Review: Beautiful Demons
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 4, 2010
Harper Madison has been shipped from foster care home to foster care home since she was 10 years old. Known as a troubled child with violent tendencies she's never spent enough time in one place to ever feel a sense of belonging. Strange things happen around Harper, especially when Harper feels threatened or scared and those strange things usually end up with someone being hurt. Although Harper has never intentionally hurt anyone she is blamed just the same and Harper carries the guilt, shame and sense of abandonment with her everywhere she goes.Harper's options are limited now; since her last foster home placement she has one chance to make it at the Shadowford Home for girls, if she blows this then its Juvenile Detention Center for the rest of her high school days.Shadowford Home isn't as bad as she thought it would be. Ms. Shadowford is creepy and weird but everyone else is friendly, especially Agnes who is outgoing and extremely talkative; she raves on and on about the Peachville High School Demons football team and especially the cheerleading squad as if they were Goddesses! Harper's also crushing on Jackson, the house mother's son who is edgy and different, a definite bad boy who has much more underneath that tough exterior. Jackson and Harper hit it off right away and she finds herself drawn to him.On Harpers first day of school things are going good until she has a mishap with one of the cheerleaders at lunch and then it all goes horribly bad. Suddenly, Harper is involved in a murder investigation, learning things about the town that seem impossible and learning that Jackson has some answers to her questions.After an extremely bad case of the flu where Harper is semi-conscious for over 5 days; she returns to school only to find that she is sought after by the elite and is brought into their group, no questions asked and the dreamy quarterback is showing some definite romantic interest in her. The Demon Cheerleaders are suddenly invested in making her a part of the team, inviting her to all the right parties and having sleep over's. Harper is enjoying all of this new found attention and popularity but in the back of her mind she knows that something isn't right; there's something she's forgetting but just as it comes to her it goes flitting away plus she's enjoying being part of a group--something she's never experienced before.Harper has lost much of her memory of what happened just before the flu--her memory of Jackson, the murder, the unanswered questions and it's going to take all of Harpers inner strength to fight for her life and survive the dangers of Peachville. Coming to terms with who she really is and where her place is in Peachville is a frightening step and one she must take if she's to discover anything about her birth mother and, ultimately, her own future.This was a great book with all the trappings I love: Supernatural/paranormal themed with mystery, adventure, romance and a great twist at the end that surprised me. A nice cliff hanger left me wanting more and anxiously awaiting the next in the series!