Whisper of Memory

Whispering Woods #2

by Brinda Berry

Weapons training and winter formals...a deadly combination.

All Mia ever wanted was to fit in at Whispering Woods High. But being a portal-finder who dates a guy from another dimension sort of makes it hard. Mia's brother disappeared over a year ago, and agents from the IIA began policing people's movements through dimensions. She'd trusted Dr. Bleeker from the local university when he'd told her the IIA were the bad guys. But even a girl with an extraordinary ability to sense things can make mistakes.

Now two people are dead, and as a portal gatekeeper for the IIA, Mia needs to find Dr. Bleeker before he hurts anyone else. And her boyfriend Regulus, an Agent for the IIA, carries secrets of his own. Between learning about weaponry, finding the perfect dress for the winter formal, and catching bad guys, who has time to fit in?

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Paranormal

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2012

About the author

Brinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family. Brinda is obsessed with cairn terriers, Kings of Leon, illustrated cookbooks, new technology and sandy beaches. She dreams of finding the perfect pillow--no small feat. She's also terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality.

Join Brinda Berry's Readers Group: https://brindaberry.com/mailing-list/

More ways to connect:

Website: www.brindaberry.com
Facebook: facebook.com/BrindaBerryAuthor
Twitter: twitter.com/Brinda_Berry
Email: brinda@brindaberry.com

Reviews

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd

MY THOUGHTS
After reading The Waiting Booth I was very excited to read this one! This book was still very good, but it didn't amaze me as much as the first one.

Mia now gets to be a portal gatekeeper with Arizona and Regulus. She now has to keep up with training and school. She still needs to find her missing brother, Pete, and find Dr. Bleeker (one of the bad guys). All the while she's growing closer to her boyfriend Regulus and becoming torn about the IIA. Can she really trust the IIA?

I still loved this book and enjoyed reading it, but this book had middle-book syndrome. Not much really happens in this book. There's a lot of the team trying to find Pete and Dr, Bleeker, and they do get answers. The training and Mia dating Regulus takes out most of the book as well. The book does put up the pace closer to the end, with unexpected twists. The twist is very upsetting, but it makes me want to continue the series even more, to see if the wrongs can be fixed.

The plot of these books continue to be very interesting and unique. The characters are also still great, of course, and I am becoming even closer to all of them. I mentioned in my review for the last book how happy it made me that Mia told her friends what was going on (a rarity in YA) and her friends continue to be a big part of the series.

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, while this book is a bit of a lull in the series, it does pick up speed near the end. I am enjoying this series so far and I an definitely reading the next book!

[Julie Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't read Waiting Booth, the first book in the Whispering Woods series, when I was lucky enough to get a review copy of Whisper of Memory, so I ended up starting with that and read both books back to back. I loved both of them!

Mia is just the kind of heroine I enjoy. She's smart and independent after having been through a lot in her young life, and is fiercely protective of her friends, but she also isn't perfect and Berry allows her to make mistakes. I love the chemistry between Mia and Regulus, and it's impossible not to love Regulus as he struggles to understand things like slang, etc. There is lots of humor in Berry's dialogue, and I found all of the friends appealing in their own ways. I especially love the character of Arizona.

Whisper of Memory starts up right where Waiting Booth left off, and the action kicks in quickly. Mia's brother is missing and Dr. Bleeker is still on the loose, so the story is suspenseful and intriguing from the beginning. The book is fast-paced and I couldn't put it down once I got into it. It also includes a big shocker that surprised me a great deal.

I love the fantasy world Berry has created with the portals to another dimension, and I found Mia's synaesthesia condition to be very interesting. The Whispering Woods universe is filled with authentic characters we quickly come to care about and a fascinating premise that should allow for many more adventures to come.

I will be looking forward to reading more of Berry's books!

[Sue Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong bridge between books one and three of the Whispering Woods series. Mia grows as a character as do her friends. The sexual tension between Mia and Austin on the one hand, and Mia and Regulus on the other is believable, as is the tension between Mia's girlfriend and another two guys. It sounds confusing but Berry handles the relationships deftly along with the paranormal action :)

[Angela Vanasselberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Whisper of Memory in exchange for an honest review.
I have fallen even more for Mia and her hole journey. I like the easy way Brinda Berry sucks you into the whole world and all of her characters, with the rich story and passion you build for what is happening. Book 3 here I come.

[Cyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Futuristic
RECEIVED: Received for Book Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars

REVIEW:
I read both The Waiting Booth and Whisper of Memory in one day; I really enjoyed the concept of different earths and government travelers. Where book one captivated me from the beginning, Whisper of Memory almost hit the same mark. There were more predictable moments, but I liked getting into the mystery of the IIA and what happened to Mia’s brother.

Mia and the gang are back; she and her two best friends have discovered that different dimensions of earth exist. And that there is an agency called the IIA whom police the humans on each earth. Arizona and Regulus are two agents whom are working for the IIA and also recruiting and training Mia. Regulus and Mia from the last books have a chemistry neither can resist even thought it’s against the rules of the IIA. Not only that, but her brother is still MIA and Dr. Bleeker is on the loose, Mia’s life has gotten a lot more complicated and dangerous.

Whisper of Memory continued right where Waiting Booth left off, Mia and Regulus have decided to give in to their chemistry and start dating and hope that the IIA doesn’t find out. Even though at some moments I felt their scenes together were a little too cutesy, I just can’t get enough of this couple. Along with Austin her BFF giving Regulus a bad time, I liked all the bickering and testosterone that was continued from the first book. Mia really is starting to grow up more, wanting to learn about her mother, trying to figure out her purpose with IIA and moving forward with her boyfriend, plus finding out about her brother.

Austin had a bigger role in this one, I always enjoy his protectiveness with Mia, but I found also liked the scenes with Peter, (Mia’s Brother) arguing with Regulus and getting more involved with what IIA is all about. Speaking of Peter, he is a big mystery and the readers get a lot more insight on why he doesn’t want to be found and Austin is someone who can contact him.

Overall a lot happens that I wish I could go on and on about, but I don’t want to give too much away. The big shocker was something I did predict, but I still felt sad that it happened and hope Mia can pull through. The strongest aspect of this series is friendship; Mia and her friends are super close and always there for each other. I like their nerdy bond through an online game and that they are handling this discovery of two worlds as best as they can. In the end I cant wait to see what happens nest and look forward to the next novel by Brinda Berry.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with a unique science fiction story line. Fans of The Host by Stephanie Meyers and Lauren DeStefano’s The Chemical Garden will want to get there hands on Brinda Berry’s Whisper of Memory.

[Pamela Rosensteel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whisper of Memory continues where The Waiting Booth left off. If you haven't read The Waiting Booth yet, I recommend that you do not read any further. I don't want to spoil anything for you.

Previously we learned that Mia's mother was an IIA agent and that she is now helping Dr. Bleeker despite the fact that he is killing people for his experiments. And when Mia first meets her mother again after so many years -- her mother took off when she was just a toddler -- Nancy pulls a gun on her. Needless to say, Mia does not have warm and fuzzy feelings towards the mother that abandoned her. On top of all of that, her missing brother is sending her vague messages that only confuse her more and make her ask more questions for which no one has any answers. Oh yeah, and according to the IIA, dating among IIA members is forbidden.

I was very much looking forward to reading this sequel to The Waiting Booth. I enjoy the mystery of the story and the budding relationship between Mia and Regulus. Not to mention, Arizona is such a fun character who has a crush on Mia's best friend Emily. And let's not forget Austin, who is in love with Mia, but he's one of her best friends, and she thinks of him more like a brother. So with Whisper of Memory there is the continued mystery surrounding Mia's brother Pete and the gangs attempts to find Dr. Bleeker and learn as much information as they can regarding Pete.

OK, for some reason I didn't enjoy this story as much as the first one. I still liked it though, don't get me wrong, but it seemed kind of slow going at times, and I just didn't feel as if the whole winter formal part was necessary. I suppose that sort of thing is normal for a teenage girl in her senior year of high school, and although there wasn't a significant portion of the story dedicated to it, I feel it sidetracked the story a bit. Maybe that's just me being antsy to find out what's going on.

There is something major that happens to Regulus that I pretty much expected, though I didn't want it to happen, and I'm very curious to see how that affects his relationship with Mia in the long run. And I'm still itching to know what is really going on with Mia's mother and Dr. Bleeker and what exactly Pete is up to. So I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

** I received a copy of The Waiting Booth for review as part of the Knights of the Round Table group on Goodreads.**

[Lori Palle · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My senior year of high school was turning into a real doozy.”—Mia

As a portal seeker for the IIA—an inter-dimensional police force making sure unauthorized travelers don’t make it through portals into earth—Mia’s senior year isn’t shaping up to what she expected. Add in a best friend in love with her, a boyfriend forbidden to be with her, inter-dimensional terrorists out to get her, a missing brother who pops in once in a while to hand out cryptic clues, and—worst of all—a father ready to ground her if she stays out past curfew, wearing a dress and going to a dance may not be the scariest thing about her senior year after all…

“There’s no turning back, Mia. Moving forward is the only way to get somewhere.”—Arizona

Like the first book, this was an entertaining and fast read, and I could easily see it being played on the big screen! There’s some PG romance to provide some angst for our plucky heroine, but it’s the mystery and intrigue that make the book hard to put down. We have to wonder if Mia is working for the good guys, because if their actions are from the good side, then I’d hate to know what the bad guys would do. Oh wait, we do know, and it is pretty bad. What’s scarier? There might be even another group out there that’s also in an ambiguous place on the good-bad scale!

We also get to learn more about Pete and her mother, and I’ve got to say that Pete is such a cool character! I am so hoping for more of him in the third book. As for her mother… oh dear. Heartbreak. And speaking of heartbreak, we’ve got Arizona and Tiny eyeing Emily and Austin still devotedly looking after Mia. There isn’t a love triangle, but I kinda wish there was because Austin is so freaking awesome how he looks out for Mia. How can she resist him? Oh yeah, there’s super hottie and team leader Regulus who is adorably awkward as a boyfriend.

If you enjoyed book one, this book is a must to continue the story that I’ve become a fan of. If you haven’t picked up book one, there is enough recap to bring you up to speed, but I’d start out with book one first. We still have some unresolved arcs at the end, and although there isn’t a cliffhanger, Mia and Regulus have some really, really serious relationship issues to overcome. And that’s an understatement. Overall, this is a 5 out of 5 for me!

(Originally posted on my blog; I received a review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)

[Yiota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whispering Woods has become one of my favorite series this year! The book are compelling and interesting, and while i didn't expect it they surprised me too.

Brinda Berry continues with the story of Mia and her involvement with the IIA problems. Since this is the 2nd book of the series, instead of an introduction we get to chance to get into action from the first chapters and learn more things about the "Pete" mystery and such. Yes it's a little more action packed which i totally enjoyed!

I loved how the characters grow and change! I said before that Mia, was getting at my nerves with her attitude from time to time but here she is different. She changed, she says sorry, she tries to fix her mistakes. I definitely not only liked her more but connected with her more too. We are also seeing a little more of Em which was a nice change. It's like she brings a light in the book. Austin even get his own chapters with Pete! Ha! Those were some of my favorite chapters ever! The author takes some times in this book to concentrate and show us a little more of the friendship and what means for them of Mia,Austin and Pete and her relationship with her dad and how she feels about him too.

Once again the book got me in from the first pages and i finished in one sit. I couldn't really stop no matter i was exhausted from a full day. A not so surprising "ending" comes but still sad. I do believe it made the book better, and i'm happy it happened. I'm so excited for the next book of the series! I do hope we get it soon :)

[D.L. Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Whisper Of Memory" picks up right where "The Waiting Booth" finishes and we enter a world of paranormal activity and special ops training. The characters go off to a ghost sighting because they believe it is the location of a portal and this section was really interesting. There was a paranormal investigator in the group and I thought, wow what a great job to be a parnormal invetisgator.


In Book Two we learn more about why Mia's mum abandoned her and her missing brother. We learn more of the conspiracies behind the two worlds. This book ends with Mia getting a taste of the cruel aspects to the spy business - but I can't reveal the spoiler. I look forward to the final instalment. Will Regulus and Mia survive as a couple? Will Mia find her brother? Will she forgive her mother? Will Tiny and Em get together? But I can't helping feeling sorry for poor Austin and Arizona - two guys who love girls who love someone else. What's in store for them?

All up, a refreshing story that I haven't read a million times before.

[Autumn Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, I've been reading a lot of time travel or portal books lately. Must be a current trend. Whisper of Memory was a fast read and a good addition to the series.

I felt like we get to know Mia better in this story. Her character became more real and likable in this book. I also liked that the relationship she started with Regulus in the first book has more significance in this book. I'm a sucker for love, so I was happy to see more about them in this book.

The supporting character I like the most is Arizona. I really want to see more of him in the series. I would go as far to say he may be my favorite character overall. He makes me laugh.

The story was somewhat predictable, so I had a pretty good idea of how the story was going to end. However, I enjoyed the seeing how the story developed. I felt like the writing and story made progress and definitely held my attention. I would read the next book in the story to see what happens next.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book for free, in exchange for an honest review*


Okay, book two. I have conflicted feelings about this.






First, the dialogue. It definitely improved! However, it did feel a little rushed. Like the characters were rushing from one event to another too quickly.






Then, the characters. Mia....at the end.....I am sorry I cannot get over her reactions and behavior. She threw a temper-tantrum because a guy wasn't there to see her in her dress?






Anyway, much better than the first, I think. Hopefully, the third will be even better! I will get to it as soon as I can! :)

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book only a day or two after finishing The Waiting Booth, the first book in the Whispering Woods series. It was an easy and fun read - I finished it in one day. Although I liked the overall premise of the book and the series itself, I thought this one had only a mediocre storyline and predictable outcomes. The narrative and writing are well done, but there doesn't seem to be any evolution from the first book. The characters also seemed a bit flat - I didn't really get invested in any of their problems, except for Mia's relationship with Regulus - and you saw that coming. I'll most likely check out the next book in the series because they are fun reads, and the plot & characters have potential. I'm hoping the series will grow into itself by the next installment.

[Marcy Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn’t read the first book in this series, so I was coming into it fresh, and I found it to be a quick, fun read.

I was drawn into the premise of the series right away, and love that this book seems to be building on a bigger conspiracy that will stretch the length of the series.

I did find the plot a little light, and I felt like even though it was written in first person, we didn’t get to deeply feel Mia’s hurt over what her mother did to her in the last book or her pain over what happens with Regulus in this book. (I can’t get more specific without spoilers, and I’m trying to avoid those.) I would have liked a little more meat in those areas.

That said, I'm interested to see what happens in the next book in the series.

[Johnnie-Marie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story set the tone for the series I think with the hole mind erase thing and lot's and lot's of heartache to go right along with it. I did feel bad for Mia, she was in love then had the ripped from her and a hole bunch of craziness happens after that. This author has done an outstanding job with writing this story, I mean everything the journey the characters and the emotions all rolled into one great big story was amazing. It blew my mind away!! I finished this story in less then a day like the first one, if that tells you how good this series is.

*** I received this story for free in exchange for an honest review, see more of my review @ http://jmhoward2007.blogspot.com on 4-24-14***

[Kathlyn La · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book's twist in the story is good! Didn't see it coming so soon, I somehow felt it was a little rush. I understand that unexpected twists makes a book to be a great read!
I enjoyed following the characters adventure, sad and happy moments through out the story.
Mia, one of the main character in this book is a tough woman, moving on from one to another chapter of her life.
Questions and mystery about Mia's life, romance and IIA connections are answered in this book.
The ending of this book makes me sad. I wonder what's gonna happen in the third book of this series.
This book is worthy to be read!

[Lynne Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to read the second novel in this little series, and it certainly didn't let me down. Full of action, but also a healthy dose of teen romance, I enjoyed every page. As I found with the first book, Brinda Berry's characters are believable. She is able to let me get into Mia's mind and be the girl for a few hundred pages, and while I'm not a teenager anymore, the feelings Mia have do remind me of those years.
The ending left me all misty-eyed and wanting to read more. Great job and I can't wait for the next installment!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I can say that this one was better than the first, there were just a too many unbelievable moments for me to give it four stars. I did enjoy the read and will be reading the next, but there were points that I grew bored with the book. Although at halfway through I could not put it down and found myself finishing it all in one night. The end leaves you wondering and angry, but the good angry that makes you want to continue reading. The author gave me this book free for an honest review and I saw it's worth the money.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whisper of Memory is book 2 of the Whispering Woods Series by Brinda Berry, The book picks up right where The Waiting Booth leaves off, and we are thrust into a world of spies and special ops training and the paranormal. The romance that began in the first book continues between Mia and Regulus as well as the adventure. This book is a light, fast read with a few curve balls to keep you engaged. Love this book as much as the first one!!

[Christine Ashworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's a terrific follow-up to The Waiting Booth, and when Regulus - well, at the end when he - GAH! I'm trying not to divulge spoilers - let me just say, it's a FABULOUS book and I can't wait for book 3!

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

[Book Blogging Beauties · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://bookbloggingbeauties.blogspot....

[Connie Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the whispering woods series. It about another dimension with the IIA able to erase memories. Characters move between dimensions, it was an easy quick read. It is a young adult clean read.

[Ian Thompson-Villeneuve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strong second book but I can't figure out where it's going. The characters felt a little lost and the larger plot was very muddled.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mmmkay. I don't know how I feel about this series. So far, it falls into the books I want to like but can't category. Part of the problem could be that I'm reading it on Kindle, and historically I have a much harder time getting invested in Kindle books — I genuinely don't know why. But I feel like these just don't go deep enough.

Everything is there for a good story: strong friendships, forbidden hot older love interest, missing siblings, horrible parenting, and oh yeah, other dimensions. I am here for ALL of that.

But I don't feel like I actually get any of that.

Friendships? Sure. But don't forget that Mia has one friend who continuously reminds her how much he thinks they should date despite the fact that she continuously tells him that's not what she wants. A friend who tried to kiss her and who gets worked up into jealous rages even though Mia owes him NOTHING. And she gets over his infinite terribleness every time even though I'm getting more and more annoyed by Austin's entire presence. He worked an effing "M" into his tattoo over his heart without telling her. He's creepy.

Love interest? Should be great. But I don't actually get to see any scenes of Regulus and Mia spending quality time alone together and getting to know one another and falling into dating. Suddenly they just are dating, and I'm supposed to believe Regulus would risk breaking all the rules for Mia and she's a little obsessed with him, and frankly I don't buy it.

Missing siblings? Okay. But this missing sibling has been gone for a damn long time, now works for the government, is shady as hell when he pops back up (ie: cryptic hints and no information. Way to trust your sister), and talks to Austin instead of Mia. Like, treat Mia like she's worth your time and effort and doesn't have to be spoken to through her douchey friend.

Horrible parenting? Yeah, Mia's mom is now and evil agent. And evil agent who's been nearby the whole time and is working with a murderer and pulled a gun on her daughter (twice), and who I'm now supposed to think might have been "cleansed" by the IIA so I might have to "be okay with" in the end. No thanks.

As for the other dimensions, WHEN WILL ANYTHING ACTUALLY HAPPEN WITH THE OTHER DIMENSIONS? They've spent no time in one (Mia's two-second motorcycle ride from Book One does not count), Mia isn't the least bit curious to go through the portal, no "immigrants" came through at all in this book... Like, this is a HUGE plot point, and that's what I thought I'd be reading about, but everyone goes about their time on Earth as if nothing could possibly compel them to give a single thought to the infinite dimensions sitting in a portal a mile away. The hell?

There should be so much to this story, and instead it's high-school drama and unexplained plot point on top of unexplained plot point and no consequences for anything that anyone does. There's not enough depth for me, and the problem is that there could be.

I'll read the third because I've already got it on Kindle, but it needs to step up.

[Renee Rearden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whisper of Memory: The Whispering Woods Series, #2
By Brinda Berry
Ecopy provided by author
Rating: 3 Stars

Interdimensional portals + hottie otherworlders x high school angst = fun read.

Mia Taylor’s life has definitely taken a turn for the strange. Her ability to sense portals makes her important to the Interdimensional Immigration Authorities—and keeps her in close proximity to IIA members Regulus and Arizona. But others are also interested in what she can do. Searching for her brother, fending off would-be attackers and protecting Earth make her senior year of high school one to remember.

Whisper of Memory has an interesting premise, and I find the idea of traveling between dimensions fascinating. Add a team of gorgeous agents from another world, stationed on Earth to protect the planet and its people, and you’ve got built-in likeability.

Regulus is a complex character with secrets of his own, but I’m pulling for the best friend, Austin. The conflict between the new sort-of boyfriend and male best friend is a bit predictable, but Austin is such a dynamic and interesting character I really hope he gets a fair shot with Mia in the next book. Mia’s best girlfriend Emily is a hoot and seriously needs more of her own storyline as well…I’m just sayin’.

I will state up front, Whisper of Memory does not read as a standalone book. Many of the opening scenes, while engaging, left me confused and I felt like I was missing vital information.

Some back story filtered through the active scenes, but not enough to give me a clear picture of why things were the way they were. Like how did Mia develop this ability to sense portals? What did Regulus mean when he referred to Earth as a seed vault? What role does the IIA have and how does it impact Earth and other planets?

Maybe these questions were answered in The Waiting Booth, book #1, of the Whispering Woods series. I’ve already bought my Kindle version and plan on reading it to find out.

Of course I’ll have to wait my turn. My 16 year-old daughter has kidnapped my Kindle so she can read Ms. Berry’s Whispering Woods series.

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this series out of order, and I read book 2 last. Despite this, I really enjoyed these books and was able to follow and remember the storyline. Mia is a great character, the portals and finding them is a cool premise, there's always a lot of suspense, and the secondary characters are great, particularly the boyfriend, Regulus. Action, romance, and humor are wonderful elements in Berry's writing.

[Rachel Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as intriguing

Waiting for the story of Mia and Regulus to continue, I never would have dreamed of the outcome of book 2. Still completely unsure of the IIA, when they want to implant Mia with a chip, she stalls, and then is very grateful when the time passes and she doesn't have it done. More news comes of her brother Pete, and her dad even talks about Mother Nancy, and the reason he has for her leaving.

[Latasha Carrasquillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!!!!

I loved this book!! I read The waiting booth yesterday and today I finished Whisper of memory. This book sucked me right in. Loved the suspense. I haven't read a book that I literally couldn't put down in awhile. Definitely recommend!!!

[Ilah Stoddart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters, loved them all!

I like happy endings and this story disappointed me. I loved the characters and their interactions throughout the story but the ending did not make me happy.