Book Review: Dead to You by Lisa McMann

**Received book from Around the World ARC Tours for review**

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

My Thoughts:  I devoured this book in only a few short hours.  Seriously, it took me two hours to read this book it was THAT good!  It helped that the chapters were short and it was a naturally fast read but I could not put this one down for a minute!

Ethan was 7 when he was abducted from his yard in front of his little brother Blake.  For 9 years, his parents and the small town he was from has held out hope that he will return.  As the story begins, Ethan is 16 and waiting to be reunited with his parents, his little brother and his little sister (which he terms the "replacement child"). 

Ethan's parents are instantly sure that he is their long-lost son despite the fact that he remembers nothing from the first 7 years of his life.  They take Ethan home and Ethan begins the process of becoming reacquainted with his family.  He is overwhelmed by the family and friends that he doesn't remember, the house he doesn't remember and the sibling he doesn't remember.  Blake is making things very difficult with his anger issues and is constantly asking Ethan why he got in the car with those people and why he doesn't remember anything. 

After an event at the high school basketball game puts Ethan in hysterics and then the hospital, Ethan starts making his own demands.  No school and his own room in the basement (the one place he feels comfortable).  He must return to school but he finds that the kids there genuinely care for him, especially his neighbor and childhood best friend, Cami.

Until the end when a secret comes out that makes Ethan remember everything.  And that can ruin it all.

I loved Ethan!  I felt so bad for him, especially when Blake was being a brat.  He just wanted his family back and to fit in.  It was so hard for him to trust anyone.  He is trying to deal with coming into a caring family who has rules and expectations after being a kid on the street who answered only to himself. 

Blake was a jerk!  I didn't like him from the beginning to end.  I understand his issues but he was just downright mean.  His parents didn't seem to have a great handle on it either and I was annoyed with that.  He was by far my least favorite character.

I loved Gracie.  She was the "replacement child" and the De Wilde's 6 year old daughter.  She took to Ethan rather quickly and she helped him feel comfortable.  She was funny and had a knack for easing the tension in the room when it needed easing.  The things that she said were too cute and I thought she was an awesome secondary character.

**SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT**

So, the ending....I can't really say a lot because I absolutely do not want to give it away but NOT what I wanted as the ending.  I thought it a little ironic too.  Let me see if I can phrase this right.  Bear with me, it may be a little confusing as I don't want to give too much away.  So, Ethan returns to his family 9 years after his disappearance.  At the end of the book, 9 years and some months after Ethan's abduction, something happens to turn the De Wilde's family upside down.  The fact that it happened all around the same time was a little unbelievable for me.  I just didn't buy it and thought there were other ways that this could have happened.

**SPOILER OVER**

So, other than that little glitch, I really enjoyed the book.  I have some questions left over after the end but I guess I can come to my own conclusions.  This was a gripping novel that you won't be able to put down!

Book Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

My Thoughts:  I loved how incredibly creepy this story was without being gory and full of disgusting, bloody details.  It was all about making you feel uneasy and since I was reading this book at night and alone, I certainly felt uneasy! 

Kendall lives in a very small town in Montana.  Her family farms along with most every other family that lives in Cryer's Cross.  Last year, a sophomore disappeared.  There were no clues as to where she went.  She was just gone.  Kendall and her best friend Nico help search but in the end Tiffany is just gone.  Then school starts and Kendall and Nico start their senior year.  Suddenly, Nico seems distant and preoccupied.  Kendall worries about Nico until one night, he too disappears.  Now Kendall, along with new students Jacien and Marlena, have to find out what is going on.

I connected with Kendall immediatley!  I grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone's business and I also suffer from OCD.  I appreciate how the author really portrayed OCD.  It isn't always about compulsive hand washing, like many people think.  Each person's OCD is different but like Kendall, I must go through my house and make sure that the doors/windows are locked (not 6 times but 3).  I understood her anxiety when she wasn't able to get into the school early to do her morning "routine" and make sure everything was in it's correct spot.  I can tell you if something has been messed with even if the average person can't tell.  If I can't do certain things when I need too, the anxiety is outrageous!  And it gnaws at you until you are able to fix it.  McMann was able to portray this is Kendall realistically. 

I liked that there wasn't a ton of romance in this book.  There was some, don't get me wrong but it wasn't an overwhelming issue.  I really enjoyed Jacien and his broding attitude but I also appreciated Kendall's confusion and guilt after Nico disappears.  She doesn't think she should be having fun with another guy while Nico is missing.  I also understand her confusion in her feelings for Nico.  He's her best friend and while he wants to be her boyfriend, she feels like he is just a brother. 

I enjoyed the creep factor in this story along with the history.  I only wish that we could have found out how exactly Kendall's OCD helped her get out of her dicey situation.  I loved the ending that left you hanging a little.  Hopefully there will be more to this story?