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Obsession
by
Some obsessions know no boundary…not even death.
Abby had the perfect life: shopping sprees at the mall, a pool in her backyard, a dream bedroom, a BFF… That is, until her family moved to the backwoods of Wisconsin.
Abby plans to prove this backwoods dump is no place for a thirteen-year-old. So when her parents hire a carpenter and his son, Greg, she hangs out with the older ...more
Abby had the perfect life: shopping sprees at the mall, a pool in her backyard, a dream bedroom, a BFF… That is, until her family moved to the backwoods of Wisconsin.
Abby plans to prove this backwoods dump is no place for a thirteen-year-old. So when her parents hire a carpenter and his son, Greg, she hangs out with the older ...more
Paperback, Second, 188 pages
Published
March 17th 2015
by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
(first published January 24th 2013)
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I was given this book through a giveaway on this site-in exchange for an honest review.
First off, when it came in the mail, I thought the cover was gorgeous (which means a lot since ultimately I want to pass it on to my middle school students) and the size was nice (not intimidating). I must admit I'm backed up on reading some of my giveaway books but this one was read before the others-right after opening the package.
This book was very visual, I could see and feel everything. Although I must ...more
First off, when it came in the mail, I thought the cover was gorgeous (which means a lot since ultimately I want to pass it on to my middle school students) and the size was nice (not intimidating). I must admit I'm backed up on reading some of my giveaway books but this one was read before the others-right after opening the package.
This book was very visual, I could see and feel everything. Although I must ...more

I was given Obsession for exchange of an honest review.
As I sat down to begin reading, my thirteen year old daughter sat beside me, and decided to read my book over my shoulder. As I would flip the pages on my kindle, she would complain that she wasn’t finished yet. So, I decided to do something I’ve never done with my review books, I let her read the book first.
Just so you know, my beautiful daughter does not read unless it’s on her Ipod:) She finished the book in three days, and absolutely lov ...more
As I sat down to begin reading, my thirteen year old daughter sat beside me, and decided to read my book over my shoulder. As I would flip the pages on my kindle, she would complain that she wasn’t finished yet. So, I decided to do something I’ve never done with my review books, I let her read the book first.
Just so you know, my beautiful daughter does not read unless it’s on her Ipod:) She finished the book in three days, and absolutely lov ...more

Spine-tingling and eerie from beginning to end, this is a quick read to satisfy YA paranormal fans who love a slight amount of horror too.
Abby isn't thrilled about the family move to 'the sticks'. She'd rather be with her best friend, shopping at the mall than watching her parents attempt to turn a half-built house into a dream. But soon her social life becomes the least of her worries.
At around 180 pages, this is a quick read, but it's one that packs a punch. Abby is a thirteen-year-old girl wi ...more
Abby isn't thrilled about the family move to 'the sticks'. She'd rather be with her best friend, shopping at the mall than watching her parents attempt to turn a half-built house into a dream. But soon her social life becomes the least of her worries.
At around 180 pages, this is a quick read, but it's one that packs a punch. Abby is a thirteen-year-old girl wi ...more

I liked this book on so many levels. First of all, I am a huge fan of descriptive writing and from the moment Abby Calloway pulls up to her new house and "the Honda shakes and vibrates as its tires crunch over gravel and bounce over potholes," I am hooked. As a voracious reader and writer myself, I know how difficult it is to hold back and do the hard work involved with really inviting readers into the world of a book. The tendency is to skip over some of those small elements in order to get to
...more

This is an interesting and action-filled story. Tweens who like mysteries with a touch of the supernatural will enjoy it a lot. The tension level is very nicely honed and that will keep young readers turning pages with much eagerness. I have created a bibliographic record so libraries will be more inclined to purchase and add it to their collections.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoyed reading this story. It's not a keep you on the edge of your seat suspense, but it was enough of a mystery that it kept me turning the pages. Good writing, good dialogue, good character development...an all-around good read. ...more
I really enjoyed reading this story. It's not a keep you on the edge of your seat suspense, but it was enough of a mystery that it kept me turning the pages. Good writing, good dialogue, good character development...an all-around good read. ...more

When Abby’s parents buy a new house in Wisconsin, the whole family packs up their suburban Illinois life and moves to the sticks. Unhappy and alienated from her older sister, Abby is alone and depressed. When Abby’s parents hire a father/son handyman service to help finish the renovations to the new house, Abby sees this as a chance to try and convince her parents that leaving Schaumburg was a bad idea. Except, the bad idea has less to do with convincing her parents and more to do with the fathe
...more

Obsession is a charming first book by JoAnne Keltner aimed directly at young girls facing family challenges. The heroine is 13-year-old Abby Calloway whose family has just left their home in Schaumburg and moved to a house in the backwoods of Wisconsin. Abby doesn’t take well to the move that separated her from her friends and plunked her down in a house that’s only half-built—one bathroom that is unfinished and doesn’t even have a tub, sink, or toilet.
Yet her mother is obsessed with painting mu ...more

I won my signed copy of Obsession by JoAnne Keltner through GoodReads FirstReads, and I loved it! It's about 13 year old Abby moving from Illinois to Wisconsin with her family. They move into a half-finished home that Abby instantly hates. While Abby's dad and uncle are making repairs on the roof a carpenter and his 16 year old son stop to offer their services and help them finish the house. Abby hates the half-finished house and the small backwoods town and desperately wants to move back to her
...more

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I received this book through Goodreads giveaway.
I didn't realize this was a young adult book. It was a quick read. Would have finished it sooner but was already reading another novel when I received Obsession in the mail.
It's a quick read because it's not particularly long. But it also was engaging, kept me wanting to know what was happening next. I love how "visual" it was written. Very descriptive. I could clearly visualize the scenes and what was happening.
I loved the typical teenager mad ...more
I didn't realize this was a young adult book. It was a quick read. Would have finished it sooner but was already reading another novel when I received Obsession in the mail.
It's a quick read because it's not particularly long. But it also was engaging, kept me wanting to know what was happening next. I love how "visual" it was written. Very descriptive. I could clearly visualize the scenes and what was happening.
I loved the typical teenager mad ...more

A very well YA written novella. A young women and her family move into a home that the previous owners mysteriously vanish. Her family are slowly fixing up the home when a construction worker and his son volunteer to help at half his normal fee. The book goes on mysterious things happening. Abby figures that too many things are not adding up. By the end of the book, Ally figures out the mystery.
I would recommend this as an YA book appropriate for all ages.
I received this book in exchange for an ...more
I would recommend this as an YA book appropriate for all ages.
I received this book in exchange for an ...more

Obsession becomes just that - an obsession! Once I began reading this story, even as an adult, I had difficulty putting it down. Abby's troubles and tribulations, and her responses to them, remind me vividly of what it was like to be in that stage between child and grown-up. Tweens will definitely be able to identify with Abby. The author has developed the characters and the story line so well that it is hard to believe that this is her first book. I am hoping for many more to come!
...more

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed it very much. It was a quick read that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could read so I could find out what happened. I am very glad I won this book. I have won other books from Goodreads, but this is my first autographed copy- and the author even personalized it for me. I thought that was great :-) I loved the mention of Portillo's in the book too!
...more

My students love Obsession, what more could I ask. They're reading, they like it, and want more. My students could visualize what was occurring in the story as they read. That was a big plus. I also enjoyed the book, from the cover art to the ease of reading the story. It flows beautifully, is suspenseful, and worth the read. Congratulations of a great story. Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of Obsession. My students and I look forward to more by Jo Anne Keltner.
...more

I was given this book for an honest review.
The book was great! I really enjoyed the family and thought, for the most part, the sisters acted like typical sisters. I have always liked a ghost story and liked how this one was done. It was a quick read! I haven't read this author before and will definitely be checking out what else Joanne Keltner has to offer!! ...more
The book was great! I really enjoyed the family and thought, for the most part, the sisters acted like typical sisters. I have always liked a ghost story and liked how this one was done. It was a quick read! I haven't read this author before and will definitely be checking out what else Joanne Keltner has to offer!! ...more

This was a short read, but a tightly written story. Even though it was obviously written for readers younger than I am, the story was able to keep my attention from beginning to end. There is never a dull moment and the story progressed at a rapid speed. The ending was a good one and thoroughly wrapped up.
*I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
*I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

I received this book for free from Goodreads first reads program.
This is a really fun creepy book. It is a fast but very suspenseful read and hard to put down. The main character Abby is very easy to relate to, which makes the book all the more creepy when mysterious things start happening at her new home. This is the perfect book to read before Halloween.
This is a really fun creepy book. It is a fast but very suspenseful read and hard to put down. The main character Abby is very easy to relate to, which makes the book all the more creepy when mysterious things start happening at her new home. This is the perfect book to read before Halloween.

Feb 27, 2014
Kristi Meyer
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
very-interesting-book-loved-all-of
I received this book in the giveaway. Loved it. Short but kept you interested throughout. Loved all the specific details she used throughout the book.
First signed book I have ever had!!
First signed book I have ever had!!

Oct 01, 2014
Katie
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
goodreads-firstreads
Won in a Goodreads giveaway.
I read this book in about an hour. It was good but more details would've made it even better.
It's a book that I would gladly Re-read though ...more
I read this book in about an hour. It was good but more details would've made it even better.
It's a book that I would gladly Re-read though ...more

I won this book from goodreads. I loved this book. The first page caught my interest and I wasn't able to put it down until I finished it. It is very well written.
...more

Abby moves to Wisconsin with her family and she hates it there. She is stuck out in the middle of nowhere with no friends and a family that is more focused on what they want instead of what Abby wants. Abby is determined to do anything to get her parents to move back to Illinois. One of them is befriending an older boy, Greg, who is helping his dad fix Abby's new house. She realizes he's a total creep and rebuffs him. Abby soon finds herself trying to avoid Greg and solving a mystery about the f
...more

Personally, I only liked this at a 2 star level, but I recognize that this a good, decently written book with a solid, if not light and fast paced, plot. It kept me interested enough to keep going and was somewhat enjoyable. So I'm going to give this a diplomatic 3 stars.
...more

I was lucky enough to win a signed copy of this in a good-reads giveaway and finally got around to reading it.
I actually, sorta-enjoyed this book for what it was. A short sweet thriller about a 13 year old girl named Abby and the young girl who haunts her family's new property. The writing was descriptive but easy to read, and the main story simple.
If there's really one main thing to complain about, it's the lack of character development. The only character we really get to know is Abby and sh ...more
I actually, sorta-enjoyed this book for what it was. A short sweet thriller about a 13 year old girl named Abby and the young girl who haunts her family's new property. The writing was descriptive but easy to read, and the main story simple.
If there's really one main thing to complain about, it's the lack of character development. The only character we really get to know is Abby and sh ...more
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GOOD REVIEWS: Free Book in Exchange for Review | 5 | 62 | Apr 15, 2014 06:53AM |
JoAnne Keltner is the author of YA Paranormal novels Obsession (Musa Publishing, 2013 ed.), Goth Girl Virgin Queen (Solstice Publishing, 2015), Possessed (2019, Pagan Light Book 1), and Spellbound (2019, Pagan Light Book 2). She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she enjoys gardening, baking, and spending time with family. Every evening you will find her obsessively streaming popular TV shows
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