Shay can talk to ghosts, she can also see them, feel them too. Her best friend is a six year old, who happens to be a ghost. Shay finally meets someone like her in her senior year and gets to learn more of who she is and what she’s capable of.

 

I tend to steer clear of ghosts, I’ve read a few books with ghosts in and just not enjoyed them. I guess it all depends on how they’re used in the story. I had some doubts after signing up for the review blitz but I can now say with all honesty the doubts were unneeded. I really enjoyed Reveal and I’m glad I chose to sign up.

 

I’m not quite sure why I liked Shay. Usually a character like her would annoy me but she surprisingly didn’t. I felt sorry for her as she felt lonely, not knowing there were others of her kind. Even though she had her mum, her brother Chad and her best friend Liv, there was nobody to share her secret with. She’s good under pressure, thinks of others before herself (mostly) and does what she must. What did annoy me was how quick she fell for Hugh, sure she’d seen him around but they’d not known each other long before she used the L word :(

 

Hugh I didn’t like much even if he is a hottie. He was full of lies and hidden truths, why couldn’t he just be up front from the start? I hate it when characters hide things, surely their lives would be simpler if they told the truth from the get go, no? I did admire how he put Shay before himself though.

 

The story I enjoyed. It was different and full of surprises. I love not knowing how things will turn out and I couldn’t guess with Reveal. I even finished it in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down. A nice, fun quick read.

 

Now the ending is a completely different story. How can it end there? I wasn’t happy at all, it almost made me cry when I turned the page and there was no more. HELLO, more please?! I will definitely be reading book 2 at some point in the future, I’m curious to find out what happens next.

 

If you’re a fan of paranormal fantasy I’d suggest giving this series a go, even if you’re not a fan of ghosts!

 

**A copy was provided for review purposes**

 

 

 

There is NO WAY you will ever get our nose out of this book!

 

 

 

Victoria Blane and Levi Manor were just starting to move to the next step in their relationship: living together. But one night of celebrating a friends birthday at a night club changes everything. Levi dies protecting Victoria from an attempted robbery. Levi was everything to Victoria and without him her life is empty. Grief comsumes her, and it's only with the support of her family and friends that she's pulled back to life. But memories and stolen promises have a way of sneaking up on her, threatening to pull her back into the black hole of her grief, and crippling her with the pain of losing the man she promised to love forever.

STEALING PROMISES was a really heartbreaking story. Victoria's pain is so real that I felt her pain while I was reading. I was ugly-snot-crying and everything. I felt that my own heart was breaking. There were times when I had to stop reading to collect myself before I could continue reading. STEALING PROMISES is a really powerful story about grief and moving on. I was speechless by the end. I just loved everything about this book.

 

 

 

The Guys: Levi Manor is Victoria's long-time boyfriend and one of her oldest friends. His mother left his family when he was still a little boy and this impacted his commitment issues. He doesn't commit completely to anything unless he knows that he can keep that commitment. That's one of the reasons it took him so long to decide to finally move out of his family home and live with Victoria. With his dying breath he made one final promise to Victoria - "I'll always be close, I promise. Love you."

Brighton Hanley is the student advisor of the grief counseling group at Victoria's new college. With dark green eyes and dark brown hair, Brighton reminds Victoria of Levi. He came to live in the United States from London when his parents divorced. He lost his best friend Tiffany when she was deployed to Afghanistan. Brighton makes Victoria think and feel not so empty anymore.

The Girl: Victoria Blane had her life all planned out. And that life entailed law school and Levi. She was getting everything she wanted when Levi surprised her with the new apartment, but then it was all stolen away. After Levi's funeral, she moves to a new city and starts at a new college. She starts to discover who she is without Levi and she meets Brighton at a grief counseling meeting. He makes her start to feel again, and it's with his help that she is able to start moving on.

 

 

 

Victoria and Levi met when they were children and their fathers worked together on a case for the police. It was Levi's job to keep Victoria occupied, and as time went by a strong connection formed between them. It wasn't until Victoria's senior year of high school that they started dating, and with the promise to take care of her, they have been inseparable.

Levi comes from a broken home, so he has trouble really expressing feelings of love. So whenever he does, it means a lot to Victoria. And Levi finally feeling he can move to a new step in their relationship, surprises Victoria with a new apartment for them to move into together. But she never got to see it after Levi was killed, and didn't want to after that.

With a promise, it all started. And with a promise, it all ended.

Victoria goes into a very deep depression when Levi dies, and it was very difficult for her to come out of it. She just wants to be with Levi. Her struggle is just so heartbreaking.

When she is finally well enough, she moves to a new city and starts at a new school. That's where she meets Brighton Hanley. He reminds her so much of Levi, that she was completely shocked when they first met. But it's with his help that she starts to feel that she can move on with him.

I really liked how patient and thoughtful Brighton was. He knows Victoria's pain, as he lost someone very important to him as well, so he knows that she needs time. And he gives her all the time she needs, while being there as her friend. I also liked that he made his intentions clear to her that he was interested in her, and that when she was ready to move on that he would like it to be with him.

 

 

 

I did enjoy this, but it was a pretty average YA PNR and it fit easily around the standard formula: she's always been speshul and OMG he's so fit and INSTA LOVE and then save the day cause together they're EXTRA speshul but oh wait this is a series so maybe the bad guy will come back.

That being said, sometimes you need a predictable read, something you know which is going to do its job. Reveal was entertaining and it did have it's standout points. The whole Cryptid idea was a pretty original take on what could have been bog-standard and just the same as so much other paranormal YA material.

None of the characters really made much of an impression on me, but I liked the ghost aspect. But then again, I love ghost stories.

I will probably read on in this series, because it really was an enjoyable read and I got through it pretty quickly considering how little times I was actually reading it.

Hey everyone! 

 

I want to share my wonderful news with you! I got a new job! I'm sure you guessed that by the title of the post ;) I am super excited! I am an assistant at Mark My Words Book Publicity. I get to work with Bloggers and awesome Indie authors and BOOKS! Every bookworms dream :D 

 

In the first few days of my new job I am out searching for AWESOME BLOGGERS. The ones who seriously LOVE books Who are not afraid to shout it from the rooftops. People who love cover reveals and Blitzes - there are some AWESOME Covers reveals soon, and some amazing stories releasing soon! 

 

If you want to be part of my team, or know someone who would want to- drop me a line at Michelle (at) markmywordsbookpublicity (dot) com! You do NOT have to be a blogger to help out. Sharing on facebook and twitter is wonderful as well! There will of course be giveaways and review opportunities as well ;) 

 

We actually have a couple Cover Reveals and Release day blitzes coming up quick that we need help with ! If you are interested PLEASE Email me and I will send you info! 

 

Feel free also to tell me what you do and do not want to see :) How can we make blitzes unique?  Should we have twitter parties? Do you follow Blog Tours?- What can we change about them. Any feedback is appreciated and WILL be taken into consideration! 

 

I'm really excited guys, and hope I get to work with some of you in the future!

 

michelle (at) markmywodsbookpublicity (dot) com

*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

 

Settle is the third book in the Cryptid Tales series. Warning, do not read this one without reading book #1, Reveal and book #2 Capture. This is not a standalone novel, and I guarantee you'll be lost without reading the first two books. Please see my review of Reveal & Capture for more regarding the background and characters.