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ac223's review
3.0
This review can also be found at: http://thepaperbackaddict.blogspot.com/
Slow Dance in Purgatory was a bit strange. The plot was interesting enough that I wanted to finish it, but I can't say I loved it.
Maggie lost her parents when she was ten, and spent several years being shuffled around to different foster families. She ends up living permanently with her great aunt in Texas, finally having a home again. While working her part time job helping clean the high school she attends, she learns of a fifty year old mystery that still haunts their small town. Meeting the man, who's now a ghost that is at the center of this mystery isn't as surprising as it should be. Maggie has always been able to see ghosts, though usually she isn't able to interact with them. Seeing the ghosts of people long dead, repeating an endless loop of things they had done in life, isn't nearly as exciting as falling in love with a man only she can see.
***Spoilers***
Maggie & Johnny develop a fast friendship. He hasn't had an opportunity to speak with anyone in fifty years, and she doesn't exactly have a lot of friends. Their friendship develops into love, but it's something she must keep a secret. Johnny knows that Maggie shouldn't love him. He is bound to the school where he died, and can never leave. He tries to distance himself from her, but the two of them can't seem to stay away from each other. He does finally pull away from her for good, knowing that it's in her best interest to get over him and move on. Her friend Shad gets himself into trouble trying to impress some of the older, cool kids. He gets his grandfathers key to the school after convincing the other kids it's haunted. They make him think he is a part of their group long enough to gain access, and then stuff him in a locker. After what seems like forever he is finally able to get to his phone and dial Maggie's number. She heads up to the school immediately. While the others were messing around with a Ouija board, and drinking a few beers they unintentionally set a fire that quickly gets out of control. They all take off, forgetting the kid they left in the locker. Maggie pulls up to the school in flames, and is horrified to think that Shad is trapped inside. She goes in, knowing that if she can get to Johnny he can help her. He tells her to stay put while he gets Shad, but she is lured away by the ghost of Roger, her great grandmothers deceased husband, who was involved in Johnny's death. She sees how Johnny dies, and is almost there herself. Roger tells her to let go, that she can join Johnny and be with him forever. Johnny finds her just in time, and takes her as far out as he can. He can never go past the doors of the school, but is able to get her to safety where she is quickly found and taken away by the ambulance. While still in a coma at the hospital, Johnny's body is found among the rubble, with a gunshot wound from fifty years ago, and an unsteady pulse. He too is taken to the hospital, but only Gus, Shad's uncle, recognizes him. He tells Maggie that Johnny is alive, and that he will need her once he wakes up. Somewhere lost in her coma she hears him, and forces herself to wake up. To be continued in book two.
Slow Dance in Purgatory was a bit strange. The plot was interesting enough that I wanted to finish it, but I can't say I loved it.
Maggie lost her parents when she was ten, and spent several years being shuffled around to different foster families. She ends up living permanently with her great aunt in Texas, finally having a home again. While working her part time job helping clean the high school she attends, she learns of a fifty year old mystery that still haunts their small town. Meeting the man, who's now a ghost that is at the center of this mystery isn't as surprising as it should be. Maggie has always been able to see ghosts, though usually she isn't able to interact with them. Seeing the ghosts of people long dead, repeating an endless loop of things they had done in life, isn't nearly as exciting as falling in love with a man only she can see.
***Spoilers***
Maggie & Johnny develop a fast friendship. He hasn't had an opportunity to speak with anyone in fifty years, and she doesn't exactly have a lot of friends. Their friendship develops into love, but it's something she must keep a secret. Johnny knows that Maggie shouldn't love him. He is bound to the school where he died, and can never leave. He tries to distance himself from her, but the two of them can't seem to stay away from each other. He does finally pull away from her for good, knowing that it's in her best interest to get over him and move on. Her friend Shad gets himself into trouble trying to impress some of the older, cool kids. He gets his grandfathers key to the school after convincing the other kids it's haunted. They make him think he is a part of their group long enough to gain access, and then stuff him in a locker. After what seems like forever he is finally able to get to his phone and dial Maggie's number. She heads up to the school immediately. While the others were messing around with a Ouija board, and drinking a few beers they unintentionally set a fire that quickly gets out of control. They all take off, forgetting the kid they left in the locker. Maggie pulls up to the school in flames, and is horrified to think that Shad is trapped inside. She goes in, knowing that if she can get to Johnny he can help her. He tells her to stay put while he gets Shad, but she is lured away by the ghost of Roger, her great grandmothers deceased husband, who was involved in Johnny's death. She sees how Johnny dies, and is almost there herself. Roger tells her to let go, that she can join Johnny and be with him forever. Johnny finds her just in time, and takes her as far out as he can. He can never go past the doors of the school, but is able to get her to safety where she is quickly found and taken away by the ambulance. While still in a coma at the hospital, Johnny's body is found among the rubble, with a gunshot wound from fifty years ago, and an unsteady pulse. He too is taken to the hospital, but only Gus, Shad's uncle, recognizes him. He tells Maggie that Johnny is alive, and that he will need her once he wakes up. Somewhere lost in her coma she hears him, and forces herself to wake up. To be continued in book two.
rlisaacs's review
4.0
This was really good! It was a little slow for me getting into it, but that could also be contributed to my busy schedule when I started this. But once I started digging in deeper... oh man! (I finished this at work, you guys. I just had to know what happened, or what was going to happen, or who was going to give in, when was he going to cave, and ultimately, how in the heck is a relationship like this ever going to actually work?!)
Johnny, our H, is a ghost. Sort of. Kind of. Honestly not really sure and even now that I'm finished, still trying to figure that out. Maggie, our h, can see him. And from there, as one who loves romance can expect, love begins to bloom.
Both know it's a bad idea. Both try at certain points to resist. Both simply can't. And you wrack your brain for this entire story trying to figure out how there is ever going to be any chance of this working out when everyone, including out MCs, consider it to be a doomed situation from the start.
I don't like Roger. But since his presence in this book is in the past tense, so to speak, I will refrain from saying to much about that mean man. Instead, I will inform you that, while many people may find him endearing... I do not like Shad (Shadrach, for those wanting his full name.) A side character who started out cute and loveable and I did enjoy him as sort of a comic relief. And then he quickly became annoying, overbearing, childish, foolish, and he caused our dear Maggie a good bit of frustration and at the end, definitely worry. (I mean, he's fourteen, so I guess I'm not supposed to judge the kid too harshly. But still! He did... just a stupid, stupid thing near the end that...)
Not gonna say more. I guess he should sort of be thanked for his blunder of stupidity at that moment since it lead to our final moments of the book. But since that ended in a cliffhanger (was it one? I'm calling it one. Yes, definitely.) Anyway, since we ended up dangling over the edge of a cliff at the end of that last page, I'm not sure if we thank Shad or not. But I will definitely be reading the second book, so I'll let you know then.
4.5 strong stars, and a promise to read more of this author's books. Loved it. I regret nothing.
Johnny, our H, is a ghost. Sort of. Kind of. Honestly not really sure and even now that I'm finished, still trying to figure that out. Maggie, our h, can see him. And from there, as one who loves romance can expect, love begins to bloom.
Both know it's a bad idea. Both try at certain points to resist. Both simply can't. And you wrack your brain for this entire story trying to figure out how there is ever going to be any chance of this working out when everyone, including out MCs, consider it to be a doomed situation from the start.
I don't like Roger. But since his presence in this book is in the past tense, so to speak, I will refrain from saying to much about that mean man. Instead, I will inform you that, while many people may find him endearing... I do not like Shad (Shadrach, for those wanting his full name.) A side character who started out cute and loveable and I did enjoy him as sort of a comic relief. And then he quickly became annoying, overbearing, childish, foolish, and he caused our dear Maggie a good bit of frustration and at the end, definitely worry. (I mean, he's fourteen, so I guess I'm not supposed to judge the kid too harshly. But still! He did... just a stupid, stupid thing near the end that...)
Not gonna say more. I guess he should sort of be thanked for his blunder of stupidity at that moment since it lead to our final moments of the book. But since that ended in a cliffhanger (was it one? I'm calling it one. Yes, definitely.) Anyway, since we ended up dangling over the edge of a cliff at the end of that last page, I'm not sure if we thank Shad or not. But I will definitely be reading the second book, so I'll let you know then.
4.5 strong stars, and a promise to read more of this author's books. Loved it. I regret nothing.
karinanne's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Well written but for a tween, teen audience
malyenoretsev's review against another edition
2.0
Just not my type of book, I don't want to go into details but it was boring, and I just wanted it to end.
tracemus's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, and am going to get the second one!
novahkiin's review against another edition
3.0
Very insta-love, which I didn't like, but the twist was cool.
decima_blanc's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
browneyedbookworm's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
5.0