe you’ve seen it, maybe you haven’t—my point is that the novel is exactly like that. Alexis would be hearing somebody’s decisions and then BANG! You hear the killer. Not only did it have my creep levels off the charts, but at one point we end up learning one thing and that is the killer’s name: Gabriel the ghost… erm…yeah you heard me right: Ghost.

As the novel progressed, it began to move at an insanely quick pace. Not only was it twist after twist and dramatic chapter conclusion after dramatic chapter conclusion, but there is actually a whole lot more than simple ghost whispering going on. There’s witchcraft and pyrokenisis and dark secrets that are about to become discovered when really they should be left alone. All in all, a heart pounding read that I won’t soon forget. Not to mention that it finishes on a note where a sequel must be created and I know who will eagerly counting the days until it lands in my hands. *points at self*.

I would recommend this to somebody who wants to read a paranormal novel or even fans of the Shade series. Ghost and romance lovers everywhere are bound to love Whispering Hills. Happy ghost hunting.

[Audrey Wilkerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexis Forbes has been able to hear the thoughts of those around her for as long as she can remember. To be precise, she only can hear when someone has made a decision, so in that regard she is fortunate that she does not have to listen to everyone’s constant chatter. No one but her sister, Brooke, knows of her “ability;” not her mother, the town social committee president, her father, an absentee CIA agent or somesuch, and not even her best friend, Tiffany.

Alexis meets the handsome new guy at school, Chance Whitefield. He is drawn to Alexis and she finds him intriguing as well, though it seems his family is not exactly new to town. One day, Alexis hears an evil voice; one that speaks of killing. Soon after, Whispering Hills is thrown into turmoil when the mayor’s daughter, Tracey, goes missing. Could this act be related to the evil voice Alexis had heard? Soon Alexis is drawn into a mystery about how her past connects her to Chance, his cousin, Gabriel, and Summer, the school outcast. Will they find Tracey? Will Alexis learn the truth about her past and how she got her ability?

Overall, I think the author had a very interesting and intriguing idea for a story. However, I also think this book could have benefitted from another run through the edit machine. The story does not seem fully formed; it feels rushed, like it should have been several chapters longer. I felt there was a lack of balance in the story as well. We read about the dad, but never met him. Convenience for the writer? The mom sounded more like a cipher of a mom who didn’t care at all about her kids. Though her portrayal made me think something bigger was going to happen with her, it didn’t.

The relationships didn’t have time to develop. There wasn’t enough “meat” in the supposed bond between Alexis and Brooke to convince me of any deep ties. Was I supposed to assume them because Brooke was the only person trusted with Alexis’ secret? With Alexis and Chance, all of the sudden they are holding hands and she’s referring to him as her boyfriend? I had to re-read some pages to make sure I hadn’t missed something. Also, the lame fight at the end...no. The only relationship that feels real to me is the one between Alexis and Summer, maybe because they don’t really know each other and things are supposed to be awkward between them. It seems like the reader is supposed to infer a lot from a little.

The random thoughts that Alexis hears read very awkwardly and, on occasion, I felt pulled out of the story because of a clunky description or term. These are all things I assume a good editor would have seen and repaired. I always appreciate a well-written book, and I think that Ms. Browning, for the most part, comes up with more hits than misses with her descriptions, variety of word usage and character development; I just wish it had been a little fuller and more even. Hopefully the second book in the series will improve in these areas.

Whispering Hills by Taryn Browning was published March 15, 2012 by Amazon Digital Services

Read more book reviews at http://inkandpage.me

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

He removed his hand from mine, pushed my hair behind my ear, and leaned in to kiss my forehead.. “I’d do anything for you.”

Whispering Hills by Taryn Browning had me on such a roller coaster, every time I thought I knew what was going to happen next, Taryn would completely surprise me and throw in an amazingly awesome twist to the story! This story had me on the edge of my seat from the very first page, till the very last and then left me dying to know what will happen next in book two.

Now there were multiple things I loved about Whispering Hills, but first I must start with what really made me love this story, that was the suspense of this novel, and the fact that it kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I will be the first to admit there is a large number of YA novels that are predictable, normally right from the beginning you can tell where the story is going to go. This doesn’t make the story bad by any means, but when I find a book the does the complete opposite…I know I have found a winning book.

When I started Whispering Hills I made some mental guesses about where the story was going to go, and this is one of the few times I was completely wrong almost every time. This novel is suspense at its best, Taryn is an amazing writer for being able to make ever surprise…a serious surprise! Each time I would find a new piece to the puzzle of what was going on, I was shocked about the new information and dying to know where it was going to lead the characters.

There were two other things I loved a lot about Whispering Hills, one being how this paranormal was so different, and two being the characters. The paranormal that Whispering Hills revolves around is ghosts, but this ghost novel was nothing like the other ones I have read, it had a whole new twist that involves what happens when you change fate, I don’t want to give too much away, so let’s just say it is intense!

Then the characters, I loved them all! Chance was so caring, Gabriel was terrifying, but I still kinda liked him for some weird reason. Alexis our main girl was awesome, she was so caring of her friends and family and even though a lot of times she was scared she would still suck it up for the ones she would love. My favorite character though was Summer hands down! She was so different compared to most characters, she was so edgy yet still deep down you knew she was actually a really caring person! The characters were all so refreshing!

Over all Whispering Hills was my first Taryn Brown novel and it did not disappoint! If you’re looking for a YA novel that is non-predictable, has an awesome paranormal romance, and keeps you on the edge of your seat then Whispering Hills is a must read for you! It leaves you with a chilling ending that will have you dying for book two!

[Isra Starr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whispering Hills is a book that I was definitely excited to read when I found out about the book tour and I was so lucky that there was room for me on the tour! I have to say that I don’t regret it in the slightest. The book was really rather good and despite a few flaws, it was an enjoyable read that I finished in two days!

Alexis is seventeen years old and has been living in Whispering Hills her entire life. She’s just like every other teenager in her small town except for one small addition; she can hear people’s thoughts in her head. A new boy, Chance, shows up in her school this year and everything seems to change in her life thanks to him and his arrival.

I have to say that when I first started reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really liked it. The main character was written very well, and I have to say I liked Alexis a lot, which is something I can’t usually say for main characters. I’m all about the side characters and what they bring to the table, but Alexis ended up making me like her. Not nearly as much as Summer, I have to admit, but still, she was very likeable when it was all said and done.

Chance, on the other hand. I’m still not sure how I feel about him. The way that he came in and sort of took control over the novel, I wasn’t a huge fan about. I mean, I understand that it was important to the story line and that Alexis and Chance were intertwined in about a billion different ways (which really all just lead to one way but that’s not the point), but I just didn’t like the way he took over. All in all, he was an alright boy, but not one that I enjoyed.

The main reason I liked this book was for Summer and Gabriel. Summer’s just awesome, and I really want to be her. Or be her best friend, which I don’t think she’d like very much. Either way, it’d be awesome. Gabriel is just such an awesome, messed up character that I just wanted to know more about him. I’d really love to read a book in his POV and just see how he’s dealt with his life since the major incident in this novel. I’d love that more than life itself.

All in all, I enjoyed reading Whispering Hills. There were some problems that I had with it, mainly with the relationship between Alexis and Chance. I felt like I was riding the relationship rollercoaster with them, and I have to say it bothered me quite a bit, but other than that, it was good read. I’m really hoping that a sequel is in the works, but if not, I shall just continue to imagine what happened afterwards in Alexis’s life, as well as Summer’s, Chance’s and Gabriel’s.

If you’re looking for a good novel, or one that’s not the cookie-cutter YA novel, I’d definitely suggest that you give Whispering Hills a chance. It might just surprise you how good it is. It definitely did for me!

[Jaiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://girlzandtheirbooks.blogspot.co...

I was super excited to read this book! I absolutely LOVED Miss Browning's debut book Dark Seeker. I wasn't at all worried about her turning from vampires to something totally new. I knew she was capable of just about anything and new this book would be good just not....THIS GOOD! I loved her new book! It took me a while to read but only because of life getting in the way.

I loved the characters but sometimes (honestly) Alexis was a bit whiny and idk sometimes I felt there was something a little off with her but other than that was was a great protagonist! Chance was absolutely adorable of course! I loved that every now and then it would be from his life at a third person observation. You got to know him better but at the same time.....you didn't know who he was....he was just a hot little mystery ;)

Hahahahaha I REALLY liked how sometimes it would give reference to vampires and how Chance said "Vampires aren't real" when Taryn's first book was saying ghosts weren't real! The irony!! I don't know why I loved that so much but it really stood out and I could totally see Taryn smiling when she wrote those parts. I thought it was very humorous.

Oh and that ending you guys! So, the book was set at a great paste. Not too slow and not too fast, kinda perfect. I don't know why (my stupid imagination at work here) but when I think of the ending I see a man in a business suit walking then all of a sudden just hiking up his pants to reveal some lame patterned socks with his brief case as he runs for his life. Ya I told you...stupid imagination. Do you want to see the translation of my weirdness.... Ok so what that means is the book was great then all of a sudden BOOM!!! You find yourself running to finish the end...this of course is a good thing. It all of a sudden hit a huge climax and you found you just finished the last few chapters in 15 minutes!!!

This book was incredible! And the bad guy....I liked him hahaha he wasn't your average bad guy. He was normal and you felt like you could trust him (which obviously you can't cus well, HE'S THE BAD GUY!!!) but he was so witty it was kind a cool. Like he wasn't the "im-going-to-try-and-slit-your-throat-every-time-I-see-you" bad guy and he wasn't the "I will glare at you like a freak and murder you when your not looking" kind of guy either. Of course he did murder and he did try to kill the protagonist but(as odd as this sounds) a reasonable/negotiative bad guy. Idk it's hard to explain you'll just have to read for yourself. Hahaha sorry to confuse you anyways......

4 out of 5 wonderful stars!!!!! :D

Buy this book tmro!! Your gonna want to read it! :)

Thanks for stopping by!! <3

~Jaiden

[Amy Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

When approached about doing the blog tour for this book, I was very excited. The synopsis sounded awesome and just my type of book. I was not disappointed. This book was wonderful. The characters are great and the story was amazing. I didn't want to put this book down. I am big on paranormal and this was a very cool and interesting take on it.


Alexis can hear voices, no it's not just in her head. She hears other people's thoughts. The only other person who knows is her sister. When she hears thoughts of someone planning to do something horrible, she discovers that there is more to her power than just hearing voices. The poor girl ends up going through so much in this book. I think she definitely could have handled some things a little better, but lets be honest, she's a teenage girl, they make stupid decisions. I do admire her selflessness though. Once she knows what is going on, she tries to do what she really believes is the right thing to do. I really enjoyed her character.


Chase is definitely swoon worthy. He is so sweet and great, but I didn't like how he was always so secretive to Alexis. I know that he thinks it's what is best, but I think he could have been a bit more trusting of her about some things especially when it is something that will really affect her. All that aside though, he was great to get to know and I really like how caring he is for Alexis. His main priority is to protect her no matter what.


Also Summer is one of my favorite characters. She is totally the goth chick who is all emo and wants to just be left alone, but there is so much more to her once we get to know her. She still has a really snarky attitude that I really enjoy though. Underneath all of the snark and the "I don't give a crap" attitude, she is very likeable though. You always need that humorous and sarcastic character to lighten things up a little.


I really enjoy ghost stories, and I loved the creativity of this one and other elements added in too. The romance aspect was great and didn't take away from the main story. There were a lot of darker parts to the story too. The character interactions were fantastic and the story never felt slow to me. I also liked how the parents weren't absent from the story, but there is a good reason why they are pretty oblivious to things. I was intrigued and wanting more. I think this was a fabulous start to a new series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book! 4.5 out of 5 stars!

[Elsa Carrion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much with a plot that is very different and have not come accross before. Gabriel, Summer, Alexis, & Chance are the main characters in the story and are described very well. Alexis is 17 years old and can hear everyone’s thought, that is until Chance and Gabriel come along. She can not explain this unique ability but it has to do with something that happened 13 years ago and why they are all linked somehow. Summer is a very different girl that has no friends at school but is in for the ride of her life when Alexis pulls her in kicking and screaming to their little adventure. Alexi’s uniqueness was something that was not advertised. Summer’s uniqueness on the other hand was known and she was helped through out her childhood which in turn made her stronger and a kick ass kind of girl. Chance is a great guy with very good male qualities, I want one of those. Gabriel whom is Chance’s cousin, is just plain nuts, but still very cute. It broke my heart when Summer was very hateful toward Chance but I was able to see what and why she was doing it. Why is it that they think their actions are for the best when it’s obvious going to blow up in their face! At times I was aggravated with Alexi’s with her actions, it seemed that she was smarter than some of the actions and situations she placed her self in. There were several slaps to my forehead with my palm, yelling at her not to do it!!! Yes, I looked like a fool since I was reading in a very public place, but who really cares. It was just some of those things that teenagers think they are right and not really think it threw. I was left with saying “really”,”really”, “are you really that clueless!” Alexis and Chance made a great couple and I was hoping that Gabriel would change his ways and hook up with Summer, but oh well maybe Ms. Taryn Browning saved that romance for the next book, I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the second one. I would like to thank you Ms. Browning for the opportunity to review her great story. (Oh gosh this review got away from me did not mean to make it this long; I just couldn’t stop jabbering about it).

http://www.amazon.com/Whispering-Hill...

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[Kristin A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Better Read Than Dead

Ah, I loved Whispering Hills. Taryn did an excellent job winding the elements of suspense, terror, and romance into one this one magically spine-tingling and roller-coaster ride of a book. My favorite thing about Taryn's writing is her ability to create strong, no-nonsense, kick butt heroines.

Alexis hangs with the popular crowd, but only on the fringes. Her best friend is a cheerleader but Alexis is much more content, alone in her room painting. Part of this stems from the fact that she hears everyone's thoughts...well, not really their thoughts, but their internal decisions. When a murderer comes to Whispering Hills, she hears his thoughts but can't ever see him. Leading her to believe there is more going on than meets the eye. When one of her classmates disappears and is later found exactly as Alexis knew she would...Alexis knows it's time to find help.

Enter Summer...daughter of a very powerful witch. Summer, a witch herself, is a loner and she likes it that way. However, when Alexis won't take no for an answer, Summer is forced to relive the events which had been erased from her memory thirteen years ago. At first, Summer is a bit...well, bitchy, but as the book continued, I grew to love her honest and outspoken candor.

Alexis has one other ally. His name is Chance. I enjoyed Chance's character, although, I am a little disappointed in the love-at-first-sight aspect of this book. I'm not one of those insta-love haters, in fact, on most occasions, I love it. However, the relationship between Chance and Alexis is a little difficult for me to buy. There's no real dialogue that builds up to their relationship...only events that force them together.

Now Gabriel...he's one terrifying ghost. I have no desire to hang out with him and feel sure that I would run in the other direction if I saw him coming. Eeps!

Alexis, Chance, and Gabriel are all tied together in a way you couldn't ever imagine. Whispering Hills storyline is unique, fast-paced, and action packed. There's also plenty of kissing involved. Overall...a thrilling and emotional must read.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Doodle's Book Blog


I'm really glad I signed up for this tour because I got to read a really good book. Taryn Browning provided me another world I want to live in, another group of people I would love to be friends with.

Alexis isn't like most girls, she can read minds. Only, she can't do it when she wants to or when it would be most convenient for her. It just sort of happens and she doesn't know why. She is friends with the popular girls, but isn't really one of them. Then she forms an unlikely friendship with Summer, a girl who knows the answers to almost all of Alexis's questions, but won't let on to all the details. Then we have Chance. He has just met Alexis but is completely enamored with her. And what about the unfamiliar killer? Well I guess you will have to read to find out. I wouldn't want to give that juicy detail away.

Upon beginning the book, I wasn't as enraptured as I have been with other books. I wasn't one hundred percent sure what exactly was going, but all my questions were answered at some point throughout the book. After getting about a quarter of the way through, I couldn't put it down. I actually debated whether I wanted to go to bed at four in the morning or finish the last five chapters and then go to bed. I opted for the former, but only because I wanted to wake up and look forward to reading the end of an awesome book.

Taryn did a great job weaving this book together. What I liked most about Whispering Hills was that I would think I knew exactly what was going on just to be thrown completely off course to the point where I did not expect the ending at all. I like books where I second guess my conclusions because they make me think. The only thing I didn't really like was feeling in the dark at the beginning.

Overall, it was well written and made me laugh and cry like all good books do. It was a great read and I definitely recommend it to paranormal lovers! I can't wait for the next book.

[Unabridged Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispering Hills by Taryn Browning is one of those books you cannot put down, not matter how hard you try. It sucks you in and holds you there through the very end. Alexis Forbes is no stranger to weird, considering she hears voices. Not just any voices, the thoughts more specifically decisions made by anyone and everyone around her. Now her problems are spinning further from “normal,” when she hears the voice of someone planning to kill someone. The problem, she does not recognize the voice.

Alexis wants to stop the killer, but she has no idea where to start. On top of it all, she is falling for the new guy Chance, but something is off, because Alexis has no idea what he is thinking. As she tries to find the person behind the disturbing voice, she discovers he may not actually be living. With secrets around every corner, and a ghostly killer on the loose, Whispering Hills is no longer safe.

I have to say I could not put Whispering Hills down. Taryn Browning has a way with words that captivated me until the very last word. Alexis is a beautifully written character, who I instantly took a liking too. She is not completely crazy from hearing the thoughts of everyone around her Alexis actually manages fairly well considering. Chance is gorgeous and protective, which are great qualities for a love interest. Reading a book with him in it was not a bad way to spend a few hours.

Alexis ends up forming a friendship with Summer, who is an outcast. She tends to wear heavy black makeup and wear dark cloths, who is sarcastic and snarky, but also very caring. I really like Summer, and I loved the relationship between her and Alexis. I absolutely loved every second of Whispering Hills. There were moments I was anxious for what would happen next, then the next moment I would laugh at something one of the character would say. If you pick up Whispering Hills, you will not regret it.
**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review**

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexis Forbes is not your average high school student. Alexis can hear people’s thoughts – but not in the way you think of when you hear that someone can read minds. Alexis can only hear people’s thoughts when they have made a decision to do something. The story starts with Alexis hearing the thought , “I’m going to kill her.” Right after hearing those words, Alexis meets her new locker neighbor, Chance. Oddly enough, Alexis can’t hear Chance’s thoughts.

As Alexis and Chance become closer, she starts to discover that there is something unusual about Chance. Along the way, she makes friends with social outcast, Summer. Together Summer and Alexis struggle to uncover what it is that binds the two girls and Chance, while trying to figure out who the murderous thoughts are coming from, and how to stop the killer.

I really liked this book. The plot of Whispering Hills is very different than a lot of books that I’ve read. In fact, of all the paranormal books I’ve read, I’ve never read one that had this books surprising paranormal twist. And no, I’m not talking about the mind reading aspect – I’m talking about how Chance, Summer and Alexis are all connected and why. I’m not going to give it way, because I think everyone should read and find out for themselves.
The plot is unique, and the book thoroughly enjoyable. The first few chapters start a little bit slow, but after that, it’s a page turner. I read the whole book in one sitting. The characters are interesting and dynamic. I really liked Summer a lot. There is so much more to her than her hardened, slightly gothic exterior. I can’t wait to see how Summer’s character develops in the next book.

[E. Bard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good quick read with some very enjoyable characters. I'm giving it 4.5 stars but yes, over where you see them, the rating translates into five. I'm old school, so hey, it's rounding.

This story had an excellent start and hooked me early. Here's my synopsis:

Alexis is a high school senior who can hear the thoughts of others. Not just any thoughts mind you - she only hears the decisive ones. So when the thoughts of a killer are voiced in the girl's mind, Alexis panics. She's powerless to stop the murderer. With only her sister aware of her freakish thought hearing ability, who would believe her? Alexis doesn't know how to even find the victim, let alone the killer.

Enter Chance. He is a mysterious new student with an attraction to Alexis. He knows a lot more than he lets on and has his own dark secrets. Can Alexis trust him? Before she does, she enlists the help of another new -yet unwilling- friend, Summer. That's when Alexis discovers that she isn't the only one with freakish abilities. Strange qualities aside, the three new friends share more than just being unusual. They have a link to each others' past. And for two of them, it's a dangerous bond they share with the killer.

It was a good fast paced story, and of course, it doesn't really end. It's sure to be a series. What I think I liked the most about the novel was the set of other characters - Summer, Tiffany, and even Gabriel. They were far more entertaining than the main couple. Kudos to the author - she did a wonderful job of creating a very chilling dead villain. I found the romance to be a little too typical of the genre, but all in all I'd recommend it. It was a very good read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are numerous points I can make about Whispering Hills, but I'll stick with the one that impressed me most. Rarely in this genre do we readers get to experience a female protagonist that is strong willed, no-nonsense, head strong, and most unbelievably, not whiny. Alex Forbes is all that and more.

Somewhere in her short 17 years she developed the curse of reading others thoughts - not on purpose, but randomly. Her entire life she's been barraged with the decisions and whims of others without her consent. Did she spend many years agonizing over it? Does she spend half the book whining about it? NO! For the first time I've "met" a female lead that's embraced her ability and tries to use it to her advantage from the onset, not after meeting her "soul mate" and finding herself embroiled in some oddball mystery that can only be plausible if you live in never-never land. Alex lives in the real world, deals with her past and present with amazing clarity and strength. She navigates the halls of Whispering Hills High without hiding behind earplugs or having melt downs. She has friends. Real ones, not so real ones, odd ones, cheerleader ones...she accepts them all without pretense. And amazingly enough, they're also written very, very well.

The plot line itself was very well written, leaving you wanting more. The characters are extremely well developed when they need to be with just enough amount of obscurity to keep you guessing. It's a wonder this book has not garnered more praise...it certainly deserves it! I will be eagerly waiting for the follow-up.

[Paige (TheBookVulture) · Rating 1 out of 5]

**I will be updating my review soon. But for now, it's 2am and I'm tired and this probably won't make much sense.**

I had a lot of problems with this book.

Firstly, instalove. Chance and Alexis were thrown together way, WAY too early. And then - after like 1 kiss - they start saying "I love you" to each other. Ugh. Ruined what could've been an amazing romance. They also met in chapter one. Far too early. It needed to be spread out; I mean, this is only book one. It really needed to be paced better.

My next problem is the pace. The romance was too fast. There were several moments where the pace would speed up and slow down. It just became so confusing. And I grew really bored, really fast.

So many things didn't make sense. So many times, things would not get explained as they should have. It was all SO rushed. It needed to slow down. The entire book needed to be longer.

There were so many grammatical mistakes. I can't even begin to explain how much I despise grammatical errors. Also, in my copy of the book, there were NO SPACES DIVIDING ONE PARAGRAPH FROM ANOTHER. Wow this pissed me off. So much. It would jump around and every time it would take me a couple of sentences before I realized the book had jumped ahead in time.

I probably would've finished it if not for all my issues with this book. There is a lot I haven't mentioned above that I also disliked. It was just so sloppy and amateurly written. It did not hold my attention and, for the life of me, I just couldn't finish it.

[Abi · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Alexis hears the thoughts of a killer, she knows she has to find out who it is before they kill again. Though, what she doesn't realize, is that working out the mystery will open her memory to an event that should have been different.
Can you really change fate, and not have any implications?

This was an okay book, but all the plot holes ruined it, and by the halfway mark, i was quite bored.

Alexis stated how she can only hear peoples thoughts when they made decisions, but i found the stuff they thought quite odd.
In one part, a girl thought: "Screw the calories, i'm eating the whole cupcake" While that isn't an unusual thought, it's odd how she phrased it. While thinking to ourselves, we wouldn't talk in full sentences all the time, we'd simply think "Screw it" and carry on demolishing the cupcake.
There was also another one with the killer, when he thought: "I'll put her dead body in the lake" The killer obviously knew the victim was dead, so why mention the dead body bit? You'd just think "I'll put her in the lake"

I found Alexis quite stupid at times. I guessed quiet early on what Chance's secret was, but it took Alexis half the book to find out. It's not like he kept his secret heavily guarded, it was pretty obvious that something was up, but Alexis completely missed it.

Overall, this was an alright paranormal story, but the plot holes really ruined it.

[Damla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a very interesting theme, “Whispering Hills” (YA paranormal romance) by Taryn Browning really drags you inside with its attractive story. Althoughugh it looks like a unique ability, being able to hear other people’s decisions is a very difficult thing for Alexis, especially when she starts to hear the thoughts of a horrible killer. Through this flow, you’ll learn about her connection to the dead and her dark past.
Of course in this darkness, there is love between Alexis and Chance; I really like the idea of love in the books. However, this love is not one of the usual loves. You’ll understand what I mean when you read the book. It’s related to the connection of Alexis to the dead. But I can say that everything occurs quite quickly; sometimes you may feel that you are in a fast paced read, but the story saves it.
I’ve always dreamed about hearing other people’s thoughts about me, but now I see that it may not be a good idea :) So tell me, would you like to have such ability?

http://sweepstakelover.blogspot.com/2...

[Marik Berghs · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Whispering Hills” is a promising debut for a series and should be well received by anyone who enjoys a “ghostly” story. The book is well written, the characters are interesting and the author does a slow reveal of the paranormal aspects, which adds to the overall feeling of spookiness. I liked the secondary characters as well as the protagonist. Alexis has the ability to hear other people’s thoughts but only under certain circumstances, a mysterious condition that is part of the carefully constructed story line. I especially liked the witches and thought the powers of the ghosts were original and interesting. The only detractions were the absolute dichotomy of the good ghost and the bad, as little blurring of the lines would have made them more believable. Still, this should be popular among YA and crossover readers.

[BookishVegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I read this book within the
matter of hours . I really enjoyed it ! It was refreshingly unique . It sits apart from a lot of others in this genre . It wasn't totally predictable and I was engaged to the very end
I enjoyed the main characters especially Summer and Alexis . I hope to learn more about grace and summer in the next book.
I look forward to reading the next installment in the series . It was a fast and enjoyable read and I highly recommend it .

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4*s
Review posted here...
http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.co...

[Crystal]

Terrible.... I did not like it at all. She falls in love with someone so quickly. I'm sorry for the harsh review but don't read this.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexis is just passing through like a normal student in high school, well as normal as a girl can be with the ability to hear the decisions people make in their minds. That's when she hears "him" make the decision to kill her, and put her in the lake. But who is he and who is the her he is going to kill? Alexis goes on a search to find out who this him is. There has been word that the mayor's daughter has been missing. Could this be the her that he was talking about? Eventually the mayor's daughter is found dead in the lake. A place that Alexis has been searching as she knows that is where he planned on dumping her, and apparently the mayor's daughter had something of his and he's going to go back and look for it. Alexis tries to feel him out and figure out who he is but she gets distracted when she runs into Chance. He's the new boy at school and there is just something about him as she feels they have a very strong and deep connection to one another. It's like something is pulling them together, they start to hang out and the feeling is mutual as their relationship continues to grow and at a rapid pace. Little do they know that the reason they feel this strong connection is because they share a past that Alexis can't remember, but Chance knows all about it because he's not really all there without his special necklace.

Gabriel is Chance's cousin. They are complete opposites, where Chance is pure sweetness, Gabriel is the epitome of evil. It seems to roll off his skin. While in school Alexis begins to befriend Summer, who in her own right has her own secrets. She has magical powers, stronger than she even realizes. The four of them together is a dangerous thing because that connection that Alexis and Chance feel involves all four of them. I won't say what that is as you really should read the book. It's an interesting story and lots of witchy things going on.
Throughout the book Alexis discovers more about her past and finds out why and when she finally had the ability to read people's minds, well not completely only the decisions they make. Gabriel being the evil person that he is, is out for pure revenge. He believes because of Summer and Alexis, his life is the way it is. He's a ghost, and turns out so is his cousin. But why does he blame these two girls? Why is he so unbelievably evil and will he win in the end? There's a fight of good and evil, and compromises that need to be made.
This was a good book, I haven't read anything about ghosts recently so it was interesting, throw in a witch and a girl who can read minds and you've got yourself an interesting read. If you want to find out more about the four of them make sure to sign up for the giveaway where you will win one free e-book copy of Whispering Hills. A town just like any other, full of secrets that will soon be brought out into the light. The truth comes out and things need to be made right before someone else dies.

[Tabby - Shattered Hearts Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

See original review post by IMReviews over @The Bookish Brunette

Dude. I have so many thoughts on this book, that I honestly DO NOT know how to put them all into something that makes sense. I hate it when that happens! I wanted this book to rock my face off so bad and it was so close! Yea.. I know… boo. The very first sentence of the book reads: “I’m going to kill you.”
(&& really How can something that starts this way NOT rock your face.. err – everything off!?)

Alexis can hear peoples thoughts.. no – decisions. You would thinking something like this would be of some benefit, until you hear the things she does. Upon hearing that one horrid decision, everything around Alexis begins to change, or rather, come to light. She meets the new guy in school, Chance – who sends off an aura that there is more to him than meets the eye. Which she kind of already figured, since his decisions are the only ones she seems to be UNABLE to hear! Talk about annoyance. With that aside, the two seem to be instantly drawn to each other.

There were a few things I disliked about this story. The main two things being the mother and father of Alexis. Her mother, while touched upon throughout the book, kind of just.. existed. With the way she was portrayed, I was completely expecting something EXCITING or HORRID to happen with her and I got neither. Bummer. The other thing that didn’t quite work with me was the relationship of Alexis and Chance. Everything just kind of seemed to HAPPEN. It was all very – Boy meets Girl – Girl Meets Boy – Both are hiding something from the other, lets just fall in love and call it a day – kind of thing. I felt like that was no lead up. Nothing to get me EXCITED that they were FINALLY going to be together! Dude, I didn’t even get to pull out my pom poms for this one!

Aside from that – this book had it’s upside. A ton of them actually. Browning knows how to to work her plots and surprises to where we always stay guessing. At least I did, anyways! She thew in twist that I THOUGHT I saw coming, yet was totally surprised when they actually happened. I noticed that once this book got it’s steam (aside from the romance department), it really picked up. She went full force with the thing. Page after page she kept you wondering, and let me just state that the ending was not a disappointment either! While I may have been saddened by the lack of build up with the romance, the rest of this book really pulled through for me! If you happen to be a fan of witches, ghost, secrets and mind readers.. decision readers, then Whispering Hills is one that I would recommend to you!

[carole]

After reading Taryn's book, Dark Seeker, I knew that she would be an author to follow. And, lucky me, there was an upcoming blog tour for her newest novel, Whispering Hills. Whispering Hills is a paranormal romance that follows the supernatural mind reading life of Alexis, and the drama that becomes her norm. While I prefer Taryn's Janie Grey character, Alexis and her band of misfits continues, even now that I'm done with Whispering Hills, to grow on me.

It all starts with Chance, doesn't it always start with a boy? Chance is a mystery and his arrival, or is it return, to Whispering Hills ignites more than gossip in the small town. With this mysterious new boy also comes murder, but Alexis is inexplicably drawn to him. Unfortunately, Alexis' best friend Tiffany has her eye on him as well, and when Chance tells Tiffany that he has feelings for someone else it seems to cause a major rift between Alexis and Tiff; well, that partnered with some other events and people (like Summer). Ah, Summer. By far my favorite Whispering Hills resident. She is a spunky and smart tough girl who doesn't seem to need anyone. I really liked her character, and while I didn't feel very attached to Alexis I definitely understood Summer.

This book follows the YA paranormal romance pattern exactly. Misunderstood teen girl, meets mysterious and secretive teen boy, they share a connection, and supernatural events occur. It is a good story and it does have some very original plot points. One of my favorite parts of the book is the inclusion of opposites and I always love the addition of good versus evil.

This book left me with some questions, one for example is what about Tiffany? Alexis' best friend before the events that follow Chance's involvement in her life. When Alexis begins solving the mystery that is her life she just drops her, isn't that like girl rule number one? I didn't really like her anyway, but I feel like she just faded (haha inside joke) into the background. Also, why can't parents be involved more in YA books? I read so many that the parents are absent and the children make all the decisions themselves, I want to read more that have better parental relationships (I loved Grace, Summer's mom, and her involvement in the story). I feel like kids who read these books feel they shouldn't be including their parents in their lives.

I love Taryn Browning, and she's definitely a creative and fun author. Whispering Hills is a fast paced read that I recommend. And, I also recommend Dark Seeker.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, fast read, with tons of teen melodrama mixed in with a hint of supernatural. Alexis is a high school student with the odd ability to read people's decisions - not their minds, but the decisions they are currently making. The goth girl Summer has some strange abilities, though Alexis doesn't really know what they are yet, and the new guy, Chance? She can't read him at all. But there is a missing teen in her small, quiet town, and someone who looks a lot like Chance, but is just....empty.

Overall, I liked this story. The supernatural worked well - ghosts, witches, and mind-readers, oh my! The first 3/4 were really good, and the story was interesting - just enough mystery/thriller to balance the teenage drama. For me, though, the last quarter of the story was just....too much. It felt a little like the author had a larger story to tell, but was running out of space, and so it kinda all got crammed in at the end. The ending didn't feel like an ending - more like a pause between chapters, or a commercial break. I would have liked more of a conclusion, personally.

Liked:
-use of the supernatural/paranormal elements
-setting of the story - it all felt very real to me. The lake, the school, Chance's house - they were concrete places
-Summer - every single one of her actions made sense to me. Well, except for the smoking - that never makes sense to me
-the build up of the accident, and the background for what happened next

Didn't like:
-Alexis - sorry, but she was just to dramatic for me to live inside her head
-how fast her relationship with Chance moved and I don't mean the sex - that didn't bother me, mainly the quick jump from I like you to I am totally and completely in love with you especially since he first saw her when she was 4, and already felt so protective of her - for me, there's just a shade of pedophilia there I was uncomfortable with
-the characterization of Gabriel - I really liked him! There was something damaged about him that is just screaming for an emotional band-aid, and I wanted something like a redemption for him. There were hints of it, but it never really happened. Oh well, maybe in another book.

Overall, I would give it a 3.5 - I really enjoyed the story, but there were significant issues that kept me from loving it.