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bookmarkedjosie's review against another edition
5.0
The Forgotten Child, by Melissa Erin Jackson, is a fast-paced paranormal mystery/thriller. It also has a side of romance.
The romance took me by surprise, as I really wasn't expecting this book to have any. I have to admit, I ended up liking it, so although I thought it was quite cheesy and cringe-worthy at the very start, in the end I have to say I rooted for it.
I really liked the paranormal elements. It made me think of the Ghost Whisperer TV show, which I remember really liking when I was younger.
This book is the first of a duology, and although I'm not picking up the next book right away, I'm definitely adding it to my TBR!
The characters are really likeable and the plotline is gripping right from the start. I devoured this book and always wanted to go back to it. It literally felt like I was watching a show! Mixing True Crime, with the whole interacting-with-the-dead elements, it was the perfect mix.
Although the chapters were kind of long, it still read easily as there wasn't a dull moment. I always wanted to know what happened next.
I found this book on a Stuff Your Kindle Day event and I hadn't heard of it or the author before. I'm really glad I did and I'll definitely recommend it to people!
The romance took me by surprise, as I really wasn't expecting this book to have any. I have to admit, I ended up liking it, so although I thought it was quite cheesy and cringe-worthy at the very start, in the end I have to say I rooted for it.
I really liked the paranormal elements. It made me think of the Ghost Whisperer TV show, which I remember really liking when I was younger.
This book is the first of a duology, and although I'm not picking up the next book right away, I'm definitely adding it to my TBR!
The characters are really likeable and the plotline is gripping right from the start. I devoured this book and always wanted to go back to it. It literally felt like I was watching a show! Mixing True Crime, with the whole interacting-with-the-dead elements, it was the perfect mix.
Although the chapters were kind of long, it still read easily as there wasn't a dull moment. I always wanted to know what happened next.
I found this book on a Stuff Your Kindle Day event and I hadn't heard of it or the author before. I'm really glad I did and I'll definitely recommend it to people!
whatrosiereads's review against another edition
5.0
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book. The story is so fun and exciting with quirky characters and terrifying ghosts. Can you imagine going on a ghost tour in a house where a psycho serial killer murdered a bunch of girls? It's like a way more entertaining Ghost Hunters episode.
sheena_sherburn's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ohsnapsabrina93_'s review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Stalking, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
dnemec's review against another edition
3.0
In the prologue, we meet Orin Jacobs. When he was a child, his mom thought he'd be an inventor someday because he liked to take things apart and see how they worked. Unfortunately, he also began to take apart living things. His mom was not too keen on her son's hobby the day she found him with his sister tied to a tree and he told mom: "I wasn't going to hurt her!...I just wanted to see what's inside!" And that is how we start this creepy little tale. Nothing says "future serial killer" like cutting up animals. Orin did have the decency to wait until his mom's death to upgrade to humans, so I guess he does get points for that!
The story begins with two friends, Jade and Riley debating the wisdom of spending a weekend at Orin's former house, Jordanville Ranch. Orin, now long gone (...or is he?!), had used the ranch as the site of his experiments on his "patients." He'd take one girl for a year and operate on her. He wanted to test the human body and see how damage outside affected the inside, among other nasty little things. Orin's former house had been made popular by a reality tv show on the paranormal, and was open for visitors that wanted a weekend of ghost hunting. Riley is extremely apprehensive. Unbeknownst to Jade, Riley is a sensitive. She has been suppressing it since she was a child and saw the deceased sister of her childhood best friend, and doesn't want to put herself into a bad situation. But after Jade lays on the guilt, Riley agrees to go with her and 3 other friends.
Riley immediately feels things are wrong in the house, but tries her hardest to ignore it. After all, there is a super cute skeptic in one of the other groups that is definitely interested in knowing her better. But a few inadvertent object readings and bad dreams have her spooked. Things really get weird when she finds a boy in the lobby, only to discover later that he isn't staying at the house...or the nearby dude ranch...and he's been missing since 1973. Then the tour begins and Riley goes into the basement, the scene of Orin's experiments and all hell breaks loose. Riley leaves the house immediately with friend Pamela and cutie Michael, both of whom were in the basement with her. As they leave, she's sees the missing boy, Peter, in an upstairs window and feels guilty, but can't stay. But Peter follows her home, and things start getting weirder. Riley decides if she can find his body, she can put him to rest. But more went on in Jordanville Ranch than anyone knows. Well, almost anyone.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likable and the ghost story was interesting. I could've done without some of the romance stuff, but it didn't hamper the story. All in all, this was lots of fun. I'm looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story begins with two friends, Jade and Riley debating the wisdom of spending a weekend at Orin's former house, Jordanville Ranch. Orin, now long gone (...or is he?!), had used the ranch as the site of his experiments on his "patients." He'd take one girl for a year and operate on her. He wanted to test the human body and see how damage outside affected the inside, among other nasty little things. Orin's former house had been made popular by a reality tv show on the paranormal, and was open for visitors that wanted a weekend of ghost hunting. Riley is extremely apprehensive. Unbeknownst to Jade, Riley is a sensitive. She has been suppressing it since she was a child and saw the deceased sister of her childhood best friend, and doesn't want to put herself into a bad situation. But after Jade lays on the guilt, Riley agrees to go with her and 3 other friends.
Riley immediately feels things are wrong in the house, but tries her hardest to ignore it. After all, there is a super cute skeptic in one of the other groups that is definitely interested in knowing her better. But a few inadvertent object readings and bad dreams have her spooked. Things really get weird when she finds a boy in the lobby, only to discover later that he isn't staying at the house...or the nearby dude ranch...and he's been missing since 1973. Then the tour begins and Riley goes into the basement, the scene of Orin's experiments and all hell breaks loose. Riley leaves the house immediately with friend Pamela and cutie Michael, both of whom were in the basement with her. As they leave, she's sees the missing boy, Peter, in an upstairs window and feels guilty, but can't stay. But Peter follows her home, and things start getting weirder. Riley decides if she can find his body, she can put him to rest. But more went on in Jordanville Ranch than anyone knows. Well, almost anyone.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likable and the ghost story was interesting. I could've done without some of the romance stuff, but it didn't hamper the story. All in all, this was lots of fun. I'm looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
n_narine's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
abenteuerlichesoul's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25