Title: Half-Life
Author: Tina Ferraro
Publisher: Leap Books
Expected Publication Date: March 24, 2015
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Half a life is not worth living.
Probably not a good idea to take advice from your dead twin sister. High school sophomore Trisha Traynor and friends have played the Halloween mirror game for years, the one that’s supposed to show a glimpse of the guy they’ll marry. But no one’s ever seen anything.
Until tonight—when Trisha is gob smacked by the candlelit arrival of her long-deceased twin sister, instead of her crush, Kirk Maxwell.
In a voice and vision that only Trisha can hear and see, Chessie claims to be back on a compassionate journey. Trisha fears she’s gone nuthouse crazy. But she nonetheless follows the instructions Chessie outlines in their nightly conversations, until she finds herself stepping across some ethical lines, and probably ending all chances with Kirk.
When a sisterly showdown ensues, resulting in the shattering of the mirror, Chessie’s gone again, and a heartsick Trisha sets about righting her recent wrongs. That is, until she stumbles upon the real reason Chessie had come back and the most important glimpse yet that the mirror could never predict.
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“How soon,” Chadwick asked, “is too soon to tell you I love you?”
Every muscle in my body froze. Three days ago we’d hardly known each other. Since then we’d had a few conversations and one kiss. It wasn’t like we’d been struck by some love-at-first-sight thunderbolt from the heavens.
Heavens. Oh, Heaven!
No, Chessie…no. You swore you couldn’t get inside people’s heads, control people’s feelings..
My ****4 Star**** Review
This book starts out with a really interesting opening scene, and kept my attention from that point on. Trisha participates in a little ritual on Halloween that results in a visit from her deceased twin sister, Chessie. Chessie, has a mission, but she’s not really sharing it with Trisha. However, Chessie does share some very specific tasks with Trisha that she must complete.
This story has a very young YA feel to it. Trisha is still quite immature and in need of some growing up. She’s not completely ditzy, though, and when it matters most she makes the right decisions.
Apart from the slight darkness of the séance-style ritual that may bother some parents, this is a clean story with some great messages and life lessons that I think most parents would be glad to have their young teens read. Trisha has to face multiple issues typical teens deal with today, including dating issues, drinking, and wanting to be popular. In the end, she sees clearly what really matters.
I give this 4 sweet and innocent stars, and highly recommend it to fans of the lower YA paranormal romance genre.
About the Author ~ Tina Ferraro
Tina Ferraro been writing since she learned to hold a pencil, and sold upwards of a hundred short stories to national magazines before turning to novels. She is the author of three Random House novels, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, How to Hook a Hottie and Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, which have received distinctions such as the ABA Book Sense Award and two RITA nominations.
Her fourth YA, The Starter Boyfriend, has spent time on Amazon’s Top 100 Lists. She lives in Los Angeles with her rocket scientist husband, two cats and whichever of their three young adult children is in town. When not writing, she enjoys playing Facebook Scrabble, swimming, and chasing coyotes out of her neighborhood.
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I wish I’d read this book when I was a teen. I made so many foolish mistakes and did bend to some peer pressure. I’m wondering what happened to make her break the mirror. Great review, Ali! And love the cover:)
Yes! I didn’t realize I loved to read until my late teen years. I really think if I would have been well read in the right kind of stories then I might have made fewer mistakes. 🙂 Thanks, Laura!!
Alison, I’m so glad you enjoyed HALF-LIFE, and thank you for helping us get the word out about it!
Laura, about the breaking of the mirror…that happened spontaneously in the writing of the story, actually surprising me! A heat-of-the-moment thing, that then sent the story running in what I’d later realize was a much more interesting direction than the one I’d had in mind. Always let your characters lead the story, I say! Thanks for your interest.
You’re so very welcome! I look forward to your next one!
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