REVIEW and GIVEAWAY
Desire in Frost
(Crystal Frost Book 2)
(Crystal Frost Book 2)
by Alicia Rades
Desire in Frost is the second book in the Crystal Frost series by Alicia Rades. Also available: Fire in Frost (read my blog post).
Desire in Frost is currently on tour with YA Bound Book Tours. The tour stops here today for my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Crystal Frost just recently discovered she can see ghosts and predict the future, yet the mystery of Hope Ross's abduction still haunts her dreams. While traveling to Florida for Thanksgiving, Crystal's visions of Hope only grow stronger. She enlists the help of her soon-to-be step-cousin Robin, a decision that complicates the entire picture - and her feelings. Can she figure out what happened to Hope and learn why Robin is so guarded, or will her newfound abilities fail her?
Book Video
Excerpt
I used the sounds of the waves coming in my window as an anchor so I’d have something to focus on besides my racing thoughts. The minutes ticked by, and after a long time, colors began swirling in the ball. They became the center of my focus as I fell deeper into the unknown. A faint figure formed in the crystal ball. I almost thought I saw Hope’s face, but then the image washed away as a chill settled over the room.
My head began spinning. I was glad I was sitting down so I didn’t have to find an extra support to keep myself upright. I was starting to understand this feeling all too well.
The girl had long dark hair and big beautiful eyes. For a second, I almost thought she was Hope. My heart sank at the thought that I’d failed her, but the girl standing in front of me was a lot older than Hope, just a few years younger than me.
I wanted to smile at her, to let her know that I wasn’t a threat, that I could help her even. I didn’t when I saw that the ghostly girl had an expression of urgency fixed to her face. My expression transformed to mirror hers when I realized that someone was likely in danger. I couldn’t think of any other excuse for why this ghostly girl would show herself to me.
“You have to help her,” she said. “She’s been scared for so long. I just want to see her happy.”
Now I knew for sure someone was in danger. Calm down, I told myself, but that was always difficult when a ghost was asking for help.
“Who?” I asked, a little bit louder than I intended. “Who do you need me to help?”
The girl looked around the room as if trying to take in her surroundings, and then her eyes fell back on me.
“My sister.”
Praise for the Book
"I loved how the story just flowed well throughout the entire book - I never once got that that-wouldn't-happen-in-real-life feeling. Alicia Rades did a great job of keeping me hooked to the very last word. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next ... " ~ Rheanna Lamph
" ... this book is beautifully written, easy to read, with likeable and believable characters that are multidimensional. I am so glad I found this new series and I am really excited about what the next book will bring. If you like a story full of mystery, ghosts, paranormal abilities and a touch of young romance, this book is definitely for you." ~ Bedazzled By Books
"The cover of this book is more stunning than book one. I love the purple shades. [...] Crystal again amazed me with how much she actually sounded like a teenager. Alicia Rades must really know what a teenager sounds like. All the characters actually have flaws. [...] I loved how there was a bit more romance in this book. [...] This book was a bit darker than the first one, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The mystery made me wonder why I ever stopped reading mystery in the first place. It made the sucpicious scenes more dramatic. This book started out slow, but got faster quickly. I read all but the first 30 or so pages today." ~ BethLee
"Desire in Frost is just a wonderfully positive read. It doesn't really contain any of the darker subtext of the first story - it's just a really light and warming story about a teenage girl discovering herself, finding love and saving the day. Because of this, it's really accessible for teenagers of all ages. Yet the primary draw is Crystal herself. [...] All in all, this book was simply great. I look forward to seeing where Rades takes this series next." ~ Kim Dyer
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book! [...] I adore Crystal! a young lady with a big heart and a special gift she doesn't always understand. [...] this is an exciting story with lots of twists and turns ... adrenaline pumping moments ... loved it." ~ Lisa
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
Crystal Frost is a fifteen-year-old psychic whose powers have only recently manifested themselves. This second book in the Crystal Frost series follows on directly from the events of Halloween in Fire in Frost. Crystal is investigating the abduction of six-year-old Hope Ross, a case that was brought to her attention at the end of the first book. It's now nearly Thanksgiving, and Crystal, her mother, and Teddy set off to visit Teddy's parents in Florida, along with Teddy's nephew Robin. But does Teddy have an ulterior motive for the trip? Will Crystal be able to solve the mystery of Hope's disappearance with the help of a few friendly ghosts? I see adventure and a blossoming romance in store for Crystal on this psychic road trip.
The story is a bit slow and repetitive at the start, but the pace picks up towards the end. Unfortunately, I had the mystery figured out less than halfway through the book, so I found all of Crystal's musings a bit tedious. Nevertheless, the story development held my interest. There are a couple of nice side stories featuring Crystal's new romance, and it's good to see Emma successfully developing her own psychic abilities and also getting closer to Derek.
I read an ARC with a few editing errors which are hopefully corrected in the final version.
A quick, adventurous, and romantic read for teens ages 13+.
About the Author
By day, Alicia Rades is a freelance writer, blogger, and editor. When inspiration strikes, she is also an author. Alicia has been captivated by the YA paranormal and supernatural genre since reading The Seer series by Linda Joy Singleton when she was 12 years old, and most of her stories are born out of the love for the genre. In college, Alicia majored in professional writing. Alicia lives in Wisconsin with her husband and too many fish to count.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card (open internationally).
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