Review: Pulse-Pounding, Dramatic Conclusion!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 28, 2013
Find this review and more at Lusty Penguin Reviews!Lovers of young adult science fiction/fantasy novels should not miss Shock Me by Ashley C. Harris, the first installment in the series with the same name. Harris beautifully creates her own unique world where people with special abilities live amongst the rest of the population. While reading Shock Me, I couldn't help but think of the TV show Heroes.High school student Donna Young is not part of the popular crowd and hopes winning the a spot on the state gymnastics team will allow her dreams to come true--to leave the town of East Applegate. But, when Donna survives an accident that should have killed her, it turns her world upside down and exposes her incredible special abilities. Unsure of whom to trust, Donna works hard to keep her abilities a secret while at the same time trying to figure out exactly which abilities she has and if she can control them. Completely captivated by Donna's character, I couldn't but fall in love with her because despite not knowing what she is turning into, she accepts that she is now different from everyone else. Ryan Applegate, the most popular student in school, harbors a secret crush on Donna. But, Ryan never acts upon his feeling because he has undisclosed information that would hurt Donna. Ryan is a difficult character to gauge because you are not sure if he is a good or a bad guy. Future installments of this series, I have no doubt, will answer the lingering questions about Ryan's character. Although the reader can see the potential for a romance between Ryan and Donna as the chemistry between them sizzles, Shock Me is not that book.Harris does a brilliant job of adding depth and developing secondary characters, Randy, Rebecca, and Spencer, who will be integral to future stories in this series. Also, the author is masterful at developing her original plot with plenty of surprising twists that keeps the pages turning.Memorable characters and plot momentum will keep the reader fully engaged right up to the pulse-pounding, dramatic conclusion with a stunning ending that I didn't see coming! Shock Me is a gripping beginning to a new series. I, for one, look forward to the future adventures of these characters.I received an eBook copy of the book for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.