My actual rating is 3.5 stars - read on...
344606
I have an iPhone 4.  I have been looking for a holder for my car for weeks.

1.  VENT MOUNT:  the vent mount works great for me (2005 Mazda Tribute) as long as its attached to a vent that doesn't move up/down, only side to side.  The case/holster + vent mount w/ phone are too heavy for vents that can move up/down (at least mine.)  The vent holder can be adjusted slightly to allow you to get the best viewing angle.  It stays on securely = I'm pleased w/ this part of the product.  I use it both w/ my slim phone case and w/out.

2.  HOLSTER/CASE:  I was was intrigued by the "sound amplification" feature - frankly, I don't really notice this (as in I don't hear any type of amplification in the case/holster vs. out of it.)  The case/holster that goes between the windshield mount and the vent mount is quite nice, substantial, easy to get phone in/out of, phone is securely in place, nicley goes between landscape and portrait mode, am easily able to use my car charger w/ this = I'm pleased w/ this part of the product.  Again, I use both w/ my slim phone case and w/out.

3.  WINDSHIELD MOUNT:  its a crapshoot when you get one that doesn't have a flexible neck - this is 1 solid piece = if it doesn't fit just so on your particular dashboard, you can't adjust and this is the case w/ my vehicle.  The only place it fits is over by the passenger side.  Due to the upward angle this mount puts my phone at, I get too much screen glare to have it on the drivers side of the windshield (because my dashboard is higher on the drivers side and angles down on the passenger side) = can't use this in my vehicle.  I knew this was a risk when I ordered this.  The windshield mount is well made and does attach securely to my windshield.  If they were to make the neck on this a flexible neck, then this product would be perfect!
4605812
Probably more a 3.5. I need to listen to it again and take notes to get the most out of it.
3799455
It is good so far, I'm jot all the way done but I wish I could give it like a 3.7 because I feel 3 is too harsh a critic but 4 stars is too much.
4337087
By giving this book a three I don't want you to think its bad. In fact,  ive enjoyed this series but I save 4 and 5 for truly excellent books.  This was #6 in the series and seemed short to me. I still don't like the main character but I like the supporting characters and the created world. I'm curious as to how it will play out.
2399106
I gave this only 4 stars because it's not really fast as I thought before as it was rated # 10.
4081337
I would give it 3.5 stars. It's better than OK, but I wouldn't say Good. I enjoyed it, but I'm not rushing to recommend it to my friends.
4619372
3.5 from me. I will try my best to rate the whole anthology.
Some of these I really liked (or could have) but some of these aren't even full stories. Some as little as only a few chapters. Those are not books, and several aren't even complete stories. I almost felt like Id purchased one of those Anthologies that is a collections of only the first few chapters of several books. A couple of these are finished, but still felt not quite complete. I have not read ALL of them so this may not be the case with all. I rated it a 3.5 because the ones I did read seem to be well written, just incomplete. I think if teh description says an anthology of stories it should be complete stories.
All These Bodies by P.K. Tyler has a great start but is one that is a "supplemental" story to an upcoming novel. I did not feel this was a supplemental story. As it wasn't more than a few chapters.
Awakening by Susan Kaye Quinn was another interesting one. I again felt it was well written, and grabbed my attention. Again there is more to it than what is here. BUT this one is actually a short story.  It also seems that it is NOT the first in its series. Might or might not make the difference.
1741713
3.5  -- not the Walker brothers, but I will read some of the others and see.
4665269
I'm solidly torn between 3 and 4 stars here. I read the book in a day, so the plot was intriguing and the pacing overall was fine - I didn't get bogged down and stuck. However, the book read a bit "flat" for me. The author's bio information says that she's been a TV writer for years, but that this is her first published novel. It does become obvious that she's more used to writing for actors than for readers. Even in middle school, we try to teach writers to "show, and not tell" about characters' actions and traits, but unfortunately, often Ms. Overton does more showing than telling, and that's where it's my theory that she's used to actors filling in those nuances for her. And there are glimpses into more interesting scenes like, "the holidays were harder than she expected." But that's it. I would have liked some action scenes ABOUT the holidays being hard. I'd rather see the hard holiday than read it in a sentence and move on to the next bit of background.

However, the premise is very interesting, and the characters kept me guessing. Lily is an identical twin, kidnapped and held at age 16. She does manage to escape with her daughter, Sky, who was born in captivity. But, as the blurb says, escape is only the beginning. It is very interesting to think about how a captive would react to coming back to the outside world, how a little girl who'd known exactly 2 people in her life would cope, how the mother and sister that hadn't given up hope would possibly react... In this day and age, of course they'd be a news cycle celebrity, so all of it isn't allowed to work itself out in private. And while I feel that we're missing some nuances on motivation and the characters' thoughts, Ms. Overton does a good job imagining what could happen.

I would have liked to have been more privy to Abby (the twin's) thoughts. We've all heard of the twin bond - I happen to be the mother of twins, except that they're not identical, so I don't see it quite the same way in my kids... But while we get that Abby was originally the alpha, I'd have loved to get into her head more as the story progresses. The book is told in chapters from a third person point of view, but switching characters so that we can get their inner dialogue and point of view. We don't get every character in the book, but we do get the twins, their mother, and the kidnapper. Lily is of course the best developed, but the others again leave me wanting just a little more.

I decided to go ahead with four stars since I did get through it quickly, found it intriguing, and wanted to see how it ended. This book was recommended for those who liked Gone Girl and Girl on a Train, and while I can see the comparison, this novel doesn't quite have the depth or the "stick with you" quality that those books had for me. I'm not sorry I read it, but I can't give it a full glowing review, either.
4496131
**My rating is more of a 3.5, read to find out why it isn't higher**

I loved the overall story and plot of the book, kind of a now whimsical version of "My Side of the Mountain." There are some interesting characters who can make profound observations when the reader least expects it.

So why not a higher rating? The short version is that I look for a book with a solid beginning and middle and an end that leaves me either satisfied or ready for a second helping. The beginning was kind of slow, the middle was really good, but the end left me unfulfilled/unsatisfied.

A more detailed reasoning for my low-ish rating follows:
1. Obert Skye is Obert Skye. He has a distinct writing style that will be familiar to readers of his other series but that can be a little hard to get into, which is what happens in this book, especially at the beginning as the reader gets acclimated. I personally would pick up some other YA authors before reaching for a Skye novel, but that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy it while I am reading in the moment.

2. Piggybacking on the first point, Skye has moments of brilliance but these got lost among everything else going on. The reader wants to savor a particular comment or scene, and then they are immediately hit with something else before they get the chance. Unfortunately, this is especially true in a book that spends a lot of time up front in character development and world- building, and then rushes towards the climax too quickly.

3. **Possibly light spoiler** Without revealing too much of the plot, I was getting really excited with where the story was headed in the last 1/3 of the book, but then it was as if Skye had run out of time and the ending felt rushed. I wished that he had taken as much time at the end as he had with the beginning part of the story. The two scenes which should have been the most climactic just kind of happened and then moved on.

4. Will this book get a sequel? The story wraps up at the end without a real cliffhanger, but with enough of an opening that the reader doesn't know if there will be another book. I would have appreciated a second book using these characters to give their story a satisfactory end, but it didn't feel like they would get a sequel (well, all except for maybe one particular character).
3212660
I'm going with 3.5 to 4 stars on this one.

Wow. I thought I reviewed this already! Must've been in my head. I don't remember reading the first book but I knew what was going on and recognized the characters so I must have. I see that I had made a comment that I was going tooh well! Must be my old-timers kicking in...

I liked this book. I like the series. I've read quite a few of the other reviews on Goodreads and I don't have the same feelings as some of the more negative comments express and am not as over the top enthusiastic as others. I didn't have a problem with any of it. I thought it flowed nicely and was realistic to what might happen if this was a true story. The protagonists and their reactions to events rang true for me. I mean, if you have to have a bunch of kids save the world why not these ones? ;) As far as comments saying nothing happened I am flummoxed. Plenty happens. They are on a journey with an unknown destination and pretty much have no idea who to trust. Everywhere they go is a question and a threat. I'm not sure what people making those comments would like to have happen. More violence, antagonists? I think things are moving along nicely myself. Ah well, to each his own. They're not perfect, and if they were, I probably wouldn't like it so much.

*spoiler alert*

I was upset when Gav and Tobias got sick and I did not trust Anika from the start. The possibility of the love triangle didn't bother me because of the history between them. Kae actually handled it well and remained committed to Gav. The stray thoughts and questions she had in her mind seemed perfectly normal to me. She/they are so young. I was well aware this is the second book in a series so am okay with how it wrapped up and am looking forward to the next book.

I received this book from the author/publisher after being selected in the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway as a winner. Yay me! All opinions expressed here are my own.
713007
5 star price + 3 star quality = 4 star overall
2575698
Originally posted at Libri Ago (dot)blogspot(dot)com.

I'm really torn on what I think about this book, which is often the hallmark of a good book: it makes you ponder what and how you feel about the characters and plot. The reason I give it 3 stars is because of several weaknesses in the characterization of Scarlett, but many of them could be easily overlooked by someone who really enjoys the story. The sisters' bond actually creeps me out. I read several reviews where it was mentioned that the relationship between the sisters was great and beautiful. I saw it more as an unhealthy possessive and controlling one. Scarlett saved Rosie's life when they were young. Because of that, both of them have come to the conclusion that Rosie should and must devote her life to Scarlett's obsessive need to kill wolves. Throughout, Rosie feels like she's betraying her sister when she even considers having her own life and falling in love.

I actually liked Rosie overall, and Silas was a good guy, so they made an excellent match. That was actually the most enjoyable part of the narrative for me. I loved how two childhood friends went from that to romance, especially with the awkwardness of realizing it and moving from just friends to boyfriend/girlfriend. The author did an excellent job conveying those emotions. I'd actually say that it was the biggest strength of the story and something that the author should explore. The paranormal action wasn't as convincing. I'd love to see Jackson explore writing contemporary YA romance because I suspect she'd be much better at that.

The problem I had through the whole book was with Scarlett. She was so single-minded and driven that she came off as almost one-dimensional, but not completely, if that makes any sense. I didn't enjoy being inside her head and would have much preferred that the story be told exclusively from Rosie's perspective instead of flipping back and forth between the two. Scarlett isn't a very likable character, but watching her and her passions from another person's viewpoint would have softened that tremendously.

I predicted the ending at about 1/3 of the way into the book, even before clues started to be dropped, which is highly disappointing. Other reviews mentioned the twist at the end, but I see it as more of a cop-out. The story would have been more satisfying and realistic had the author taken the hard path. The fact that it all ties up so neatly is something many readers of paranormal romances will love, but it's just not reality.

All of that said, it's definitely an interesting read and one that I would recommend to others. The writing is clean and not wanting for change, but the repetitive nature of several scenes made me wish for they had been trimmed from the manuscript. I did skim the last third of the book because I'd already figured out the big secret and just wanted to see how the book ended.

So long review summed up: a good read but nothing extraordinary.
1056122
I really wish I could give it three and a half stars, but I'll accept a low four. My daughter picked it out for me at our local library and we both thought it was a stand alone book.  To a point it is, but if you read it first (as I did), you'll find yourself wishing for more of Kara's backstory and more of Elythia's history as well...and such does exist, I assume, in the prequel.

Other than that it's just an average fantasy tale, if I'm being truthful. It's very uneven in tempo; sections of it would rush by in a blur, and then I would find myself fighting sleep trudging through other sections of it.  Certainly Pyro, Synge, and Emybr (sp?) are adorable,  but their relationship with Kaeldra just cannot save the book at all times.  The book struggles to get going in the beginning, but the typed method of telepathy between our dragon sayer heroine - and her charges -is actually very engaging and was where the tale begins to pick up for me.

As it is geared for the younger set, parents be warned: there are a couple of deaths that occur in the book.  That said, the author hardly pays them any mind, though I felt they are major.  There is just no real tear-jerking moment in the book, save perhaps for the well written finale. I kind of wish the story had of ended there.

I hesitate to write this review, because I have not yet read the prequel, not knowing there was one (the copy I had was from 1989 and made no mention of the other  books in the Dragon Chronicles).  That said, it's worth the read -  just not quite all that I expected at times.
4394139
Ok honestly part 2 was just ok to me. Three stars is actually a good rating to me. The effort was definitely there.
2286682
I would give it a 3.5 stars if I could. It's just okay. Don't really stay straight on the foot. For a short time, it will work, but don't expect them to be used multiple times and work well without some modifications.
22446
I would like to submit two different ratings for this book.  The murder mystery plot deserves somewhere between a 1 and a 2...leaning towards the 1, but the sizzling romance between Rachel and Johnny deserves a 5 for sure.

Similar to one of the reviewers below, I like to read all of the bad reviews before taking a gamble and purchasing a book, but I have to say that in this case, the criticisms about Johnny and Rachel's relationship didn't seem to match up with my impression of the book.

I think Rachel was a pretty decent character - I didn't adore her and laugh at her antics as I did with Sarah from Dark Torment or Susannah from Nobody's Angel, but I'd say she was a pretty decent protagonist.  From some of the comments, I expected her to be a bitchy player juggling two men at the same time, but in context, that was not at all how it seemed to me.  Johnny sounded pretty sexy and although I usually skim Robards' sex scenes, I loved the ones in this book.  V. hot and heavy!

I think that the mystery was at best, weak and at worst, stupidly concocted.  It just kind of popped up at you randomly and the ending really was kind of...stupid, I guess is the word for it.  Random.  I didn't really close the book with stars in my eyes the way I did for a few of her other books.  I wish Robards had just concentrated on the romance instead of trying to throw a murder mystery into the mix.  It just did not work and it rather insulted the reader's intelligence.  It was hackneyed and relied on a lot of Deus Ex Machina.  V. disappointing, but the romance is what I read it for, and that sure paid off!

Johnny's pain seemed so realistic and Rachel's feelings of consternation about their relationship were justified and also realistically dealt with.  I believe that there IS a good progression showing how their physical relationship progressed to a more emotional and mental one.  In fact, I think that it is definitely justifiable given that they did know and were once attracted to one another, years ago.

Anyways, I'd say the book is worth it for the romance, but yawningly dull during the mystery parts.  Buy it on sale.