Review: Well worth the read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 9, 2014
I was given this a copy of "Brush of Shade," in exchange of an honest review.  Going into this book, the only thing I knew was that it was a paranormal YA book.  Having read a few YA books, I debated if this was actually going to be even worth my while.  Where I struggle with the YA genre is my age.  Being 42 and trying to understand what an 18 year old girl dealing with emotionally, sometimes can be a bit taxing.  But, I took on the book and read.  So here is my take on “Brush of Shade.”At the age of 17, Olivia Pepperdine has just gone through the most horrific experience in her life.  She has lost both her mother and father in a car crash.  She’s not able to remember what exactly caused the accident or even the moments that transpired afterwards.  All she remembers is cold fingers, and then everything is a blur.After surgery and plenty of therapy, her and legal guardian, Aunt Claire, are now headed to start a new life in Spring Valley.  Leaving behind all glimpses of civilization…cell phones, internet, satellite TV. Olivia feels that she’s stepping back into time.  Once in Spring Valley, Olivia learns of a family secret, this was where her parents were from.  Why had she never been told this?After moving into the Pepperdine Manor, Olivia starts to find that life in Spring Valley is not what she wants.  She has decided that after her senior year is up, she’s out of here.  She intends to head off to college and try and start a new life and just move on.  However, there is something that is pulling her to this town.  Slowly, she starts to see that there is something that her Aunt and the town are hiding!This wouldn’t be a YA book without a love triangle thrown into the mix.  When I say a love triangle, I mean we have a doozy on our hands.  On the left we have the over bearing, sometime polite, other times ass boyfriend, Trent Cassidy.  Then on the right, we have the blonde, breath taking, a voice that would melt chocolate, Shade Grisland.Olivia struggles with the way Trent treats her from time to time.  He becomes aggressive one second, then sweet as pie the next.  All the while, Shade tries to protect Olivia from the evil that is lurking in Spring Valley.  While Olivia struggles with her feelings towards Shade and vice versa, she for some reason keeps the annoying Trent around.While all this is going on, Olivia discovers her family secret as well as the towns.  Only problem is, someone wants to kill Olivia over that secret.  Can Shade protect her until they discover who is behind the deaths of her mother, father and brother?I personally enjoyed the mystery of trying to figure out who is behind all this mess.  I think and I believe I know who the people are.  I want to tell you who I believe it is, but then you wouldn’t want to read the book now!  I will be honest, I’m looking forward to reading the next installment, because if it’s not who I think it is, I will be really upset!This is why I get discouraged with YA books.  I, as a grown woman, want to tell Olivia, REALLY!  Can you not see that Shade is in love with you!  Get over yourself, grow up and fall in love with this man!  That damn Trent is trouble and will end up causing you more pain than he already has.  The way that she is struggling with her own inner self also aggravates me.  I realize that this poor girl has just had her world turned upside down.  However, you want to just grab her by the shoulders and tell her that she is making things way too complicated.  But then, this is what YA books seem to be all about.  It’s all about figuring out who you are and dealing with all those raw emotions and situations that teens deal with.  Way too much drama for me sometimes!Don’t get me wrong, I actually enjoyed this book.  As I previously stated.  I’m really looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.  I’m impressed with Ms. Harman’s writing skills.  For this being her first book, it was really really good!Don’t let the YA genre scare you off of this one.  Despite my age, I found that I actually enjoyed the mystery of who-done-it.  I believe I know!  Now I just ask for Ms. Harman to hurry up and produce the second book so I can see if I’m right!