Ashes and Ice

Ashes and Ice #1

by Rochelle Maya Callen

She is desperate to remember.
He is aching to forget.
Together, they are not broken.
But together, one may not survive.

​Jade wakes up with no memory of her past and blood on her hands.

Plagued by wicked thoughts, she searches for answers. Instead, she finds a boy who doesn't offer her answers, but hope. But sometimes, when nightmares turn into reality and death follows you everywhere, hope is not enough.

LUST. LOVE. LOSS. Sometimes, all that is left are Ashes and Ice.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Angels, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult Paranormal

284 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2012

About the author

I laugh way too loud. I am convinced that I will never have a good even tan. Gimme a book and I am in heaven. I have performed in from of 27,000 people and have had raccoons as pets. I like dancing Bachata with my husband, because--well, the man can move! I coach women on Confidence and Intimacy by day and write about dark and broken things by night.

I am the founder of the #HoldOn2Hope project where creatives unite to support suicide prevention.

My daughter is a light in my life and my husband is my anchor. My sister is my partner-in-crime and my mother was the one to give me wings.

I am grateful to be a part of this gorgeous reader/writer world. You all have rocked my world and I heart each and every one of you.

Now, let's get to reading!

Reviews

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thank you to all the readers who picked up Ashes and Ice!

[Theodora Catalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted @ http://shattering-words.blogspot.com

My thoughts (Theo~): This was supposed to be a review
done in peace and silence, but with my brain yelling at me for reading this
book too fast and for reading the ending for more than three or four times it
is too hard to not say that I WANT MORE! This! This!! This book was freaking’
awesome!! How am I supposed to breathe normally and not yell from the top of my
lungs that I cannot believe IT! I am seriously considering fast-forwarding the
time so I can put my hands on the second book! It is not nice, really not nice
to leave a reader like this! It is bad! Deliciously bad!

I recognize that at first I was like:

and then:

followed by:

[image error]

and then I understood:

but in the end I was like:

Uh... calming down a little bit...

Now... about the characthers!

Jade is
extremely beautiful in my opinion, sure of herself and ready to shatter the
world for finding her answers! Yet, she is shy, always questioning herself and
taking small steps before heading towards her final goal. She is also not
remembering anything and that only increases her fear, questioning herself even
more about whom she really is! And she sure is not just some random girl!

Connor is
smart, in his own way, calm and detached. He is also lonely and still grieving
after his late father that he still misses every day, not ready to let go! But he
is seeing Jade, he feels this pull towards her, this strength that is
whispering to him to catch her eye one more time, to sense her proximity with
only a fingertip!

"~Jade~
I dream of drowning and red doors and dead things. It
is not a restful night, but even with my nightmares, I hold onto the one tiny
hope I am closer to answers. I have a name, a place and I hope with the two I
will at least be pointed in the right direction."

They both start this friendship that
they both do not know where it is leading. Jade because she does not know how
to be human feels, and Connor because he seeks for her attention like he had
never ever felt. When they are spending time together, they are happy, fearless
and ready to confront everything before themselves. Connor’s mom loves her,
Connor’s uncles love her, and Nanan – the woman who is looking over Jade
because she just felt like doing it – likes Connor. It’s a mutual understatement
that they both are being cherished by people they never thought they should
feel cherished by.

"A red glow pulsates around Connor. It wraps around him and
reaches out to me, pulling me closer to him. Even when his eyes fall away from
me, the connection isn’t broken. Something real and tangible is between us,
reaching. It has been so long since he’s beamed light. I smile at him and walk
down the stairs, feeling a warmth and electricity in the air . But his eyes are
shy and he doesn’t look at me again. In fact, he looks everywhere but at me.
For a moment, I’m hurt. But then, I just keep glancing at the glow around him
and nothing else matters."

The grieving is getting lost in
Connor’s memories. The need for finding who she truly is lost in Jade’s eyes
because she is whole with him by her side! He teaches her to not fear the
water. He helps her find her way to New Orleans. He helps her be her! But when your
"just-realized-I-love-you-girl" tries to kill you, you know you are
in big trouble!

“Well, it’s good that there may be something in life to look
forward to.”

Jade is changed, something evil,
something bad resurfaces her skin, her brain, her life, making her go into
bad-girl-monster-like-type-of-girl and not in a good way at all! She is now
chased by her own demons, making sure that her past is catching up with her. Yet,
just another lesson that you can never burry the past enough from your brain,
even when you do not know your own past, it just tends to catch up with you no
matter where you are and what you are going to do!

I want to kiss her and tell her I do like her, but not like
Dominic—I like her so much more than that. I love her. And I want her to choose
me. I start to lean in closer to her, the strength within me taking charge. A
man clears his throat at the door.
I’m startled and my head snaps up. It’s Wade. Dammit.
 He’s leaning on the
doorway, looking at us with lazy, but amused eyes. “Atta boy, Connor.” He
winks. “Didn’t know you had it in you.”
I want to sit up, but Jade’s legs are still around me and
she is too strong. I would have to flinch away and that would be obvious.
“But in terms of the general order of events,” he says,
“first you lock the door.” He points to the door, “and second—“ I already know
what he is going to say. I close my eyes to brace myself and try to plead with
him to shut up, “Wa—“ He doesn’t wait for me to finish, “And second, your
clothes have to come off sometime or this whole thing won’t work too well.”

Mysteries just start to pop-up
everywhere and Temptation, Jealousy and Pride start to make their own little
dance, start to make their own little smiling like I-know-you-have-had-been-a-really-bad-bad-girl!

Connor finally found out about the
real past months of his father life, he starts to understand his father again,
seeing him in a new light, with a new shadow casted upon himself, with his own
monsters to fight!

“She
is coming!”

She really is coming! She is here
right now; right this moment and you do not even know it! Because this is how
this book is! Will work you up to no point, will tangle you into its words like
some medusa and not letting you reach for anything! You are here now!

Will Jade’s and Connor love work
out? Will they both survive? Will the paranormal become too much to handle? Will
everything become real? Will they both just not
let go?

My Rating: 

Happy Reading everyone~!

[A. Bookzilla. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is actually pretty hard to review. Not because I struggle with what to say about it, but because I don't want to give anything away.

Lets start off with... it will leave you hanging. It's not exactly a cliffhanger, yet nothing is really resolved. For some weird reason, I wasn't outraged that it ended like that. I'm super excited to see what happens next, and now I'm (not so patiently) waiting for the next book.

The ice chases me, clutches me, and bites at my heels, sending shivers up my spine. The ice wants me back, but I run forward, toward the lights, toward the heat, toward a world that burns me, because I have no other choice.

I really liked Jade. She has a wonderful duality about her nature. Confident, but shy. Feisty, but calm. Audacious, but scared. Evil, but she so wants to be good and it's at moments when she is good that she shines. I just don't know how the author pulled it off without making it look like she's all over the place. Ah, but therein lies the beauty of this book. You don't think much of it, but it's important.
I liked that she is a proactive heroine - instead of waiting for things to happen, she boldly seeks out the truth, even if she knows that she may not like what she finds.

His heartbeat is the most beautiful sound in the world.

And the way she was with Connor, I was just... moved. It's her most wonderful traits that come out when she's around him - the way she sees him as so much more than he thinks of himself, the way she recognizes that he's just as broken and she's there for him even if she can't do much.

If I was destined to be the invisible by-product of social deprivation, I guess I am bad-ass at it.

But it's Connor that made this book for me. TBH, he stole every scene he was in. He's not your typical YA hero - he's not the jock, not the golden boy, not the popular kid that's good at everything.
He is such a beautiful character, and I felt for him so much - his grief and loneliness was killing me. He has a peculiar sense of humor (although a bit dark, but I really enjoyed it) and says the most awesome things like:

I tried Axe, but it was nothing like the commercial. If anything, on me, it acted more as a repellent against any female contact.

I liked that he didn't dwell on just how much of an outcast he is because there are bigger things in life. I liked that he had a lot of common sense and the way the author dealt with the aftermath of... Jade showing her true nature, because it was realistic. And I liked that when he realized he needs to fight, he fought with everything he has.

These two were so great together. I mean, the book is pretty low on the romantic even if love played a big part in the book. First, it's not insta-love. They are both intrigued by each other, but their relationship develops slowly and it's not all about the physical attraction. They both see something the other needs in each other.

So, Rochelle Maya Callen blew me away with her prose. It's beautiful, at times almost poetic (I sort of want to quote everything, lol), and the book is very engaging and I couldn't put it down. I wrote in my status updates that it's "very readable" but that's a huge understatement. I breezed through it, and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. There is a bit of a lull somewhere halfway through. I welcomed it because I needed it.

Ring around the rosie, a pocket full of posies. Ashes, ashes. We all fall down.

It also got very creepy quite a few times throughout. I was reading it late last night and I started getting all twitchy because of it. The girls, the voices, Jade's memories.

It's a sneaky book, you have no idea what's going on - but the thing is, neither do the characters! That's why it's so awesome.
But there are clues! There are a lot of clues and in the end I thought How did I not see that? How?

I was constantly trying to think up of theories - she's a vampire, she's a beast of some sort, and for one dreadful moment, I even thought she was a zombie. My theories got ridiculous at some point, and the ridiculousness hit its all time high when I thought she's a bloodsucking angel (sidenote: I'd read that! Someone write it!)
I won't tell you what she is. It's fun finding it out for yourself.

Don't worry, the author's timing is impeccable. Just as I was about to start skimming because I couldn't wait anymore, things start unraveling.

The character development in this was really great. I mean, you can literally see the change the characters go through as it's happening. I loved it so much.

However, there were things that bothered me, and that's why this is a 4.5 read, rather than a full five star.

One, Jade and school. Didn't anyone wonder where she comes from all of a sudden? Seriously, no one even questions this underage runaway - they let her go to school just like that. Wouldn't she have to transfer? Something. I don't know, it just didn't seem thought through.

Then, there's a certain character (that I will refer to as TC) who I had suspicions about that turned out to be true. Now, the thing is, while I did figure it out, it wasn't because of the clues given. TC is like "remember when I" and... I didn't remember. I had to go back and find it to see that she's actually shown us this thing TC is talking about.

And then the whole mystery that is Jade. While I essentially understood what she is and what was going on - I just felt it was rushed and just... not enough. I needed a bit more.

I did like the twist in the epilogue, very much.

Oh, for those wondering, this is a clean read. There's kissing, and some fumbling, but that's it. I must say I was a bit annoyed that the kiss didn't happen sooner. But it worked, I guess.

So, I think I said everything I wanted to say. I highly recommend this book, I really enjoyed it. It's full of mystery and it has a creepy quality to it that clings to you, and a sense of dread of what's to come because you know it can't be good. I can't wait for the second book. Hurry up, Rochelle Maya Callen!

I am proud to be a guest reviewer at ❤ Coffee, Books & Lipgloss Book Review Blog ❤!

[Zuleeza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay! I feel much better now!

If you're wondering what's up with the angst, it's because I had to read 218 out of 257 pages to know the big secret! I had my suspicion of who (or what) Jade really is but nothing was certain until that very end of the book. Cruel. Very cruel to let the readers hanging like that. It was more cruel than a cliffhanger ending because Jade's identity is the essence of the story itself.

Anyway, Ashes and Ice is a nice effort from a debut author, Rochelle Maya Callen. The concept was intriguing - the battle between one's good side and bad side is right up my alley. The prose was mesmerizing too, for example;

"I hunch forward, leaning my head on my palm. I think of spit up blood, black suit, roses, eulogies and wet pillows. I think of lonely guitars, quiet houses, pointing fingers and scraped foreheads."

BUT sadly, it was obvious that this is a self-pubbed book. Something needs to be done to the flow of this book. I'm a big fan of short novels so this is rare, but I thought some of the chapters need to be expanded in order for the plot to make sense. The settings and the scenes were rapidly changing so three to four pages to describe and explain an important scene isn't going to cut it. Some of the sub-plotlines also disappeared completely by half of the book. For instance; how Jade really fits in the school, is she coping well with the homeworks, quizzes and exams (yes, contrary to popular belief, I do think these teenage paranormal creatures still need to keep up with their educations!). Also, it's odd how the law enforcers didn't find any clues or suspects when the homicide cases was rising.

The characters were okay, I guess. I could connect with Jade very well at the beginning until she starts to feel something for the ultimate asshat, which is Dominic. More about Dominic later. Connor is new for a male protag although his insecurities made him sound feminine at times.

Dominic. As the supposedly irresistible, magnetic guy, I only found him as repulsive. I know Jade meant to have this attraction to him because of her nature, but I still feel like uh, Jade, he might sound very evil, but he is nowhere near that definition of sexy evil. More like a scumbag.

Overall, Ashes and Ice is a nice book. I read it in a single sitting and didn't regret it (which is something the author should be proud of, trust me) but there are still a lot of rooms for improvement.

[Amber]

I am completely blown away and amazed by Ashes & Ice. Once I started, I was in a trance, I couldn't put it down. I know with each page something else was coming. Rochelle filled Ashes & Ice full of loss, love, and excitement. This is one book I wouldn't mind reading over and over again. Epic is the best word I can use to describe Ashes & Ice.

Jade has no memory of who she is, where she's from, or what's happened to her. She soon finds her self in Louisiana finding searching for answers she's not sure she'll be able to find.

Connor has just lost his father and nothing feels right any more. He's feels invisible, lost, and alone. That is till he meets the one girl who changes everything.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo.. yo.. no se que decir.. yo.. mis feels, mi corazón, creo que mi cordura esta rota y yo..



¿CÓMO PUDO LA AUTORA ESCRIBIR UN LIBRO ASÍ? DIOS BENDITO, MIS MALDITOS SENTIMIENTOS. MI MALDITA TORTURA. ¡MI CORAZÓN! Y EL FINAL, MALDITA SEA EL FINAL, ¡MALDITA SEA!



Yo.. no puedo, no puedo creer todo esto, es o sea, yo.. no.. no tengo palabras..

Jade no recuerda absolutamente nada de ella o su pasado.
Connor lo único que quiere hacer es olvidarse de todo.

Y entonces se conocen, y para él, ella es aire donde solo hay asfixia.
Para ella, él es esperanza donde solo hay miedo y dolor.
Pero, ninguno de los dos esta preparado para lo que puede acarrear el pasado de ella.

ES JODIDAMENTE UN LIBRO CORTA-VENAS, MIERDA, JODER, ¡NO PUEDO CREERLO! NO ME PUEDO CREER NADA DE ESTO, ESTOY MURIENDOME PORQUE NECESITO EL MALDITO SEGUNDO LIBRO YA.



La autora solo.. solo, hizo que estuviera en tensión durante todo el libro, hizo que llorará como una loca, que riera, que sonriera por la ternura que Jade y Connor me causaban y entonces desato lo peor..



El libro, oh Dios, este libro, empece a leerlo y fue adictivo no pude parar de leer, necesitaba saber sobre Jade, saber sobre Connor, saber sobre todo lo que estaba ocurriendo. Cual era el pasado de Jade. Y entonces.. Oh señor, el caos se desato.

Aunque estuve en tensión todo el tiempo, en serio, mi espalda estaba rigida, como si sintiera que en cualquier momento algo iba a saltar encima de mi.. y oh por Dios, tan equivocada no estaba, este libro me destruyo. Y oh, el final, oh por amor a Dios, el final..



Y Connor, oh Señor, van a enamorarse de él. Van a enamorarse de su inseguridad, su timidez, su ternura, sus ganas de ser mas para Jade... Mi bebé, mi precioso niño..



Y Jade, oh mi chica, mi preciosa chica.. Nunca la comprendí, pero la amé, la amé mucho, amé su inocencia y que no se dejará dar mierda por nadie, pero siempre estuvo la vulnerabilidad y la debilidad allí..

Tú eres mi luz en la oscuridad. Te amo.

La relación de Connor y Jade ha sido de las mas preciosos que he podido leer en mi vida. Es completamente increíble y.. oh wow, me enamoré de ellos, me enamoré de su amor.



Sus merecidas 5/5 estrellitas. Nunca podré superarlo.. oh por amor a Dios.

[Heather B (Owlnestly Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Owlnestly Reviews

I finished this book within a few hours and it left me feeling... in awe. This story took me for a whirlwind and just didn't let me go. I started reading this book with a bit of skepticism because of the writing style. At first, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it because the writing reminded me of poetry. It was very whimsical and descriptive, and I wasn't sure if I liked it, but I kept reading despite this. I am really glad that I did! What I stumbled upon was a young adult book like no other that I have read in my life. This book was unique, and not just in the plot line. The emotion that spilled out of the pages captured my heart. Connor felt real sorrow, and I felt it with him. He was such an ordinary character that I found myself falling in love with him more than the typical macho guys we see in young adult books today.

Jade was another character all together. I kept reading solely to find out just what she was, I was intrigued throughout the book, and found myself frustrated when I didn't exactly understand who or what she was. The author presented her story in a way unlike anything I have read before. I guess I was just caught off guard in Jade's storyline, and I just didn't know what to think. At times I found myself thinking that maybe she was just mental, but what I found out in the end threw me for a whirl.

In the end, I found myself loving this book just because of it's uniqueness and deep emotions portrayed throughout the book. When I finished it, I just didn't know how to feel... and that's normally how I know when I have read a truly extraordinary book. Congratulations Rochelle, you definitely took me off guard on this one. This is a stunning debut that I would recommend to anyone looking for something unique in the young adult world.

[Tiffany Carmouche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rochelle Maya Callen grabs you from page one in Ashes and Ice. This story keeps you turning the pages not only because you need to find out the answers but because you have fallen in love with the characters! I love Conner. He is that charming, southern boy-next-door. His personality pops off the page and you laugh out loud. Jade too has a dynamic personality and you wonder what the hell she is! She keeps you guessing for sure. Omg the ending…I am biting my nails! I can’t wait for the next book!

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Absolutely A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. This story is like nothing else I've read in YA in quite some time. Reminiscent of the dark mesmerizing hold Beautiful Creatures had over me, Ashes and Ice had me immediately under it's spell. The pull was the same, but make no mistake, this is a story all it's own. From the moment I began reading I felt the need to know Jade's secret. The need to know her past... Where she came from. Why her memory was gone. What brought her to this small town in Louisiana? And what was up with those crazy green eyes?

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Before we get completely caught up in Jade we meet Connor. A sweet outcast, full of sorrow and angst and so all alone. As intrigued as I was by Jade, I was consumed by Connor and his desperation to disappear. He instantly captured my heart as Jade instantaneously captured his.

The story here unfolds quite slowly- which I loved. We eased into the everyday tug and pull of two very different people being brought together. Constantly assaulted by outside influence and interference, but each finding a kind of solace in the other.

Rochelle Maya Callen has weaved a very intricate tale. A love story of sorts. Dark and sinister yet full of hope and light. Spoken from alternating points of view, we see the two struggle to discover each other and rediscover themselves.

What set this story apart from so many of the other YA paranormal romance books out there was the author's ability to build anticipation while giving very little away. Where others fall flat by drawing out the inevitable conclusion, I was constantly propelled forward. Piece by piece, and bit by bit the mystery unfolded, and yet I was merely teased and tempted by the suspense of it all. I found myself scrambling to read faster and faster to find the answers to all the questions and speculations running through my head.

For me Ashes and Ice was a work of art. Rochelle painted her world brilliantly. Conflicting human landscapes of seemingly all consuming darkness and the brightest of colors reflecting faith, hope and love. While the story deals with an unknown threat of evil, it grips you with the very real inner struggle to be good and true- and belong.

The characters were fascinating. Watching Jade trying to discern what was real- a memory, dream or nightmare. Not wanting to believe what she sees or who she might be. Connor dealing with the pain and despair of losing his father and attempting to go on without his presence. Both having their eyes opened to possibilities and realities neither understands, nor can they ignore.

People and things are not what they seem as you'll see in several key personalities- alive and dead. You cannot take one minute detail for granted. And even with that knowledge you'll not know what to expect.

This story was intoxicating and electric. I was captivated to the very end. My heart pounding as I found myself as distressed and anxious for a favorable resolution for these two desperate souls. Even as details- secrets kept from Jade AND Connor... an old man, a box, a prophecy, are all revealed I was still taken by surprise by the cliffhanger. I just don't know what will happen next. Will Jade be able to fight her darkness? Will Connor recover? What of the still mysterious Seraph, the prophecy? And what will become of their love? Was it all for nothing or will hope save us all? I'm itching to know these still unanswered questions and I'm eager to get my hands on the second book.

[Lalaine *myficbookreviews* · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I hope it's sunny at my funeral."
And if I really am wicked, I hope that day comes sooner rather than later.

Wow, that ending.. Didn't see that coming.
So I guess you could say I enjoyed this book so much. I'm always fascinated with angels and demons stories especially when it has a romance twist in it. It started with a young girl named Jade who couldn't remember her past. But Jade with her green eyes and no memories, isn't your average normal girl. And then she met this broken young boy Connor along the way. And from there the story begins..

Ring around the rosie, a pocket full of posies. Ashes, ashes. We all fall down.

Though I should mention that the first half of the book seemed like it didn't actually have a plot and that there were times that I couldn't understand what was happening, only when it get to the other half that I finally understood everything. I know it might sound terrible, but you see, reading Connor's and Jade's POV were good enough for me. I for once couldn't put the book down. To make it short, these two were the highlights of this book. Amazing characters. Connor is my favorite. I love him! He is broken and I just wanted to give him a hug.. poor kid. Also, I was hooked with the dark and somber tone of the story.

We cry in our own rooms, remembering a man who will never be here again.
The house creaks. Maybe it feels the weight of our grief, maybe the floorboards are buckling because the burden is too heavy.

Jade is kind of hard for me to explain but she's wicked!

Now I see him clearly, even through the rain and distance, I see him perfectly. Tears try to blend in with the rain, but fail. I see his tears. His precious, pained tears.
And all I can do is stare.
Something within me shifts.
Annoyance to curiosity,
Impatience to sympathy.
Reluctance to desire---desire to understand how and why he can weep like the rain.

Well the thing about this book is I cant tell much more as I'm afraid I would give away so much and mess it up for you. The writing was definitely beautiful and captivating and so full of emotions. I would have given this book 5 stars if not for those little confusing moments and a little lack of details. But other than that this book was awesome. Loved the characters, loved the words and that ending LOVED IT.. I am dying for the second book! I'm so glad I read this, and sooo many lovely quotes too check it out.

Quotes from Ashes and Ice

Love is a sliver of sunlight peeking through the darkness; a whisper of hope when all is lost.

Now the world will see what I am. Vulnerable. Ugly. Evil. Lost. Sad. Angry. Numb.
And dead.


Connor's hand, rough with calluses, holds mine. If I had a heart, it would be in my hand--a solemn offering to be held in the palm of his, desperate to be comforted and held like a soft, delicate thing.

His heartbeat is the most beautiful sound in the world.

People can change... no matter where they come from, no matter where they think they ought to go, people can make their own way.

That's all you need, cher. A few people in your life who fill it up and give you good memories to hold onto.

Wasting time is a stupid thing to do in this big ol' ugly world.

[Rachmi · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

There are things that I just couldn’t get from this book. I couldn’t believe how easy Clara asked Jade, the main character, to stay with her when she just met her. It also happened with Nanan, she didn’t know her at all yet she treats her like she’s her daughter. Aren’t they afraid of her? Didn’t they think that maybe she’s a murderer, for example? I know Jade is the protagonist and also main character in this story so she must be a good girl but other characters don’t know about it, do they? I don’t know whether they are really that kind or is it me being a sarcastic? That was my impression after reading chapter one. And then I was confused why Jade didn’t question why she can see Connor, her love interest, light (aura?). It is one thing that attracts her to him and she keeps talking about it that’s why I was questioning it but then there isn’t any explanation about it. There are many what, why and how Why Jade doesn’t question herself her sudden interest with Dominic, how come Lynx doesn’t have time to explain her but he has time to speak to Connor? What did Conner do or where did he get the manuscript? in my head while reading this book. And reading it from Jade POV was like reading a woven-mess thought. It made me dizzy I feel like I have to rub my temple so many times.

I also have problem liking Connor. He’s whiny and has negative thinking, like, most of the time. I understand how hard his life is but he doesn’t even try to stand for himself. And it made me annoyed and bored with him. Other characters might be good supporting characters but I feel they didn’t have time to ‘show’ themselves to me. So they are just supporting characters that didn’t pick my interest.

All in all, it seems this book is another case where I’m in the minority. I would say it’s just not my cup of tea but then again I don’t think I can say it either. To say it, it means that I get what the story is about and connect with it but it’s just not my preference. While here, most of the time I was bored, didn’t get what it’s all about, what the characters want, what they purpose and/or role are and the most important thing is I can’t connect with them and their stories. Although the last few chapters are more interesting and the ‘mystery’ finally reveals, it’s a little bit too late to lift my mood and change my mind about it.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! Couldn't put it down so freakin good...
REVIEW:
Let me first say that the cover of Ashes and Ice is PHENOMENAL!!! Drawing me in with its fantastic design...I just knew that I was going to enjoy this book.
But, I didn't only enjoy this book....Nope, I devoured it, page by page, falling farther and farther in to Jade's mysterious life and her companion that she finds hope in, Connor. These two characters captivated me with such intensity that I literally could not put this book down. And truthfully, once you get about 30% in, you can't put it down because so much is happening that your mind turns with theories which prompts you to keep reading to find out answers to the questions set before you.
Ashes and Ice is a dark and perplexing tale that had me second guessing so many things. One moment I would think.."Nah, it isn't...and then turn around...WHOA...it is then..." I love books that keep me entranced and on my toes. This book definitely does that.
AND...let me tell you about these two main characters.....Jade and Connor. Ashes and Ice switches POV between these two and it was genius. Seeing things from Jade's view and then Connor's, kept the story fresh and allowed you to connect to both characters. Also, these two were extremely well developed. Jade, who has lost her memory, trying to understand the mystifying things happening around her, grows in to someone that I find admirable and strong. Connor, whom we meet starts out shy and insecure, wanting to be invisible, grows in to a brave and strapping young man. When these two connect, they give each other what the other needs to become the intense individuals we find at the end....
Since I don't reveal storyline, I will tell you this...this book is MIND-BLOWING. If I haven't said it enough, you are hooked from the twists and turns that you encounter throughout this book. You have to carry all the way to the end to see what happens and then when you read the epilogue...yeah...it kills you that you have to wait to see what happens in the next installment...
A sensational read that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
www.tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

www.the-book-diaries.blogspot.com

Dark and Wicked. Those are the two words to describe this book. In the beginning I was on the fence about how this book would play out. It reads very choppy and unclear in the beginning, but as you read on it levels out and you have a better understanding of the characters. I am not a big fan on books that switch from character to character. For me it takes away some of the bond that you would normally forge with the main character. Rochelle makes it work with her story, instead of one bond you form two. I liked that this was not your fairy tale romance with a happily ever after. Throughout most of the book, both characters are in pain emotionally. Even with each other, there is so much distance that neither can come to grips with what is in front of them. The big mystery is who and what Jade is and what part Conner is supposed to play in her life. Rochelle leads you to believe a few things about Jade but beware, you will never figure it out. I am a big fan of the tough females who don't need to be saved every five seconds. That is exactly what Jade is, tough on the outside but hollow on the inside. It gives her an opportunity to grow as a character. I like that Conner and Jade don't form a romantic relationship in the beginning. They are friends and you see them grow together and actually fall in love. This book contains so much mystery and suspense that it grips you in and doesn't let go. I am very excited to see what happens in book two.

[L.P. Dover · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost the cover drew me in from the very beginning. I absolutely love it and I was itching to be able to read this book. Ashes and Ice was an amazing story that kept me captivated to the very end. I love how the story alternates between both POV's of the main characters Jade and Connor. I like seeing how things play out in other perspectives and to also get an inside glance on how the characters are on the inside.

The characters were well developed and the story line unique. I loved seeing how Jade and Connor grew throughout the book and became the strong and brave characters I knew they could be. Jade's character starts out in the book with memory loss. She has no clue who she is or why she can't remember anything, but she's determined to find the answers. When she meets Connor everything changes. They both help each other to become the strong characters that was lying within themselves.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. It's hard to write a review and not give anything away so holding back is very difficult. If you want twists and turns and an amazing plot then this is the book for you. Now I can't wait for the next book!!!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Jade is a girl who feels empty. She doesn't remember who she is, or where she came from. She has no hopes and dreams. She has no heart. All she has is blackouts and a strange thing pulling her forward.
Connor is invisible. His dad recently passed. His dad was his hero, and his friend. He feels empty too. He wants to hide. He has no hope. Until Jade comes into his life. She gives him something to glow about. But there is more to Jade then her pretty looks. Can Connor handle what's inside of her?

When a Lady Amber posted about a book tour for this book on facebook I immediately jumped on board. Despite the fact that I had sworn of blog tours and review books. I just don't have enough time to do them anymore. To be honest this cover just drew me in. Then I read the blurb, and I was like; "Yup, gotta read this one!" I was not disappointed. The characters really brought me into the story. I always identify with outcasts. Maybe because I am one, but either way I related to both the male and female lead in this book. I understand what it's like to feel like you aren't good enough, although in Jade's case, well, let's just say my problems where never as big as hers.Or even Connor's. But the pain they both feel is very real and intense.

I think of spit up blood, black suits, roses and eulogies and wet pillows. I think of lonely guitars, quiet houses, pointing fingers, and scraped foreheads. I think of falling and not wanting to get up. Yeah, her {Jade's} eyes could slice me open, but in so many ways I'm already bleeding

Rochelle's writing is good. She very much gets the way teens talk, think and feel. Not that I am a teen, but I happen to be around one a lot. Also, in the case of full honesty, I often feel like a 16 year old trapped in this old lady body. But I digress. The character's their problems, their mannerisms and everything about them feels authentic. Which is always a big plus to me. Sometimes when us adults write teenagers we tend to not get them right. Not the case here.
The story itself had a very Beautiful Creatures sort of feel too it. So if you enjoyed those books you will like this one. Personally, I thought this story was much better than BC.
The overall best part of this book for me and what set it above other works similar to this was the gruesomeness (wherein gruesomeness=awesomeness)this is a very dark book. Yes there are moments of light in it too, but it's got a great edge too it that Rochelle embraces. She isn't writing it and then instantly trying to shove it out of the way with puppy dog love. I love dark edgy things and this book has them. It's really got a lot of moments of real horror that people like me will go nuts over.

I look away from all of them, ashamed that their ugliness is too hard for me to bear. Their skin's a strange almost bluish tinge, the color of their eyes fading to only a hind of color amidst stark whiteness in their eye sockets. Necks twisted, broken arms reaching. Mouths open too wide with pointy, decaying teeth revealed through cracked lips.

Yup awesome.
This book was just amazing. I admit the first few chapters left me scratching my head. Partially because of the POV changing, and partially because everything about Jade is so vague. But once Jade kind of hits her stride so did my enjoyment of this book.
Overall a very good read, and I will FOR SURE be reading the next one.
**A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review. Everything within this review is honest. It is also 100% written by me with the exception of any quotations/blurb used.**

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy rabies. Holy rabies. HOLY RABIES. Talk about a mind=blown! 4.5 stars!

I don't even know where to begin with this one. I saw the cover, loved it. Saw the blurb, loved it. Saw an excerpt on its release day, lost all hope. But I was so curious as to whether I would actually hate it or not (it's a curse I suffer from), so when I saw that it was priced at $0.99 for the release day, that curiosity coupled with my natural weakness for cheaply priced books convinced me to move heaven and hell to get my hands on a copy of this book and read it as soon as was humanly possible.

I read it and didn't stop reading it if I could avoid having to put it down for any amount of time. And when I was forced to get away from it, like while I was driving or photographing my husband's award ceremony, I couldn't keep my brain from wrapping around the thought of it like some voracious little kitten.

Mmmmm... Okay, backtrack, breathe, focus--

Ashes and Ice drove me to its drawing depths almost as soon as I took the first dive into the story. It was dark and messy, halfway chaotic. I imagined the years of visionary reconstruction that those first few chapters had to have undergone, yet it felt as seamless and final as breathing. Inhale, Jade's madness and confusion; exhale, Connor's misery and bleak outlook on his life. Inhale; Jade flounders in the tatters of her new, scattered existence; exhale, Connor suffers through his loss and humiliation.

I fell in love with watching Jade and Connor kinda pick each other up, slowly, piece by misshapen piece, healing their wounds while simultaneously gaping at their own. My favorite part of that particular development rested in the fact that not only was their relationship significant but that of their families. Nanan, on Jade's side, took her in and was a necessary part of her life right from the get-go. Desi and her brothers, Connor's mother and uncles, were every bit as essential to his being as, in time, Jade became, and that's something I really kinda reveled in.

But when things start seriously goin down, I lose all my critical façades, leaving in its places candor in how positively delighted I was in the direction of the story to darker, even more disgusting territory. It was like Callen plucked all the nasty but pleasureful things I rarely get the opportunity to read and penned it all, almost to the T. I WAS IN SORDID HEAVEN, Y'ALL. NO LIE.

I just... I have no words for how much I loved this. It's (I think) my first addition to my "favorites." The only demerit I'm even taking note of is the writing. It needed a little help with its conventions and a quick copyediting sweep. I feel that if it had been written in a stronger, more involved prose ( The Sleepwalkers comes to mind), the effect of the overall storylines and individual arcs within would've only benefited, strengthened. Other than that, Callen, you have my attention. I'm so sorry I ever doubted you. (Hahhaha.)

[Kazhy (My Library in the Making) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)

The only thing I knew before starting to read Ashes & Ice was that the girl had some kind of amnesia, so this one ended up being such a nice surprise for me.

Jade has a dark past that she can't remember. She often wakes up with blood in her hands, not knowing how it got there, and then soon she'd hear about a murder. She knows the answer lies in her memory, but it's always evading her. Connor, on the other hand, just recently lost his dad. He tries to move on and continue living as he'd always done, but the pain is always there inside him.

I really liked both of the main characters. I thought they wouldn't mesh well because they're both so broken and messed up, but good heavens, were they perfect together! They became each other's anchor to survival, but I love how their relationship wasn't cheesy or anything, and how it started out as friendship.

Now, some people might think there was insta-love in here - no, there's none. Connor was insta-attracted to Jade, which is normal because everyone seems to find Jade very attractive. Also, Jade only begins to get interested in Connor when she sees his grief. It might have started as pity on her part, but it soon turned into real affection.

Aside from the romance, the other great thing about Ashes & Ice was the writing. It was very fluid and poetic, making the characters' feelings even more wrenching and compelling. I liked Jade's perspective more because Connor was a little bit too angst-y at first, but he soon grew on me, especially with his sarcasm.

Overall, this book was a true mystery. I had a lot of guesses as to what Jade's true nature was, and just as I was starting to feel sure that I'd guessed right, another clue would be thrown in and confuse me again... which I really enjoyed! I love guessing games, and I can't wait for the sequel!

MY FAVORITE PART was Jade face-planting Blondeboobs on the cafeteria table XD

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashes and Ice is a book that took me by storm! I have to say that I read a lot of books but this one is going to be one series that i re-read and re-read over and over again. It has so many twists and turns and keeps you on your feet that you have no idea what is going to happen next. Then you read it and you say no way I never saw this coming. The added bonus for me was the story telling from both POV'S. I love a story told by both points of view because you get to read and feel what the other character is feeling at the time. And lordy lordy this book is packed with lot's of emotions some loss and a whole lot of love. In my reviews I usually give somethings away to grab the reader in but for this one I will not because this book is so on point you can't give one thing away with blabbing all the story. So here is my very short introduction to Ashes and Ice a MUST READ for 2013!

Can you imagine waking up with no memory of who you are or where you are? You are coated in blood and you are just not sure where is has come from and who it came from. You want to remember but it is just not there. For Jade she will have to figure out what happened and who she is in order to move forward with her life. Connor has lost someone very close to him and he is trying to survive. He wants to feel something but he can't. The death has rocked his world and he needs something but he is not sure what he needs. Until he meets Jade and he feels something for her but he is not sure what. Together they feel safe and secure but underneath all that security lies something that may or may not destroy them.

Together they love but together may just kill one of them..........

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off I want to thank Rochelle Callen and Lady Ambers Tour for having me on the tour and letting me read Ashes and Ice! Jade has no memory of her past, or even her name. She is broken on the inside and can’t seem figure out just what she is and why she keeps waking form dreams of people who have been killed. She needs answers and she needs to figure out just who and where she came from. When Jade finds Nana, a woman who takes her in she starts to searches for the answers she needs. What will Jade find out? Will she be able to get the answers she needs? Will her nightmares stop and will the craziness in her life clam down. When Jade falls for a boy who makes things change inside her she starts to worry that the bad inside her might break free. She needs answers and she needs them soon before all she cares for is lost for good and the nightmares turn to reality.

Well let’s say this is a hard one to write about with out giving too much away. It was a FOR sure on the edge of your seat kind of read. It flowed well and the characters were intriguing! I really was truing pages fast because Rochelle wrote such a mysterious story! I love the fight with evil in this one and also that the good over powered it.

I really don’t want to give too much away because there is a little something you wont want to know till it comes out on the book! I sure can’t wait for book two because I am vey excited for more form Jade and the rest of the characters in this one. Make sure to pick up ASAP this is a stimulating book and a thrilling ride to take!

[Jessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those reads that sucks you in, but yet you have no idea what's going on around you. You stay tuned in because you have to find out really bad! You're pulled into the mystery of what could be going on. What could this person be? When will we get the answers? You become so invested in each of the characters that you continue on with the journey to discover right along with them what is happening in the world around them.
Meet Jade. With no recollection of who she is or where she's from she battles this evil within her to stay away from the cold trying to overtake her. It's when she comes across Connor she sees a light. A hope she wants to cling to. With other influences however, keeping the warmth this ordinary boy gives she struggles to remain what she wants to be for him.
Connor your ordinary boy. A boy fighting his way through high school to remain invisible. To be left alone from the bullies. Struggling to live day by day without his father around starts becoming too much for him to bear when he sees Jade. This beautiful girl with a dark stare and a smile that makes him want to continue breathing. He decides all he wants is to keep that smile on her face. Jade wants to keep that light that he emanates. Will these two get what they want or is the evil so forceful it will eliminate any hope these two have? You are going to want to find out!! Trust me!! I give this book my thumbs up!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow! I was not expecting that! This book blew my mind. It was beyond amazing.
Ashes and Ice tells the story of Jade, a girl with no memories of her past and who is fighting a terrible battle to remain sane and to stop the darkness within her from taking over her life. She is plagued with horrible dreams and visions of murdered girls and she tries desperately to figure out what is happening to her. Along the way she meets Connor, who is trying to come to turns with the sudden death of his dad. Connor just wants to be invisible, to take the back seat so as to avoid the notices of the school bullies. But when Jade explodes into his life, he soon starts to emerge from his shell and begins to think that this girl is the one to pull him from his misery. They both need each other more than they realise.
The author has a magical way with words. The words flow effortlessly, with a lyrical quality to them. Every emotion is portrayed with such force and beauty that you can't help but get choked up on more than one occasion. I got so caught up in the story, I didn't want to put it down.
I can't tell you any more about the story because you need to experience it for yourself. But I will tell you this. This story will rock you to your core. It will stay with you long after you've finished. So be prepared to be amazed. And don't forget the tissues!

[Hmr28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and simple...5.
This author has such beautiful prose that for the first time in a long time I actually had to look up the note saving feature on my Nook because I knew there were certain turns of phrase that I would want to visit again. Outstanding novel and I'll read anything I come across by this author.

[CLO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looooovedddd it!!!!!!!!!
At first I was a little worried about the writing style. I wasn't really used to it and I've never read anything like it. It was a good change though from reading other things that I'm used to.
It had a great story, lots of action, suspense, and romance. I highly recommend this one!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My least favorite reads are about high school kids. I decided to give this one a try and I'm so glad I did. I had no idea what was going on throughout basically the whole book but I loved every part of it. Except the ending. Yup, you guessed it. Cliffhanger. I can't wait to read more about Jade, Connor, and Giovanni.

[-ya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connor : " I'm a virgin and the last time I kissed a chick, she was neither sane nor all that cute." Connor is a wonderful character. He lights up the pages and I can't help but root for him. I like the world the author created. This is a page turner book. Highly recommended!

[Rita Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in Book Love! I am soooo impressed with Rochelle's debut novel.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

BookNook — Young Adult book reviews

2.5 Stars

I think Ashes and Ice is a solid case of "not for me". Although it wasn't a perfect book overall, the main reason I'm giving this book 2.5 stars is because the plot took a direction that ultimately isn't in line with my personal tastes. I never fully connected with the characters or the plot, and while part of that is due to faults in the book, I think a large part is just because of me.

Let's start off with Jade. I had kind of a love/hate relationship with Jade. The chapters from Jade's point of view never interested me in the slightest. Her thoughts always felt so fragmented, disjointed, and she always spent so much time worrying about her lost memories and the thoughts that haunted her (which, to be fair, makes sense), that I never got a good sense of who she was. But when I read from Connor's perspective, Jade felt like a completely different person. It felt like 90% of Jade's dialogue was only 'seen' from Connor's perspective, and it was always awesome. In Connor's chapters, Jade is portrayed as a very eloquent, put-together, kick ass, take-no-bullshit kind of girl, and I LOVED her. But I never got that impression of her when I was actually reading from her point of view.

"If you had any sense," Courtney says brushing her hair back, "you'd be trying to hang out with us."
"I'm sorry," Jade's voice is calm, almost monotone. "I did not realize I was welcome to sit with the whores and perverted bastards of the school. The invitation is noted. [..] I prefer to spend my time with decent, intelligent human beings, [..] not with dumb wenches who open their legs to whatever male walks by—"
"You bitch!"
Jade smirks—a devious and oh so sexy look.
"Or," Jade eyes Dominic head to toe with half-open, bored eyes before continuing, "Sorry excuses for men that only know how to think with one head—and not the one above their shoulders."
—Jade from Connor's point of view, Ashes and Ice by Rochelle Maya Callen

Then, towards the second half of the book, Jade started to really frustrate and annoyed me overall like when she started lusting after douchebag Dominic. Now, in context, it does make sense that Jade would frustrate me, but I just couldn't relate to her on the level that I wanted. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but ultimately, I felt like it could have been written in a different way that would make me sympathize with Jade more.

Obviously a huge part of this story is the big mystery. Why can't Jade remember anything? Who is she? Why was she covered in blood? Why does she get violent, creepy thoughts? But what frustrated me is that this remains a mystery up until like the 85% mark. I just got a little sick of Jade moping around, wondering who she is, but seemingly never making any progress on that front. It made the book feel a little fragmented and confusing, and I never had a clear idea of where it was heading. And then when we finally got the big reveal, that's when the "not in line with my personal tastes" aspect kicked in. I almost don't know how to tell you why I don't like it.. because ultimately there isn't really an explicable reason. It's just not something that really interests me. And the new characters that are introduced at the end felt very half developed, at best. To be fair, it was so obviously the start of a series, so I'm sure they'll be developed more in later books.. but it just left me a little unsatisfied.

Let's talk about the love interest. A romance develops between Jade and Connor, and while it definitely had its sweet moments, I never felt like it was as developed as it claimed to be. For starters, when the book began I honestly thought Connor was a girl. The way he talked about high school life sucking, and being invisible, and wanting to be with the popular kids, just made him seem like an insecure teenage girl. Once he became friends with Jade, that toned down a lot, which is good.

I wouldn't say that Connor and Jade's relationship is insta-love, but it does develop too quickly, and I think this is a result of the short length of the book (258 pages). When their relationship started almost transitioning from friendship to romance, I thought it was pretty sweet and that they were cute together. But then, suddenly, they're thinking about how they love each other. It's like the romance just jolted forward and I never quite caught up to it. I think the romance would have been a lot better if the book was longer and if the relationship had more time to properly develop. Connor and Jade were friends for a while before they loved each other, but they were never really "boyfriend and girlfriend" in between those stages.

For me, Ashes and Ice was an okay book, but I think people who are better able to connect to Jade and the romance will enjoy it a lot more.

[Brooke's Epic Emporium · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank the author, Rochelle Maya Callen, and Lady Amber Tours, for providing me an ARC ecopy of this book to read and give an honest review. This has in no way influenced my opinion or review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
She is desperate to remember.
He is aching to forget.
Together, they are not broken.
But together, one may not survive.
​Jade wakes up with no memory of her past and blood on her hands.
Plagued by wicked thoughts, she searches for answers. Instead, she finds a boy who doesn't offer her answers, but hope. But sometimes, when nightmares turn into reality and death follows you everywhere, hope is not enough.
LUST. LOVE. LOSS. Sometimes, all that is left are Ashes and Ice

The first time I saw the cover of this book, I immediately added it to my TBR, without even reading the blurb. Look how totally gorgeous it is! How could you resist a cover such as this? Then I read the blurb and it totally piqued my interest. I will say that I am not one to usually read blurbs because I don't want them to influence how the book comes across. But I can honestly say that this blurb is so mysterious, it only made me want to get my hands on the book much more quickly. And have no doubts, this book sucks you in pretty quickly and gets you raring to go and find out what is going on!

The characters are well developed. I felt a connection with them almost immediately. I love how the story is told from dual POV of the male and female characters. It gives such an interesting perspective.
Jade is an interesting character. She's sort of empty at first, which is totally understandable. And throughout the story she gets filled up, as Callen reveals more and more about who and what she is. There is a vulnerability about her that mixes well with the independence she exudes. I felt sorry for her and wanted her to figure herself out. She's a very strong character. She rarely has those teen angst moments, which often turn me off. At the same time, she's quite shy and does have insecurities that surprised me.
Conner, well, he's this kind of geeky, out of place guy who keeps to himself. He's not popular, but he's not unpopular. He's kind of just there. I love his relationship with his mom. He also has a sadness to him, related to the death of his father, which had me drawn in immediately. He's got an open wound and he's needed someone to heal it. Jade fits the bill. But she pushes him away, aware that there is more to her than what he sees. This only causes him to be more curious and long for her even more.
Dominic is a total control freak. At first, he's just this annoying guy who thinks he's all that. But it soon becomes painfully obvious that there is more to him than just his cocky exterior. He is evil to the core and he's a total distraction to Jade. I have to say that their relationship was quite confusing to me, why she would be drawn to him in the first place. But then as her character is revealed you understand the connection.

The story had a nice flow to it, although I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with not knowing the whole mystery until about 75% in. I feel ike there could have been more hints or reveals a bit earlier without actually giving the entire plot away. But all in all I was captivated by the story and I really didn't want to put it down. It was refreshingly different, not something I could figure out at all as I was reading. I liked that the mystery was not easy to figure out. I hate knowing what is going to happen before the end of the book.

This story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Keep you wanting to turn the pages, keep you wanting to come back for more. I enjoyed the read and I am really looking forward to the next installment in this series.

[Sabrina Olteanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
Ashes and Ice tells the story of Jade, a girl who has no memory. She is plagued with horrible dreams and visions of murdered girls and she tries desperately to figure out what is happening to her. She has someone helping her and he’s name is Connor. They both need each other more than they realize. After leaving a new friend, she ends up living with a kind woman who tries her best to care for Jade.

„I have no breath left.
I tumble forward, my palms scraping the hard pavement. I look at them, scratched and bloody. Pain throbs in the center of my hands. Then, the throb dulls and the blood and cut skin heal, leaving soft, flawless flesh. I hate these hands. I don’t gasp, because I have seen it before and it always felt just as unnatural.”- Jade

Connor has just lost his father and wants to be invisible. He tries to move on and continue living as he'd always done, but the pain is always there inside him. Connor isn't in with the cool crowd and is surprised when Jade wants to talk to him. As their friendship blossoms, Jade hears more voices and blacks out more often. Another problem is bodies seem to be piling up from a serial killer and they seem to be coming for Jade. She often wakes up with blood in her hands, not knowing how it got there. She needs to get her memory back and soon, but it's always evading her.

„I could say that I am one of those incredible seventeen year olds that makes his father proud, scoring the winning touchdown at the Madisonville High School football games, drives the ‘Vette to school and hooks up with all the cheerleaders. I could say I am so effing awesome everyone wants to be me or be with me. I could say that, but, of course, it would be a total load of shit. I’m not awesome. I’m the total opposite of awesome. In fact, if “unawesome” had a definition in the dictionary, my face would be nicely positioned beside it as Example A.”- Connor

The epilogue really left me hanging on for the next book with such interest. I can't tell you any more about the story because you need to experience it for yourself. But I will tell you this book will be you’re favorite, you are going to love it!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jade has no memory. She has someone help her and she does think she is called Jade. There are times she hears voices calling for her. After leaving a new friend she ends up living with a kind woman. The woman tries her best to care for Jade. Connor has just lost his father and wants to be invisible. He isn't in with the cool crowd and is surprised when Jade wants to talk to him. As their friendship blossoms Jade hears more voices and blacks out more often. Another problem is bodies seem to be piling up from a serial Killer and they seem to be coming for Jade. She needs to get her memory back and soon.

There is several characters but I wanted to describe just Jade and Connor. Jade waking with no memory at first made me think of an alien that had crashed on earth. She really couldn't remember anything at all. I liked this girl for a lot of reason but mainly because of Connor. The more she was around him the more you really get to see her feelings. She is a strong girl and smart. She does her best to solve her mystery by herself. She is also not afraid to take on anyone she thinks is picking on Connor. Connor isn't a wimp he just wants to get thru high school by trying to stay invisible. He really has no friends until he meets Jade and she stands up to the cool crowd.

I really liked this story as it has a certain air of mystery to it. You keep trying to figure out Jade's past and who the killer is. It keeps you on your toes and flipping pages. I loved watching the friendship between Jade and Connor grow. You can tell they care for each other but neither want to say or show it. The killer is one who I hated when I found out who it was. They have a lot of power and really seem to want all of Jade and don't care who gets in their way. It was a nice touch when you find it out. I won't say who it is because I am not giving spoilers. Which is hard to do cause I do want to ramble on and on to tell you everything about it. I instantly loved Connor and sure you will as well. Jade I really liked and I really can't wait to read more in this series cause I have to know what happens next.