BLANK CANVAS BY MERE JOYCE

Title: Blank Canvas

Author: Mere Joyce

Genre: Young Adult, Suspense, Contemporary

Pages: 146

Publisher: Evernight Teen

SYNOPSIS: Three years ago, sixteen-year-old Maddie Deacon was abducted on her way home from her school’s Art Showcase. Five months ago, she escaped the madman she calls The Painter. Before being taken, painting was Maddie’s life. Now, it’s her nightmare.
Maddie wants to forget her years in captivity. She’d rather spend her time getting reacquainted with her parents and her sister, not to mention her cello-playing, beautiful boy next door and childhood best friend Wesley. But paint is everywhere, and tormenting shadows linger in every portrait she encounters.

When the yearly Art Showcase once again approaches, Maddie has the chance to win a scholarship and start planning a future far away from the horrors of her past. She knows she has to make a choice–confront her memories of The Painter and overcome her fear of the canvas, or give up painting forever. 

REVIEW:  Maddie is free from The Painter which is what she calls her abductor. But she still hasn’t escaped him totally. She sees him in everything she tries to do. Art was her life and because of that she sees him still everywhere.

She has to try and find herself again in this nightmare that is her life now. She wants to be herself again but she will never be that person again. The kidnapping has changed her forever. I feel that she has a constant struggle to get through each day. She goes to see therapists but isn’t ready to talk to either of them.

As the story is told, I find myself pulled in and cheering her on. Hoping that eventually she finds that her life has to have painting in it. That it is a part of who she was and still is even though it is overshadowed by the Painter. In the end, painting her kidnapper helps her to heal.

Wesley her neighbor has always been her friend and even though there was no romance there before Maddie finds herself hoping there is more there. I want there to be the romance of teen love but it seems to take a long time to get there. Maddie has to find her way back to him first.

I really liked the relationship Maddie had with her sister. Her sister loved life and tried to enjoy everything knowing how fragile things were. Maddie also saw how much she had to suffer because of Maddie’s kidnapping. Their parents were so afraid to let them do anything which is understandable since they lost Maddie once. They wanted to keep her and her sister safe.

I highly recommend this story.

I am giving it 4 Young Hearts.

Punishment Summer by Peggy Rothschild

Title: Punishment Summer

Author: Peggy Rothschild

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Suspense

Pages: 260

Publisher: Evernight Teen

SYNOPSIS: Sixteen-year-old Nicki is sent to stay at her grandfather’s cabin near the town of Punishment in the Mendocino Forest. As always, she hides her burn scars and keeps quiet about the mother who ran out on her. But soon after arriving, she begins to suspect Grandpa is also keeping secrets. Her exile brings an unexpected bright spot—Grandpa’s German shepherd, Queenie. The hunky neighbor boy’s another plus, though she quickly starts to doubt his honesty. 

From secret pot farms to human trafficking, Nicki discovers nothing in the ‘Mendo’ is what it seems. When Grandpa takes off and the lives of new friends are endangered, Nicki must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect those she cares about. Before summer ends, Nicki will learn there are some choices she can’t undo. It’s a good thing Grandpa taught her how to shoot.

REVIEW: Nicki is sent to Punishment for the summer for her not following the rules her dad had made. I really didn't like that her dad didn't communicate with her. He just gave her 15 minutes to pack her stuff and took her to her grandpa's that she hadn't seen since she was a little girl. I felt he just decided he didn't want to deal with her and shipped her off.

Nicki had a lot of growing up to do in this story. I think she did a great job. The author tells the story and really draws you in. I couldn't put the book down. Especially when the mystery begins about the woman who comes to see her grandpa and the neighbor boys that aren't that honest with her. 

I feel that her grandpa taught her some very good lessons. Not only to hunt, fish and grow her own food but also to take care of herself when no one was around. This just helped her when he had to leave unexpectedly. Nicki really found out her true self and didn't worry about not fitting in anymore. She actually asked her dad to stay in Punishment. 

I hope that there is a second book to this one. I would really like to see what happens when her dad decides to go to visit her and her grandpa. Hopefully there will be another book soon. 

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Synopsis: The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?


Review: I liked this story. It was about a brother and sister that were torn from their family. They were accused of being a witch and wizard. Neither had any idea that they were. When they are taken to a prison things start happening that they can't explain. They start to believe they have powers and try to find a way out to find their parents. There disappearing kids everywhere and now they know where the kids went. I liked the brother and sister and their relationship how they came together. Whit was trying to protect Wisty but found out she could take care of herself. They start a journey to find their parents but wind up rescuing kids that are in the prison where they were. I highly recommend this young adult book and I can't wait for the next one.

Greetings Everyone!

I have started a new chapter in my life. I have 2 blogs that I plan on keeping up with. One blog is for new or young adult which is this one and the other is for adult erotic romance which is Mistress Mary's Book Lair. I plan to also have new and upcoming books posted here. I am a personal assistant to 3 wonderful authors and 1 wonderful promotion's person. Please be patient. I have been reviewing for almost a year but this will be all on my own.

Thanks and I hope you enjoy.
Mary Ann

PS. If you sign up for my one or both of my blogs you will be entered in a giveaway for books and swag from authors I have collected over this past year. I have lots of stuff so there will be more than one winner.