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Swift #1
Swift
A girl totally unaware of her destiny.
Two men who will stop at nothing to take her power.
One family who will do whatever it takes to protect her.
After graduating from high school, Meredith is ready to leave the place that has been a constant reminder of what happened to her as a child. She was just eight years old when her family died in a mysterious car accident, taking the secret of her destiny with them. It’s not until a new family moves to town that she realizes leaving may not be as easy as she once thought.
Meredith feels an instant connection towards the Harpers, especially the good-looking, mysterious Blake and his overly friendly sister, Abby. After a series of bizarre events that happen too often to be coincidence, Meredith begins to realize that she is at the center of something larger than herself—possibly the same thing that killed her parents and twin sister many years ago. Nightmarish visions and resurfacing memories push Meredith closer to Blake, leading her to discover her destiny and other buried secrets.
As Meredith tries to understand her new world, she will be put to the ultimate test, and her strength and courage will be challenged more than she ever imagined.
Two men who will stop at nothing to take her power.
One family who will do whatever it takes to protect her.
After graduating from high school, Meredith is ready to leave the place that has been a constant reminder of what happened to her as a child. She was just eight years old when her family died in a mysterious car accident, taking the secret of her destiny with them. It’s not until a new family moves to town that she realizes leaving may not be as easy as she once thought.
Meredith feels an instant connection towards the Harpers, especially the good-looking, mysterious Blake and his overly friendly sister, Abby. After a series of bizarre events that happen too often to be coincidence, Meredith begins to realize that she is at the center of something larger than herself—possibly the same thing that killed her parents and twin sister many years ago. Nightmarish visions and resurfacing memories push Meredith closer to Blake, leading her to discover her destiny and other buried secrets.
As Meredith tries to understand her new world, she will be put to the ultimate test, and her strength and courage will be challenged more than she ever imagined.
240 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2012
55 people are currently reading
1475 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 17, 2023
A Write to Review
Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Meredith is eager to leave behind the town that has been a constant reminder of her traumatic childhood after graduating from high school. The mysterious car accident that claimed her family's lives when she was just eight years old still haunts her, carrying with it the secret of her true destiny. However, her plans to escape take an unexpected turn when a new family arrives in town.
The Harpers, especially the enigmatic Blake and his friendly sister Abby, immediately pique Meredith's interest. Strange and inexplicable events start occurring with unsettling frequency, leading Meredith to suspect that she is at the center of a larger, mysterious puzzle—a puzzle that might be linked to the tragic incident that claimed her family years ago. As nightmarish visions and long-buried memories resurface, Meredith is drawn closer to Blake, gradually unraveling her destiny and uncovering other deeply concealed secrets.
In her quest to comprehend this new world, Meredith will be pushed to her limits and face challenges that test her strength and courage in ways she could never have imagined.
I must say, this book was an absolute delight! It had me engrossed from start to finish, and I couldn't believe how quickly I devoured its pages. The characters were beautifully crafted, offering a deep and immersive reading experience. The storyline was not only captivating but also had a charming quality to it.
The connection between Meredith and Blake was nothing short of endearing, and their budding relationship had me grinning like a schoolgirl caught up in her first crush. I'm eagerly looking forward to what the next installment in this series has in store.
Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Meredith is eager to leave behind the town that has been a constant reminder of her traumatic childhood after graduating from high school. The mysterious car accident that claimed her family's lives when she was just eight years old still haunts her, carrying with it the secret of her true destiny. However, her plans to escape take an unexpected turn when a new family arrives in town.
The Harpers, especially the enigmatic Blake and his friendly sister Abby, immediately pique Meredith's interest. Strange and inexplicable events start occurring with unsettling frequency, leading Meredith to suspect that she is at the center of a larger, mysterious puzzle—a puzzle that might be linked to the tragic incident that claimed her family years ago. As nightmarish visions and long-buried memories resurface, Meredith is drawn closer to Blake, gradually unraveling her destiny and uncovering other deeply concealed secrets.
In her quest to comprehend this new world, Meredith will be pushed to her limits and face challenges that test her strength and courage in ways she could never have imagined.
I must say, this book was an absolute delight! It had me engrossed from start to finish, and I couldn't believe how quickly I devoured its pages. The characters were beautifully crafted, offering a deep and immersive reading experience. The storyline was not only captivating but also had a charming quality to it.
The connection between Meredith and Blake was nothing short of endearing, and their budding relationship had me grinning like a schoolgirl caught up in her first crush. I'm eagerly looking forward to what the next installment in this series has in store.
October 28, 2012
I received this novel from the author in exchange for a review.
When I first came across Swift on Goodreads, I immediately wanted to read it. Even as an adult, I really appreciate a well written YA paranormal romance novel. Going into this book, my expectations were fairly high, with all of the amazing reviews. With that said, I absolutely loved it. This story sucked me in from the beginning and was very hard to put down.
Some of my favorite things about this book were:
I loved how mysterious the plot was. While reading, I had several questions about what was happening. At one point while I was near the middle of the book, my husband asked what I was reading (he always asks) and I said, "Well, it's about a girl who.... well... hrmm..." Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad thing at all, it just made the book unputdownable. I was anxious to see where this great book was headed.
I really liked ALL of the characters in this book. They were all extremely likable (except for the villain, of course). I also felt like I really got to know most of them and could relate to them. I especially loved Blake's family. It seemed as if they were like Meredith's second family with how much they loved her.
My only complaint about this book was the ending. There wasn't much of a cliffhanger of anything (only slight) but I felt that it was a little abrupt. But, none the less, this was still an incredible story that I absolutely Loved, I just wanted more and didn't want it to end.
Overall, swift was an amazing story that I highly recommend to teens, young adults, and adults who enjoy YA. I give this book a 5 out of 5 and I highly look forward to reading the sequel.
When I first came across Swift on Goodreads, I immediately wanted to read it. Even as an adult, I really appreciate a well written YA paranormal romance novel. Going into this book, my expectations were fairly high, with all of the amazing reviews. With that said, I absolutely loved it. This story sucked me in from the beginning and was very hard to put down.
Some of my favorite things about this book were:
I loved how mysterious the plot was. While reading, I had several questions about what was happening. At one point while I was near the middle of the book, my husband asked what I was reading (he always asks) and I said, "Well, it's about a girl who.... well... hrmm..." Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad thing at all, it just made the book unputdownable. I was anxious to see where this great book was headed.
I really liked ALL of the characters in this book. They were all extremely likable (except for the villain, of course). I also felt like I really got to know most of them and could relate to them. I especially loved Blake's family. It seemed as if they were like Meredith's second family with how much they loved her.
My only complaint about this book was the ending. There wasn't much of a cliffhanger of anything (only slight) but I felt that it was a little abrupt. But, none the less, this was still an incredible story that I absolutely Loved, I just wanted more and didn't want it to end.
Overall, swift was an amazing story that I highly recommend to teens, young adults, and adults who enjoy YA. I give this book a 5 out of 5 and I highly look forward to reading the sequel.
November 5, 2012
GENRE: YA Paranormal
THEME: Magic/Romance
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
This was a great start to a new series, lots of character development, magic and mystery. The story starts out a bit slow but once the leads meet, the pace picks up and the readers get sucked into a world where witches exist.
Swift follows Meredith Martin who just graduated from high school and is trying to figure out what to do next in her life. She had lost her family at a young age in a tragic accident and feels that she needs to start fresh and travel the world. But when a mysterious new family moves in to the oldest part of town, Meredith discovers an interesting connection with them and her family.
Meredith is a girl with a lot of heartache, never truly understanding what really happened the day she and her family got into an accident that took their lives but not hers. She was never really the same taking comfort in her only true friend Roger and her mothers best friend Rose. Her character development was of course the main focus of the story. She discovers secrets behind her mother, that magic really exists and that she is stuck in the middle evil magic and good.
Blake is someone who connects to Meredith immediately. His family moves into town and holds a lot of secrets from Meredith until she’s ready to handle the truth. He’s there to protect her and help her discover who she is. I liked his character, very sweet and caring, with a bit of mystery behind his family. Though the chemistry between Meredith and Blake turns into insta-love, I wish it would have been developed more, first I did however enjoyed their connection.
The Harpers, Blake and his family are quite a mystery and when Meredith finds out the truth about them, it was actually a great twist. I liked their connection to Meredith’s family and how they came to help her because of someone in her family. My only issue was that we didn’t get a lot of backstory on the council that they worked with and Abby, Blake’s sister was crying at the beginning of the book in front of graves of someone but we didn’t find out why. I’m hoping the next book will give us more history behind them.
Overall this was a great start and I loved the magic and romance that carried me through the exciting plot. I really hope we find out more about what really happened with Meredith’s family and if there something that the author has up her sleeve about Meredith’s sister. So many questions still unanswered but so much too look forward to in the following books. I will definitely be continuing this series.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is young adult novel that all paranormal readers will enjoy. Fans of the Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick and Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson will enjoy Swift by Heather London.
THEME: Magic/Romance
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
This was a great start to a new series, lots of character development, magic and mystery. The story starts out a bit slow but once the leads meet, the pace picks up and the readers get sucked into a world where witches exist.
Swift follows Meredith Martin who just graduated from high school and is trying to figure out what to do next in her life. She had lost her family at a young age in a tragic accident and feels that she needs to start fresh and travel the world. But when a mysterious new family moves in to the oldest part of town, Meredith discovers an interesting connection with them and her family.
Meredith is a girl with a lot of heartache, never truly understanding what really happened the day she and her family got into an accident that took their lives but not hers. She was never really the same taking comfort in her only true friend Roger and her mothers best friend Rose. Her character development was of course the main focus of the story. She discovers secrets behind her mother, that magic really exists and that she is stuck in the middle evil magic and good.
Blake is someone who connects to Meredith immediately. His family moves into town and holds a lot of secrets from Meredith until she’s ready to handle the truth. He’s there to protect her and help her discover who she is. I liked his character, very sweet and caring, with a bit of mystery behind his family. Though the chemistry between Meredith and Blake turns into insta-love, I wish it would have been developed more, first I did however enjoyed their connection.
The Harpers, Blake and his family are quite a mystery and when Meredith finds out the truth about them, it was actually a great twist. I liked their connection to Meredith’s family and how they came to help her because of someone in her family. My only issue was that we didn’t get a lot of backstory on the council that they worked with and Abby, Blake’s sister was crying at the beginning of the book in front of graves of someone but we didn’t find out why. I’m hoping the next book will give us more history behind them.
Overall this was a great start and I loved the magic and romance that carried me through the exciting plot. I really hope we find out more about what really happened with Meredith’s family and if there something that the author has up her sleeve about Meredith’s sister. So many questions still unanswered but so much too look forward to in the following books. I will definitely be continuing this series.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is young adult novel that all paranormal readers will enjoy. Fans of the Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick and Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson will enjoy Swift by Heather London.
April 26, 2015
One thing you should keep in mind going into this book is that things don’t really pick up until well after halfway through the story. That’s not to say the first half is boring or anything, just kind of uneventful and you’re left wondering what is going on and what exactly the author is trying to write about. The “big mystery” doesn’t surface until pretty much two-thirds of the way, and even then, it’s a bit vague and I was left with many questions. The story was promising enough, but I felt like author spent too much time on frivolous details and the whole “build-up” only to lead to something sub-par. The paranormal aspect of the story wasn’t as monumental as I would’ve liked given the mysterious synopsis and time spent with the background story.
Meredith is a typical female lead, a little closed-off, which is to-be-expected after such a tragic loss. I liked her character and could see her growth and change throughout the book as she slowly started realizing who she was and her destiny. Blake is the typical brooding male lead and although I liked him enough, I didn’t really believe in their love and relationship. It felt rushed and there weren’t enough pieces to the “love puzzle” that I would’ve liked to see. Still, there were some sweet and intimate moments that I always get a kick out of.
You do see some paranormal events happen, and you get to see what exactly is Meredith’s power and the mystery behind the Harper family, but it was all rather “blah” for me. Don’t get me wrong though, I finished this book rather quickly and with a content feeling, so I liked it enough, just probably not enough to continue with the series.
Swift is, if anything, a decent start-off novel if you’re just getting into the paranormal genre. It has all the basic elements of a good paranormal book, but wasn’t as developed as I like, given that most of the books I read are paranormal. I’d say it’s worth a try for the newcomers who’d like a quick and easy step into this genre.
Meredith is a typical female lead, a little closed-off, which is to-be-expected after such a tragic loss. I liked her character and could see her growth and change throughout the book as she slowly started realizing who she was and her destiny. Blake is the typical brooding male lead and although I liked him enough, I didn’t really believe in their love and relationship. It felt rushed and there weren’t enough pieces to the “love puzzle” that I would’ve liked to see. Still, there were some sweet and intimate moments that I always get a kick out of.
You do see some paranormal events happen, and you get to see what exactly is Meredith’s power and the mystery behind the Harper family, but it was all rather “blah” for me. Don’t get me wrong though, I finished this book rather quickly and with a content feeling, so I liked it enough, just probably not enough to continue with the series.
Swift is, if anything, a decent start-off novel if you’re just getting into the paranormal genre. It has all the basic elements of a good paranormal book, but wasn’t as developed as I like, given that most of the books I read are paranormal. I’d say it’s worth a try for the newcomers who’d like a quick and easy step into this genre.
April 26, 2013
I couldn't decide whether to give this book two or three stars. I ended up going with the higher rating because there was enough there to make me buy the second book. The characters were okay, the story was okay, the writing was okay-but it all could have been much better.
Our heroine's supporting characters didn't do much in the way of, well, supporting. Her best friend, who is supposedly like a brother to her, goes away at the beginning of the story and then barely pops up for a cameo or two. And he traveled less than an hour away. Why bother making the character out to be one of her only confidants and then not utilize his role? I could understand if it was done in an attempt to make the main character have to struggle with her newfound powers on her own. However, it rather felt like the best friend was a character too many for the author to handle, and as such, he was conveniently forgotten about. The love interest of the book is quite frankly laughable. It was one unwarranted cliche after another. And to make it worse, you never got a good sense of his character. Does that make him mysterious? Sure, but not in a good way.
The story itself is a little disjointed. There's a slow and long build up to the reveal, but then everything ends abruptly after it. There are a few quick wrenches thrown in, and then, all of a sudden, the heroine has seemingly saved the day. Roll credits.
The writing was a little lacking. It was a struggle reading through some of the dialogue because of how stiff and unreal it felt. Part of this was due to the minimal use of contractions. I can understand that the Harpers speak in a proper manner, but it doesn't make sense for all of the characters to talk that way.
Having said all of that (and I know this is one of my harsher written reviews), I will still be reading the sequel. The author has tremendous potential, it's just a matter of whether she can make the next book come together a little better for her.
Our heroine's supporting characters didn't do much in the way of, well, supporting. Her best friend, who is supposedly like a brother to her, goes away at the beginning of the story and then barely pops up for a cameo or two. And he traveled less than an hour away. Why bother making the character out to be one of her only confidants and then not utilize his role? I could understand if it was done in an attempt to make the main character have to struggle with her newfound powers on her own. However, it rather felt like the best friend was a character too many for the author to handle, and as such, he was conveniently forgotten about. The love interest of the book is quite frankly laughable. It was one unwarranted cliche after another. And to make it worse, you never got a good sense of his character. Does that make him mysterious? Sure, but not in a good way.
The story itself is a little disjointed. There's a slow and long build up to the reveal, but then everything ends abruptly after it. There are a few quick wrenches thrown in, and then, all of a sudden, the heroine has seemingly saved the day. Roll credits.
The writing was a little lacking. It was a struggle reading through some of the dialogue because of how stiff and unreal it felt. Part of this was due to the minimal use of contractions. I can understand that the Harpers speak in a proper manner, but it doesn't make sense for all of the characters to talk that way.
Having said all of that (and I know this is one of my harsher written reviews), I will still be reading the sequel. The author has tremendous potential, it's just a matter of whether she can make the next book come together a little better for her.
October 8, 2012
I received a free copy of this book from Heather London in exchange for an honest review...
All I can say is: OH MY FREAKING WORD!!!!!!!!!! I literally LOVED the entire book! From start to finish! Heather London - here's to a job well done! What a brilliantly written story!
The novel is about Meredith Martin whose family are tragically killed in a car accident when she was a little girl. She's always wondered why she was the one to survive.
Meredith recently graduated high school and had been planning to leave the small town she'd grown up in for a really long time - that is until the Harper family suddenly move into town and Meredith feels drawn to the hunky Blake Harper (even that name sounds hot!)
At the same time, Meredith has also been having these weird dreams and finds herself discovering an incredible secret about her family and herself.
The book is written at just the right pace. There's drama, a little suspense, loads of intrigue and of course, romance!
She finds her strength and courage to fight for the people she has loved and the way in which she accomplishes that is what makes this such a brilliantly written book...
Needless to say I was crushed to discover that I have to wait to read the next instalment! I'll definitely be getting myself a copy when it hits the shelves!
All I can say is: OH MY FREAKING WORD!!!!!!!!!! I literally LOVED the entire book! From start to finish! Heather London - here's to a job well done! What a brilliantly written story!
The novel is about Meredith Martin whose family are tragically killed in a car accident when she was a little girl. She's always wondered why she was the one to survive.
Meredith recently graduated high school and had been planning to leave the small town she'd grown up in for a really long time - that is until the Harper family suddenly move into town and Meredith feels drawn to the hunky Blake Harper (even that name sounds hot!)
At the same time, Meredith has also been having these weird dreams and finds herself discovering an incredible secret about her family and herself.
The book is written at just the right pace. There's drama, a little suspense, loads of intrigue and of course, romance!
She finds her strength and courage to fight for the people she has loved and the way in which she accomplishes that is what makes this such a brilliantly written book...
Needless to say I was crushed to discover that I have to wait to read the next instalment! I'll definitely be getting myself a copy when it hits the shelves!
September 21, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Meredith is a 18 year old girl that has had her fair share of troublesome times. Just 10 years ago she lost her entire family, including her twin sister, Charlotte. If that wasn't enough, she never felt quite... Normal. Meredith has lived her life feeling as if something was missing, like she didn't fit in.
That was until one day when she meets a few strangers- which is odd in her small home town. Though they seem strange to her, she finds herself more at home when she is around them.
Gaining friendships, finding the love of her life, and claiming her destiny to become a great witch is just the beginning...
I loved this story! I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens as the story continues through out the series!
I only wish I could have seen more of Meredith's and Blake's relationship- the parts that built up to them falling in love. It almost felt too sudden... If that makes sense.
I hope in the next books there is more description of Abby training Meredith! I'm so excited to see what kinds of things Meredith is going to be capable of!!!!
I do recommend this book to anyone with an interest in witches and romance :)
Meredith is a 18 year old girl that has had her fair share of troublesome times. Just 10 years ago she lost her entire family, including her twin sister, Charlotte. If that wasn't enough, she never felt quite... Normal. Meredith has lived her life feeling as if something was missing, like she didn't fit in.
That was until one day when she meets a few strangers- which is odd in her small home town. Though they seem strange to her, she finds herself more at home when she is around them.
Gaining friendships, finding the love of her life, and claiming her destiny to become a great witch is just the beginning...
I loved this story! I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens as the story continues through out the series!
I only wish I could have seen more of Meredith's and Blake's relationship- the parts that built up to them falling in love. It almost felt too sudden... If that makes sense.
I hope in the next books there is more description of Abby training Meredith! I'm so excited to see what kinds of things Meredith is going to be capable of!!!!
I do recommend this book to anyone with an interest in witches and romance :)
October 15, 2012
So there's some books that you start reading, and halfway through you still don't fully know what it's about. For me, this was one of those. It's not a bad thing, at all. In fact, that intrigued me more because I liked it from the get go. I'll start off with a couple things I didn't like, and that's the reason this gets 4 stars and not 5. Remember, this is MY opinion. The writing, while great, started to get to me, when in the dialogue there was a lot of "can not" or "did not" or "have not" instead of "I didn't know that" it was "I did not know that" it was very formal, to formal, but I starting combining the words together in my mind. I also did not like that there wasn't that much dialogue to begin with. I would have like more dialogue.
The story in general was really good, and I loved the concept. I liked the characters and I started really feeling for Meredith. I liked her finding out who she really is and I loved the whole witch thing. There aren't too many books about that. I never found the book to be slow paced or face paced. I think Ms London did a wonderful job of spacing everything out just right so it wasn't overwhelming and it wasn't boring. I would have liked to see some actual spells but that's okay. I defiantly want to read the next installments.
The story in general was really good, and I loved the concept. I liked the characters and I started really feeling for Meredith. I liked her finding out who she really is and I loved the whole witch thing. There aren't too many books about that. I never found the book to be slow paced or face paced. I think Ms London did a wonderful job of spacing everything out just right so it wasn't overwhelming and it wasn't boring. I would have liked to see some actual spells but that's okay. I defiantly want to read the next installments.
October 2, 2012
I received this book as part of a read to review program in Goodreads. Ah...this book was awesome! I adored this book. It was a must read!
It took me a minute to get into the main character, Meredith. I felt there could have been a little more character development, but nothing major. Abby was my favorite character. I loved her from the time we met her all the way until the end. Blake wasn't too bad either:)
This was a great plot that kept me guessing. I knew at the beginning that something was going to happen soon, but it took a while to happen. That kept me in anticipation. As soon as she meets the Harpers, things change.
The author made Mer's job at the library so dull, I wanted to skip through those parts. Luckily, she kept them short.
I was also sad it was part of a series, because now I have to wait for the next book! She resolves the story enough by the end of the book, but I was still left with a big cliffhanger.
This was a fabulous YA paranormal romance. I hope you read this review and pick up your own copy of this author's shiny debut. I give this book five glittery stars!!!
It took me a minute to get into the main character, Meredith. I felt there could have been a little more character development, but nothing major. Abby was my favorite character. I loved her from the time we met her all the way until the end. Blake wasn't too bad either:)
This was a great plot that kept me guessing. I knew at the beginning that something was going to happen soon, but it took a while to happen. That kept me in anticipation. As soon as she meets the Harpers, things change.
The author made Mer's job at the library so dull, I wanted to skip through those parts. Luckily, she kept them short.
I was also sad it was part of a series, because now I have to wait for the next book! She resolves the story enough by the end of the book, but I was still left with a big cliffhanger.
This was a fabulous YA paranormal romance. I hope you read this review and pick up your own copy of this author's shiny debut. I give this book five glittery stars!!!
October 19, 2012
I received this book from the author, Heather London in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! I can honestly say that I fell in love with this story and the characters! It is about an 18 year old girl named Meredith, who just graduated from high school. She never really felt like she belonged anywhere..sort of a loner. She lived with her Aunt Rose after her parents and twin sister Charlotte were killed in a car wreck 10 years before. She meets an unexpected visitor in the cemetery while visiting the graves of her parents and sister, and the story really explodes from there! This new friend, Abby,keeps popping up all over town, and then she meets Abby's brother Blake, and...well you have to read the story to find out!!
I loved this book from chapter one, and let's not even mention the cliffhanger!! Oh my! I hate waiting to find out what happens with Meredith, Blake, Abby and all the other wonderful people in this story!
I really recommend this book, you will not be disappointed!
Wow! I can honestly say that I fell in love with this story and the characters! It is about an 18 year old girl named Meredith, who just graduated from high school. She never really felt like she belonged anywhere..sort of a loner. She lived with her Aunt Rose after her parents and twin sister Charlotte were killed in a car wreck 10 years before. She meets an unexpected visitor in the cemetery while visiting the graves of her parents and sister, and the story really explodes from there! This new friend, Abby,keeps popping up all over town, and then she meets Abby's brother Blake, and...well you have to read the story to find out!!
I loved this book from chapter one, and let's not even mention the cliffhanger!! Oh my! I hate waiting to find out what happens with Meredith, Blake, Abby and all the other wonderful people in this story!
I really recommend this book, you will not be disappointed!
October 17, 2014
Overall, a good read. :-) I would give it a 3.5. I liked the overall story. As frustrating as it was not knowing what exactly was going on with Meridith, Blake, and Abby, it made me more intuned to how Meridith must have felt not know what was going on either. Usually in paranormal books, you have a good idea what the big paranormal aspect is, but it wasn't until halfway through this book, that you finally find out what they "are" (I don't want to give it away :-). I thought that the story flowed very well, but it was a bit slow. I know, just like most first books in a series, there has to be a lot of time spent on character development and the background of the story, and I think that is what slowed down the pace of this book. Most of the questions that I had during the story were answered except for two, 1) Why was Abby crying at the graves at the beginning of the book? and 2) What happened to Charelotte/why was Meridith the only survivor in the car accident? One minor problem I had with this book, was the time frame. It wasn't completely clear how much time had passed from the beginning of the book to the end. It felt like only 2 or 3 weeks. I have a problem believing that Meridith could fall completely in love with Blake, and be so attached to the Harpers in such a short time period. Also, I wish that there was more of a cliffhanger at the end of the story. Everything was all wrapped up too nice and neatly for this to be a series. Again, overall a good book, and I can't wait to read the next books in this series to see what comes of Meridith, Blake, and Abby. :-)
March 1, 2013
NOTE: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE THROUGH GOODREADS FIRST READS IN EXCHANGE FOR A HONEST REVIEW.
Even though it took me a little while to get into this book (due to my 1 year old son demanding attention) I loved this book so much. I am definitely going out to buy book number 2 when it is published. This book is brilliant and definitely had me wanting to read more and more. The characters are well defined in the book and there are not too many distractions that take you away from the main story line.
The first half of the book had me guessing what was happening but I could never put my finger on it. Once the main characters true identity was revealed it made the book even more interesting then it was. And I would never have guessed what she becomes.
The last few chapters were definitely awesome and left me with the answers I needed but also left it open for more books to follow.
Heather London you are an amazing writer and had me from the first word of this book right through to the end. Well done and keep up the amazing work!
Even though it took me a little while to get into this book (due to my 1 year old son demanding attention) I loved this book so much. I am definitely going out to buy book number 2 when it is published. This book is brilliant and definitely had me wanting to read more and more. The characters are well defined in the book and there are not too many distractions that take you away from the main story line.
The first half of the book had me guessing what was happening but I could never put my finger on it. Once the main characters true identity was revealed it made the book even more interesting then it was. And I would never have guessed what she becomes.
The last few chapters were definitely awesome and left me with the answers I needed but also left it open for more books to follow.
Heather London you are an amazing writer and had me from the first word of this book right through to the end. Well done and keep up the amazing work!
December 24, 2012
This series has potential. The storyline is great and I love the characters, but I am only giving 3 stars for this book because 1) It took at least halfway through the book for me to have any idea what is going on 2) some parts kept me wanting to keep reading but there were also parts that seemed to drag on and almost made me want to skip sentences. 3) the parts that I wanted to read more about were over with in less than a page (like the day in training). And 4) the ending doesn't seem to me like it's an actual series. There was closer in this book and I'm really confused as to how she will begin the next book. It needed a cliffhanger. Without it, I feel ok with the story and don't feel anxious for the next book to see what is going to happen.
I will be purchasing the next book when it comes out because the whole concept of the story is intriguing and I would like to see what unfolds in Merideths life but I am also content to wait and move onto the other books in my to-read list.
I will be purchasing the next book when it comes out because the whole concept of the story is intriguing and I would like to see what unfolds in Merideths life but I am also content to wait and move onto the other books in my to-read list.
June 26, 2017
3.5 stars!!
This was a cute story about magic, love, and a little time travel. Meredith is an 18 year old that has just graduted and trying to decide what to do with her life. Her family was killed in a car accident many years before, so she has hopes and doing some traveling to places that her family was from. But then a new family shows up in town, and they help her discover the truth about herself. Brother and sister, Blake and Abby, and their parents, have come from the past to help protect her from the evil Isaac and Alex. What comes next is some sweet romance between Blake and Meredith, and a lot of magic, and a little action with how they each takes turns saving each other. Can't wait for the next book in this story.
This was a cute story about magic, love, and a little time travel. Meredith is an 18 year old that has just graduted and trying to decide what to do with her life. Her family was killed in a car accident many years before, so she has hopes and doing some traveling to places that her family was from. But then a new family shows up in town, and they help her discover the truth about herself. Brother and sister, Blake and Abby, and their parents, have come from the past to help protect her from the evil Isaac and Alex. What comes next is some sweet romance between Blake and Meredith, and a lot of magic, and a little action with how they each takes turns saving each other. Can't wait for the next book in this story.
October 21, 2012
When I first opened this book there are 609 pages and I thought this meant many pages of senseless filler. I was wrong this is a very sweet love story and I can't wait to read the rest of it. Meredith Martin a small town girl who just wants to get out, meets Blake Harper and his family. This changes her life and brings her to life. Wonderful Read. I am interested to know what and where Roger her best friend will play a role in her life (he can't just go away to Harvard and disappear from her life)?
October 4, 2012
This book is mainly about magic and witches.(not the creepy Halloween type, with the cone hats, though) Its about modern magic. It is very obvious later in the book that there is a "connection" between the two main characters. Swift is a good book, with a combination of magic(for those magic lovers, such as me!), and a hint of romance.
I received this book from a R2R. Thanks!
I received this book from a R2R. Thanks!
April 15, 2013
I love the story. Meridth character was great. Blake kinda scared me in some parts of the book. I fell in love with this book in the first couple chapters. Overall a great story I'm giving this book 5 stars.
November 8, 2012
Loved loved loved this book! Amazing! So glad I won it in a first reads giveaway.
August 22, 2017
When time catches up.
This book is a little different for me, but it is a good read. It didn't take long and it held my interest. It takes place in a small town and everyone knows everyone which is typical. The kids of town graduated and are ready to move on with their own adventures yet not knowing which way to go. It's hard letting go of home. Blake and Meredith have been friends their whole lives secrets and all.
An out of town family comes to town and is fixing up one of the homes in the old part of town; Meredith meets the brother and sister but she really has a thing for the boy and they become friends.
Meredith's family were killed in an auto accident a few years back and she lives with her Mom's best friend in her own house. So she has a lot of things going on in her personal life. Lots of questions and few answers.
That is until she makes friends with the new family. Then her life is in danger and things will never be the same.
This book is a little different for me, but it is a good read. It didn't take long and it held my interest. It takes place in a small town and everyone knows everyone which is typical. The kids of town graduated and are ready to move on with their own adventures yet not knowing which way to go. It's hard letting go of home. Blake and Meredith have been friends their whole lives secrets and all.
An out of town family comes to town and is fixing up one of the homes in the old part of town; Meredith meets the brother and sister but she really has a thing for the boy and they become friends.
Meredith's family were killed in an auto accident a few years back and she lives with her Mom's best friend in her own house. So she has a lot of things going on in her personal life. Lots of questions and few answers.
That is until she makes friends with the new family. Then her life is in danger and things will never be the same.
August 29, 2018
More... I want more.
I chose this book because of its interesting synopsis. I was not disappointed. I do not believe **possible spoiler** in the whole time travel of going back and forth and back again. However
I chose this book because of its interesting synopsis. I was not disappointed. I do not believe **possible spoiler** in the whole time travel of going back and forth and back again. However
May 1, 2019
It was pretty damn good but I actually had no idea what this book was about.
Like the tags or description never said anything so I was extremely confused and so I began to think it was a ghost book which I'm not a fan of but in actual fact it's about witches and time travel.
Like the tags or description never said anything so I was extremely confused and so I began to think it was a ghost book which I'm not a fan of but in actual fact it's about witches and time travel.
December 7, 2020
Okish
This was well written and started of great but I hate to admit I was a bit confused in some areas, I will read book 2 but I'm not going to hurry
This was well written and started of great but I hate to admit I was a bit confused in some areas, I will read book 2 but I'm not going to hurry
January 19, 2014
Also posted to Jen in Bookland
Swift started off and it made me think of Beautiful Creatures. I wasn't sure where it was going to go, but it was similar to other stories I have read. It wasn't bad, but then it eventually got to a point where I was so frustrated by it. Some spoilers ahead.
Meredith can't wait to get out of her tiny town. She is planning her escape for the end of the summer. She gets a job at the library and meets the new kids in town in strange circumstances. She quickly is drawn to Blake, even though she doesn't know why. He is sweet and looks out for her, showing up to walk her home from work and stuff, but doesn't feel like he can do more. The story moves slowly and it takes a while to really get going, but I didn't mind it. I was enjoying it until it got very aggravating!
So Meredith is upset and doesn't want to be alone (her aunt is off on a honeymoon) so she calls up Roger, her bff. Note on Roger - he is her best friend, one of two friends she has, and he is pretty much absent from the book. He is in the first chapter, then goes away for the summer about an hour away and they pretty much never talk again during the book. She calls him up and goes to visit, they go out to eat and she gets attacked and taken out to the alley by the bad guy, Isaac (note she was supposed to be using the restroom). Of course Blake shows up and helps her and takes care of her, taking her back to town and making sure she is safe, but she never goes back to Roger or even asks about him. Like a day later Blake brings him up like hey don't worry about your bff, my sister took care of that. She went down there and made them forget you were there once we got back. He must be such a great friend to just forget about him. Yes, you have crazy things happening, but you never once remember the guy who means so much to you? Okay.
Then after the attacks the Harpers start to tell Meredith what is going on, what she is and everything. Well they do so in the slowest, most painful way possible! It is so drawn out and I was just like get on with it! Just spit it out already!! This is ridiculous! It was like well first we lived back in the day. Let's just all sit here and think about this for a bit. Then you have some powers, but we don't want to just say what they are right now. Better to just be as vague as possible so we can really drag this out. It was horrible. Then once they do explain things, they don't really explain everything. It is just like your mom was a witch, you are one of the most powerful witches ever, bad people are after you. Why are they? Who knows. Why were they sent to protect her? Who knows. Who are the people trying to hurt her? Who cares. I was just like wait...I don't get any more? You draw this out and yet you still don't get the answers. I have to wait for another section like this?? Plus Meredith doesn't have any questions as to who these bad guys are and why they want her? Really??? She just is like cool, that is enough info. It was so frustrating. It was like the author was just trying to drag everything out to try and make it more dramatic or something? I don't really know. After the attack by Isaac everything was just very frustrating.
The very end was odd as well. Finally the library comes into play, which I had been waiting for since the start of the book. So Meredith had been practicing her magic, but wasn't very good at it yet. She found something that meant that the Harpers would die, so she suddenly is able to travel back in time, where they had returned, and save the day. It ends with her back in time like yey! Everything is perfect. Who cares if she is back in time and cannot see her family again. Everything is perfect...it just didn't make much sense. It didn't end on a high. The whole last part of the book was very frustrating.
Swift started off and it made me think of Beautiful Creatures. I wasn't sure where it was going to go, but it was similar to other stories I have read. It wasn't bad, but then it eventually got to a point where I was so frustrated by it. Some spoilers ahead.
Meredith can't wait to get out of her tiny town. She is planning her escape for the end of the summer. She gets a job at the library and meets the new kids in town in strange circumstances. She quickly is drawn to Blake, even though she doesn't know why. He is sweet and looks out for her, showing up to walk her home from work and stuff, but doesn't feel like he can do more. The story moves slowly and it takes a while to really get going, but I didn't mind it. I was enjoying it until it got very aggravating!
So Meredith is upset and doesn't want to be alone (her aunt is off on a honeymoon) so she calls up Roger, her bff. Note on Roger - he is her best friend, one of two friends she has, and he is pretty much absent from the book. He is in the first chapter, then goes away for the summer about an hour away and they pretty much never talk again during the book. She calls him up and goes to visit, they go out to eat and she gets attacked and taken out to the alley by the bad guy, Isaac (note she was supposed to be using the restroom). Of course Blake shows up and helps her and takes care of her, taking her back to town and making sure she is safe, but she never goes back to Roger or even asks about him. Like a day later Blake brings him up like hey don't worry about your bff, my sister took care of that. She went down there and made them forget you were there once we got back. He must be such a great friend to just forget about him. Yes, you have crazy things happening, but you never once remember the guy who means so much to you? Okay.
Then after the attacks the Harpers start to tell Meredith what is going on, what she is and everything. Well they do so in the slowest, most painful way possible! It is so drawn out and I was just like get on with it! Just spit it out already!! This is ridiculous! It was like well first we lived back in the day. Let's just all sit here and think about this for a bit. Then you have some powers, but we don't want to just say what they are right now. Better to just be as vague as possible so we can really drag this out. It was horrible. Then once they do explain things, they don't really explain everything. It is just like your mom was a witch, you are one of the most powerful witches ever, bad people are after you. Why are they? Who knows. Why were they sent to protect her? Who knows. Who are the people trying to hurt her? Who cares. I was just like wait...I don't get any more? You draw this out and yet you still don't get the answers. I have to wait for another section like this?? Plus Meredith doesn't have any questions as to who these bad guys are and why they want her? Really??? She just is like cool, that is enough info. It was so frustrating. It was like the author was just trying to drag everything out to try and make it more dramatic or something? I don't really know. After the attack by Isaac everything was just very frustrating.
The very end was odd as well. Finally the library comes into play, which I had been waiting for since the start of the book. So Meredith had been practicing her magic, but wasn't very good at it yet. She found something that meant that the Harpers would die, so she suddenly is able to travel back in time, where they had returned, and save the day. It ends with her back in time like yey! Everything is perfect. Who cares if she is back in time and cannot see her family again. Everything is perfect...it just didn't make much sense. It didn't end on a high. The whole last part of the book was very frustrating.
May 9, 2013
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
Meredith Martin is eighteen. She's the only Martin left. Her parents and twin sister all died in an accident that she survived. Her surrogate Aunt Rose has taken care of her the ten years since. And Rose's boyfriend Jack has been a part of their lives the past three.
While Mer is saying goodbye to her parents and sister at the cemetery she comes across a grieving girl at a very old grave. Mer is saying goodbye because she has graduated and is off to conquer the world. Or better yet get out of Marblehead and onto a bigger yet uncharted plan. Her best friend Roger is off to college and that only confirmed her desire to leave Marblehead's confines.
The urge to get out was almost overwhelming. Oh yeah and she's skipping college too.
The end of summer signals her departure.
But as of now one more summer in Marblehead.
Her Aunt gets her a job at the library for the summer. That should be easy enough. That is until she runs smack into the grieving girl who happens to be new the new girl in town, Abby. She soon meets Blake Abby's brother and is taken back by the electricity that pulses from him to her and back again. They seem out of place in Marblehead. They seem out of place in this decade.
Figuring out her pull to Blake and her ease with Abby, her crazy dreams and monster headaches will open up a whole new world for Meredith.
Her true abilities surface and are explained but will she make the right choices and be able do deal with others? Hunted by evil and protected by good....
I liked this book. Unique storyline. Page turner, great characters. Funny, sad, romantic with action!
An overall good read! Looking forward to book 2 Crest!!!
Meredith Martin is eighteen. She's the only Martin left. Her parents and twin sister all died in an accident that she survived. Her surrogate Aunt Rose has taken care of her the ten years since. And Rose's boyfriend Jack has been a part of their lives the past three.
While Mer is saying goodbye to her parents and sister at the cemetery she comes across a grieving girl at a very old grave. Mer is saying goodbye because she has graduated and is off to conquer the world. Or better yet get out of Marblehead and onto a bigger yet uncharted plan. Her best friend Roger is off to college and that only confirmed her desire to leave Marblehead's confines.
The urge to get out was almost overwhelming. Oh yeah and she's skipping college too.
The end of summer signals her departure.
But as of now one more summer in Marblehead.
Her Aunt gets her a job at the library for the summer. That should be easy enough. That is until she runs smack into the grieving girl who happens to be new the new girl in town, Abby. She soon meets Blake Abby's brother and is taken back by the electricity that pulses from him to her and back again. They seem out of place in Marblehead. They seem out of place in this decade.
Figuring out her pull to Blake and her ease with Abby, her crazy dreams and monster headaches will open up a whole new world for Meredith.
Her true abilities surface and are explained but will she make the right choices and be able do deal with others? Hunted by evil and protected by good....
I liked this book. Unique storyline. Page turner, great characters. Funny, sad, romantic with action!
An overall good read! Looking forward to book 2 Crest!!!
June 11, 2013
This review and more at my blog Into the Worm's Hole
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Series book: Yes
Will I read the Next: Maybe
I have to say I'm a little disappointed. At first I was all for it, I was really expecting a good book. But when they mentioned they were witches and her moms name was Emma Watson and she was from London....I started to roll my eyes. Repeatedly. My eyes were literally hurting from rolling my eyes to much. So many cliches. The romance, the plot, everything. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book. It is very hard for me not to enjoy a book. Even if it has wayyyy to many cliches.
The writing was a little...blunt. I first noticed this when Jack comes into the picture. Meredith snapped at him and instead of writing that he looked hurt, Heather London wrote that "he wished he had never asked." For some reason that REALLY annoyed me. I felt like it was too specific for Jack's feelings considering he's not the POV that we're reading from and so we wouldn't know exactly what he thought. Besides that I felt like there was too much of other books in there. I really don't mind similarities. It's really hard to think of a totally original story, and I totally get that. But there was too much Harry Potter with a dash of twilight, romance wise. First, Emma Watson, from London...Please stop. Thank you. That's what really bothered me. Alot.
So the plot was your typical "Chosen one" story. In simple cave man terms: Main character, powerful. Main character, ignorant. Hot boy must protect. Hot boy falls in love. Villains attack. Main character no longer ignorant. Main character discovers inner power...blah, blah, etc. You catch my drift. To be honest the story line was predictable. I could guess when something could happen..I found it kind of boring.
I wish Roger was in this book more. I get that it was focused on the Harper family and everything but come on. There has got to be some normalcy some where right? And okay, I like it when a main character is a little insecure for a little while (Like, not in a whiny way), because it makes them more relatable. What I didn't like about Meredith; She was too damn calm. Too damn rational. Like, "Oh I'm having visions of my family and evil men, but its cool I'm just going crazy." The correct response is, "What the Hell. Whatthehellwhatthehellwhatthehell" Like seriously. It's not normal to be so normal. And the other characters? Perfect. I don't mean that in a good way. I mean they were literally perfect and didn't show any flaws and were totally unrelatable.
The whole romance was a freaking cliche. After four days: "I can feel you before I see you." After five: "I like you alot, A WHOLE LOT. Lets makeout." After six: "I love you." After seven: "'I love you so much never leave me' 'i dont want to but i have to protect you' 'then lets make out until you leave' ''kay'" I'm exaggerating a little. But only a little. By the end they had known eachother for barely over a month and they were saying "I love you" and "forever" Even for an insta-romance, thats a little much.
SUMMARY OF REVIEW(In case you don't actually feel like reading the review):
Writing: 4 out of 5
Plot: 3 out of 5
characters: 3 out of 5
Romance: 2 out of 5
Overall: 3 out of 5
PG almost making out, sleeping together...but fully clothed and without a blanket and on a couch
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Series book: Yes
Will I read the Next: Maybe
I have to say I'm a little disappointed. At first I was all for it, I was really expecting a good book. But when they mentioned they were witches and her moms name was Emma Watson and she was from London....I started to roll my eyes. Repeatedly. My eyes were literally hurting from rolling my eyes to much. So many cliches. The romance, the plot, everything. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book. It is very hard for me not to enjoy a book. Even if it has wayyyy to many cliches.
The writing was a little...blunt. I first noticed this when Jack comes into the picture. Meredith snapped at him and instead of writing that he looked hurt, Heather London wrote that "he wished he had never asked." For some reason that REALLY annoyed me. I felt like it was too specific for Jack's feelings considering he's not the POV that we're reading from and so we wouldn't know exactly what he thought. Besides that I felt like there was too much of other books in there. I really don't mind similarities. It's really hard to think of a totally original story, and I totally get that. But there was too much Harry Potter with a dash of twilight, romance wise. First, Emma Watson, from London...Please stop. Thank you. That's what really bothered me. Alot.
So the plot was your typical "Chosen one" story. In simple cave man terms: Main character, powerful. Main character, ignorant. Hot boy must protect. Hot boy falls in love. Villains attack. Main character no longer ignorant. Main character discovers inner power...blah, blah, etc. You catch my drift. To be honest the story line was predictable. I could guess when something could happen..I found it kind of boring.
I wish Roger was in this book more. I get that it was focused on the Harper family and everything but come on. There has got to be some normalcy some where right? And okay, I like it when a main character is a little insecure for a little while (Like, not in a whiny way), because it makes them more relatable. What I didn't like about Meredith; She was too damn calm. Too damn rational. Like, "Oh I'm having visions of my family and evil men, but its cool I'm just going crazy." The correct response is, "What the Hell. Whatthehellwhatthehellwhatthehell" Like seriously. It's not normal to be so normal. And the other characters? Perfect. I don't mean that in a good way. I mean they were literally perfect and didn't show any flaws and were totally unrelatable.
The whole romance was a freaking cliche. After four days: "I can feel you before I see you." After five: "I like you alot, A WHOLE LOT. Lets makeout." After six: "I love you." After seven: "'I love you so much never leave me' 'i dont want to but i have to protect you' 'then lets make out until you leave' ''kay'" I'm exaggerating a little. But only a little. By the end they had known eachother for barely over a month and they were saying "I love you" and "forever" Even for an insta-romance, thats a little much.
SUMMARY OF REVIEW(In case you don't actually feel like reading the review):
Writing: 4 out of 5
Plot: 3 out of 5
characters: 3 out of 5
Romance: 2 out of 5
Overall: 3 out of 5
PG almost making out, sleeping together...but fully clothed and without a blanket and on a couch
May 23, 2013
As most reviews have already stated Meredith had a tragic young life, losing her parents and her twin when she was only 8. Fortunately for her, her mothers BFF Rose steps in and raised her like she was her own. The story takes place when Meredith is a senior in HS. She is a little odd from the rest of the teenagers and she doesn’t have many friends. All she knows is that she can’t wait to get out of the small town she lives in once she graduates.
Roger is her male BFF; he is fun and knows what he wants in life. He tries hard to get her to participate more with other teens, but Meredith doesn’t do well in groups. He’s accepted to a collage and moves closer to school therefore leaving Meredith behind in their small town. At first he seems like a big part of her life but once he moves, he is hardly mentioned. Another odd character would be Rebecca, she is Meredith’s female friend but as soon as she is in the story it seems she is out, I wouldn’t even consider her a friend she is more like an acquaintance that likes to be around Meredith because Roger is a total hottie..
Meredith is oblivious to her destiny, her future and who her parents really were. She meets the Harper’s, Abigail, Blake, Samuel & Annette and they are part of her destiny and future in a very big way.
A little slow at first but that is usual for the first in a series. The story was interesting with a little bit of magic, a little puppy love/love at first sight, some time travel, a little suspense and some mystery. I can say that the story did pick up and had a few twist and turns that I was not expecting. I had a few butterflies in my stomach as I was reading some sections that included Meredith and Blake. The story was well described; I cold see the places that were described. I enjoyed the story for the most part and can still picture some of the scenes. I believe if after I read a few book and go back to write the review and I can still see the scenes then it’s a good book, definitely worth the time to read.
Swift is suited for all ages and I would recommend this story. I will be reading the second book to see how it continues. I loved the cover and saw how the lighthouse is connected to the story now, brilliant.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Title: Swift (Swift #1)
Author: Heather London
Format: ebook 346 pgs
Genre: YA Supernatural Novel
Cover: 5 stars
Main Characters: Meredith & Blake
Rating: 3 stars
Series: Yes
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
http://www.amazon.com/review/R4N81WEP...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews...
Roger is her male BFF; he is fun and knows what he wants in life. He tries hard to get her to participate more with other teens, but Meredith doesn’t do well in groups. He’s accepted to a collage and moves closer to school therefore leaving Meredith behind in their small town. At first he seems like a big part of her life but once he moves, he is hardly mentioned. Another odd character would be Rebecca, she is Meredith’s female friend but as soon as she is in the story it seems she is out, I wouldn’t even consider her a friend she is more like an acquaintance that likes to be around Meredith because Roger is a total hottie..
Meredith is oblivious to her destiny, her future and who her parents really were. She meets the Harper’s, Abigail, Blake, Samuel & Annette and they are part of her destiny and future in a very big way.
A little slow at first but that is usual for the first in a series. The story was interesting with a little bit of magic, a little puppy love/love at first sight, some time travel, a little suspense and some mystery. I can say that the story did pick up and had a few twist and turns that I was not expecting. I had a few butterflies in my stomach as I was reading some sections that included Meredith and Blake. The story was well described; I cold see the places that were described. I enjoyed the story for the most part and can still picture some of the scenes. I believe if after I read a few book and go back to write the review and I can still see the scenes then it’s a good book, definitely worth the time to read.
Swift is suited for all ages and I would recommend this story. I will be reading the second book to see how it continues. I loved the cover and saw how the lighthouse is connected to the story now, brilliant.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Title: Swift (Swift #1)
Author: Heather London
Format: ebook 346 pgs
Genre: YA Supernatural Novel
Cover: 5 stars
Main Characters: Meredith & Blake
Rating: 3 stars
Series: Yes
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
http://www.amazon.com/review/R4N81WEP...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews...
May 18, 2013
An astonishing debut novel full of outstanding premise and originality, which blew me away!
I was so impressed by this wonderful book that certainly exceeded any expectations I may have had prior to reading. The beautiful purple cover is simply stunning and I can state that it is something uniquely distinctive, and different within the YA genre. Highly readable and totally unputdownable, Heather London has produced something very compelling and exciting. I instantly connected with main protagonist, Meredith, and lost myself within her own personal journey and magical adventure. The sweet teen romance was also hypnotic and similarly to Lauren Kate’s Fallen or Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, it had me under the spell! If you are looking for a thrilling new YA paranormal romance with a supernatural twist, then I urge you to read this brilliant book full of action-packed drama and suspense.
*Short Synopsis:
Meredith Martin is being hunted by evil, for something she is destined to become, but knows nothing about. After graduating from high school, Meredith is ready to leave the place that has been a constant reminder of what happened to her as a child. She was just eight years old when her family died in a mysterious car accident, taking the secret of her destiny with them. It’s not until a new family moves to town that she realizes leaving may not be as easy as she once thought.
Meredith feels an instant connection towards the Harpers, especially the good-looking, mysterious Blake and his overly friendly sister, Abby. After a series of bizarre events that happen too often to be coincidence, Meredith begins to realize that she is at the centre of something larger than herself – possibly the same thing that killed her parents and twin sister many years ago. Nightmarish visions and resurfacing memories push Meredith closer to Blake, leading her to discover her destiny and other buried secrets.
As Meredith tries to understand her new world, she will be put to the ultimate test, and her strength and courage will be challenged more than she ever imagined...
Meredith’s journey is full of twists and turns, which not only make you feel a real part of the story but that leave you sat on the edge of your seat anxious to find out what is going to happen next. The author cleverly combines current contemporary fiction with a teenage outlook, which certainly will appeal to a large readership (with the genre ever increasing in popularity). Sucked into this seductive story, I am now desperate to read on and continue the story in book 2 “Crest”.
*I would like to thank the author for sending me a paperback copy of ‘Swift’ to read and review*
I was so impressed by this wonderful book that certainly exceeded any expectations I may have had prior to reading. The beautiful purple cover is simply stunning and I can state that it is something uniquely distinctive, and different within the YA genre. Highly readable and totally unputdownable, Heather London has produced something very compelling and exciting. I instantly connected with main protagonist, Meredith, and lost myself within her own personal journey and magical adventure. The sweet teen romance was also hypnotic and similarly to Lauren Kate’s Fallen or Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, it had me under the spell! If you are looking for a thrilling new YA paranormal romance with a supernatural twist, then I urge you to read this brilliant book full of action-packed drama and suspense.
*Short Synopsis:
Meredith Martin is being hunted by evil, for something she is destined to become, but knows nothing about. After graduating from high school, Meredith is ready to leave the place that has been a constant reminder of what happened to her as a child. She was just eight years old when her family died in a mysterious car accident, taking the secret of her destiny with them. It’s not until a new family moves to town that she realizes leaving may not be as easy as she once thought.
Meredith feels an instant connection towards the Harpers, especially the good-looking, mysterious Blake and his overly friendly sister, Abby. After a series of bizarre events that happen too often to be coincidence, Meredith begins to realize that she is at the centre of something larger than herself – possibly the same thing that killed her parents and twin sister many years ago. Nightmarish visions and resurfacing memories push Meredith closer to Blake, leading her to discover her destiny and other buried secrets.
As Meredith tries to understand her new world, she will be put to the ultimate test, and her strength and courage will be challenged more than she ever imagined...
Meredith’s journey is full of twists and turns, which not only make you feel a real part of the story but that leave you sat on the edge of your seat anxious to find out what is going to happen next. The author cleverly combines current contemporary fiction with a teenage outlook, which certainly will appeal to a large readership (with the genre ever increasing in popularity). Sucked into this seductive story, I am now desperate to read on and continue the story in book 2 “Crest”.
*I would like to thank the author for sending me a paperback copy of ‘Swift’ to read and review*
April 22, 2013
Review originally posted on my blog. See the full post here
I would like to thank Heather London for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
My Rating: 3.5
I really enjoyed reading Swift. Meredith is a small town girl who’s just itching to get away from Olymipa and experience something different from the tiny town she grew up in. Especially since it’s the same place that she gets to be constantly reminded of losing her family in a car accident. Things start to change pretty quickly for Meredith when she runs into some new people (which is incredibly strange in such a small town). All of a sudden Meredith notices weird things happening to her, and strange things about the new family the Harpers (especially the two teens Abby and Blake). She can’t really explain it to herself but she just feels drawn to Abby and Blake and ends up spending a lot of time with them, and finding out that they know much more about her and her family than she originally thought!
I really like the characters in Swift. Although I was back and forth on Meredith at times. (She got a little too mopey about stuff and even when she didn’t really do anything wrong she beat herself up about it). I did love that she took charge of what she wanted to know and didn’t let Blake get away with being overprotective all the time. I loved A by and Roger and definitely hope to see more of them in book 2 (especially Roger… I feel like he disappeared for a while in Swift). Aunt Rose was another character I liked…. she just seemed like the type of person you can see yourself getting along with. As for Blake, he was really cute and I like him but am not really head -over-heels … I think it just felt a little too insta-love for me (I’ll wait to see if book 2 changes my mind).
I felt like the pace was a little slow in the beginning , but it did pick up in the middle. I would have liked a bit more information about the witchy stuff going on (like the spells and the way magic works for them) but the plot still kept me interested without it .
I’m excited to read the next book, Crest, to see what ends up happening with Meredith and her new friends (and her old friends too!) I would recommend this book to someone looking for quick read with some magic and a cute clean romance.
I would like to thank Heather London for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
My Rating: 3.5
I really enjoyed reading Swift. Meredith is a small town girl who’s just itching to get away from Olymipa and experience something different from the tiny town she grew up in. Especially since it’s the same place that she gets to be constantly reminded of losing her family in a car accident. Things start to change pretty quickly for Meredith when she runs into some new people (which is incredibly strange in such a small town). All of a sudden Meredith notices weird things happening to her, and strange things about the new family the Harpers (especially the two teens Abby and Blake). She can’t really explain it to herself but she just feels drawn to Abby and Blake and ends up spending a lot of time with them, and finding out that they know much more about her and her family than she originally thought!
I really like the characters in Swift. Although I was back and forth on Meredith at times. (She got a little too mopey about stuff and even when she didn’t really do anything wrong she beat herself up about it). I did love that she took charge of what she wanted to know and didn’t let Blake get away with being overprotective all the time. I loved A by and Roger and definitely hope to see more of them in book 2 (especially Roger… I feel like he disappeared for a while in Swift). Aunt Rose was another character I liked…. she just seemed like the type of person you can see yourself getting along with. As for Blake, he was really cute and I like him but am not really head -over-heels … I think it just felt a little too insta-love for me (I’ll wait to see if book 2 changes my mind).
I felt like the pace was a little slow in the beginning , but it did pick up in the middle. I would have liked a bit more information about the witchy stuff going on (like the spells and the way magic works for them) but the plot still kept me interested without it .
I’m excited to read the next book, Crest, to see what ends up happening with Meredith and her new friends (and her old friends too!) I would recommend this book to someone looking for quick read with some magic and a cute clean romance.
April 24, 2013
Swift is a story about a young woman whose desperate desire is to venture away from the small town where she grew up. But as the time draws near to finalize those plans things start to get weird, starting with the mysterious hottie that appears across the street when she almost looses her life and the girl crying in the cemetery that seemed to recognize the main character. Meredith's past is shrouded in mystery prior to the day she was in a fatal accident that killed all her family and leaving her the sole survivor. Her only recollection of the events leading up to that night come to her in terrible nightmares where she sees dark figures and revisits memories of happier times.
When a family comes into town half wanting to talk to Mer half keeping a cold arm's length, the reader is left questioning why. And as they begin to appear more frequently, eventually letting her into their lives she finds truths that she was not prepared for. Mer, so desperately wanting to be a part of her family comes to love these people even though they continue to keep her at a distance.
It's a decent story. And I think many will like it. For me the beginning started out slow and took a while to really get into the story. Also I think the character development was lacking. I would have liked to see them more defined, the roles showed for what they were, IE. best friend claims he misses her but only lives an hour a way and yet he doesn't call or come down to see her. Doesn't make sense. And the friends become non existent fairly quick in the story.
Also the relationship between she and the hottie that was across the street happened a little faster than I would have liked and I wished that the author had spent more time not only developing that relationship but also the setting especially when she travels to the past. There were times when scene's happened to fast like the wedding and the show down at the end. Over all it was a good first book.
When a family comes into town half wanting to talk to Mer half keeping a cold arm's length, the reader is left questioning why. And as they begin to appear more frequently, eventually letting her into their lives she finds truths that she was not prepared for. Mer, so desperately wanting to be a part of her family comes to love these people even though they continue to keep her at a distance.
It's a decent story. And I think many will like it. For me the beginning started out slow and took a while to really get into the story. Also I think the character development was lacking. I would have liked to see them more defined, the roles showed for what they were, IE. best friend claims he misses her but only lives an hour a way and yet he doesn't call or come down to see her. Doesn't make sense. And the friends become non existent fairly quick in the story.
Also the relationship between she and the hottie that was across the street happened a little faster than I would have liked and I wished that the author had spent more time not only developing that relationship but also the setting especially when she travels to the past. There were times when scene's happened to fast like the wedding and the show down at the end. Over all it was a good first book.
October 30, 2012
When I received this book from the author, I had no intentions of starting it for a least a week, due to hierarchy on my to-do list. However, when went to test the file to make sure it opened on my Kindle, I decided to just take a peek and fell face first into the book until I finished. Oops!
So, this is the 3rd time I have rewritten this review. Sometimes I struggle with what to say about a book because I want so desperately to do right by the author, but feel like anything I write will fall short of my goal. What is my goal? It is to get you to read this book and believe in Heather London's potential. It might not have gotten a "Five Star Must Read" label from me, but I see the big picture here and it is so much more.
Her characters are all likeable. Every. Single. One. Well, maybe not the bad dudes. The story is mature and believable as a paranormal/fantasy novel can be. Not once did I roll my eyes. Chemistry. Blake and Metedith have it and I got that bone aching feeling I crave from books. You've got me hooked if you can evoke those feelings in me. Somewhere towards the end I lost a little of that connection. I am not sure if it had to do with the writing or my distracting children. I suspect the latter.
There is also not much I can say that won't spoil the mystery of the book. It isn't a mystery that is frustrating, but it is intriguing and pulls you in to turn yet another page. I found certain elements of the plot unique and can't wait to see where she takes them in the next book.
full review: http://theindiebookshelf.blogspot.com...
So, this is the 3rd time I have rewritten this review. Sometimes I struggle with what to say about a book because I want so desperately to do right by the author, but feel like anything I write will fall short of my goal. What is my goal? It is to get you to read this book and believe in Heather London's potential. It might not have gotten a "Five Star Must Read" label from me, but I see the big picture here and it is so much more.
Her characters are all likeable. Every. Single. One. Well, maybe not the bad dudes. The story is mature and believable as a paranormal/fantasy novel can be. Not once did I roll my eyes. Chemistry. Blake and Metedith have it and I got that bone aching feeling I crave from books. You've got me hooked if you can evoke those feelings in me. Somewhere towards the end I lost a little of that connection. I am not sure if it had to do with the writing or my distracting children. I suspect the latter.
There is also not much I can say that won't spoil the mystery of the book. It isn't a mystery that is frustrating, but it is intriguing and pulls you in to turn yet another page. I found certain elements of the plot unique and can't wait to see where she takes them in the next book.
full review: http://theindiebookshelf.blogspot.com...
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