Friday, March 22, 2013

Review and Giveaway: Notes From Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

They say first love never dies... 
From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.

There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there? 
With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself.
Notes From Ghost Town Review:
The book starts out as a sweet YA. Two friends who have known each other since they were very little start noticing each other in a new way. Both are embarking on their own adventure, just starting out in life. The sweetness of this beginning only enhances the horror to come. Lucas, aka Stern, is dead a week later and her mother is accused of his murder. In the midst of it all Kate loses all color. Everything is grey and it's not just her circumstances of what is happening around her. It's something as an artist she can't seem to fathom and is afraid she is becoming like her mother, schizophrenic.

This is just the start of the book. Not only do we have the mystery of Kate's illness, but we also suddenly get the appearance of Stark back in her life. Stark's ghost who claims that Kate's mother had nothing to do with his murder. Kate starts looking for clues trying to not only save her mother, but in doing so, she is also saving herself.

As far as how the mystery plays out, I'd have to say I was captivated. I enjoyed the way it unfolded and even how Kate seemed to find pieces of herself at the same time. I would have to say that there was only one loose end involving a lawyer, but even though I noticed, it did not take away the fun of wrapping up the rest of the mystery.

As a side note, I did have one thing that went through my mind about Kate's inability to see color. I thought that it would actually end up making her a stronger painter in the end. She would be able to concentrate on contrasts without the distraction of color. However, I understand why she may not have seen it the same way especially when she was really worried about becoming sick like her mother. Oh and yea.. I'm probably the only one who thought of that while reading the book. What can I say, I'm strange like that. :)

I give this book 4 stars. It's a good mystery that doesn't start out with one but builds as you go on Kate's adventure.
I received this ARC from Media Masters and no compensation for my review was given.

Check out the author's blog! You have a link to some of her artwork which is worth checking out!
Where to purchase a copy of Notes from Ghost Town:
Winner gets both books! Notes from Ghost Town will be a HC and The Butterfly Clues will be a paperback! Both published by Egmont. Open to US/Can snail addys only.
Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

34 comments:

  1. Wow, those covers. They make me wish I had been at the photo shoots! I also like how it gives a slightly older-than-YA vibe to the books. Guess I have to take a closer look at Kate Ellison and her works!

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    1. I would still consider them YA. Nothing too graphic, but yea, older YA. :)

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  2. Interesting illness, seeing everything in gray. Very intriguing how the mystery builds slowly -- I'm looking forward to reading it!

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  3. Thanks for the great giveaway! They look like really intriguing reads :)

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  4. Interesting..the title alone makes me want to add it to the list. I'm not sure if the book is for me, but I'm glad you found it entertaining. :)

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    1. Wasn't this book so good?! I think I was holding off tears after the first chapter. I think knowing Stern was going to die made the short time with him in the first chapter even worse - he was just so cute and adorable and I wanted them to be happy dammit! Still, I loved this book, and I did like the the romance played out:)

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    2. @Nina, if you like mystery, I do think you'd like it.

      @Jenny... YES! That first part was so hard to take. You just wanted to keep Stern alive!

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  5. I haven't had time to read this but am intrigued with her illness and the color thing.
    Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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  6. Thanks for this awesome giveaway. Both books are on my goodreads to read list :)

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  7. Intrigued by any novel that deals with mental illness, I'll have to keep a watch out for this one.

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  8. Loving art too, I find that I prefer to work in black and white format. This is going on my wish list. Thank you for a chance to win a copy!

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  9. Great review! I'm glad you enjoyed this one and the mystery kept your attention. Love that. I really want to read Kate's books, so thanks for the giveaway. :)

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  10. AAAH I want the giveaway for France only lol. It sounds like a nice book, I didn't know this one but the illness and the mystery make me want to discovery more about it.

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  11. Fab giveaway! I really want to read this because it is so different from your typical YA and I am super excited to hear that it has a great mystery. THanks for the chance to win. Fingers crossed. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  12. No matter how many reviews I've read, I never had a clear idea of this story until now. Really, all the usual tropes seem to have been avoided and the story sounds captivating as a result. I really want to know what happened to her now.
    A fabulous review as usual, Melissa!

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  13. Starts of all sweet..I do like when an author brings in several emotions

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  14. Thanks for the review and great giveaway! I totally loved the first book I read by this author (the butterfly clues). Can't wait to see what she writes next!

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  15. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! I've had my eye on it for awhile, so I'll have to pick it up soon for sure. I love a good mystery and this seems right up my alley! Wonderful review, Melissa! :D

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  16. Thanks for the great review and giveaway! I'm dying to read this book :)

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  17. I thought that only men could go colorblind but not women?

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  18. These sound good to read. I have to read those now lol.

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  19. The books sounds so good to me. Its something that i would be interested in. I love reading new books that i really dont know what they are really about.

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  20. These books DO sounds amazing and I AM super excited to read them! ;-b

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  21. So happy you liked this one! I've been on the fence about reading it, but it really does sound like an interesting mystery, and I'm really intrigued as to who killed Lucas now. Amazing review, Melissa!

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  22. Maybe you saw it that way because you paint, too.
    As a non painter, I wouldn't have thought of how her inability to see color would make her a better painter. I'd just think she couldn't paint, kind of like she felt.

    What a wonderful review you wrote! I enjoyed this novel a lot. It's amazing how much sweetness could be squeezed into so few pages in the beginning of the book and how it was ripped away so quickly. I loved that Stern came back to help her. Great review Melissa!

    Heather

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  23. This book sounds really great, and your review just makes me want to read it more =D

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  24. These book sounds really interesting, NFGT been on my radar since I first saw the cover for it! Thanks for the chance!

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  25. Hmm, world rocking comment?? Yeah, so I am all out of those. Sorry. I think my mind is sleeping. Initially, I wasn't so sure about Notes From a Ghost Town. It sounded good, but I have heard some really negative things about The Butterfly Clues and I didn't want to be completely disappointed. Now though, I am absolutely looking forward to reading this story. I have heard such good things about it. Much more good than bad. And like I said, it sounds really good. I am up for taking a chance with it. And that cover is at least pretty to look at, if the book ends up being not so great.

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