revengelyne's review against another edition
4.0
Ivy's mother has remarried and her new husband uproots them from Charleston to his home in Scotland. Ivy, of course, is not happy with the move. She doesn't really care for her new stepfather and even worse, her step-grandmother is colder than the iceberg that sank The Titanic. Excusing herself from dinner with her new family, Ivy returns to her bedroom but she is scared out of her wits when her violin is suspended up in the air. Ivy knows if she tells her Mom of this, her Mom will believe she is acting out.
I loved the plotline and thought it flowed nicely. Normally ghostly romances are usually found in the more cheesy adult romance novels that used to grace my purse in high school but this one was more gothic romance with its more mystery and suspense storyline like the ones you used to find in the 90s. I do admit I liked this book more than I had other ghostly young adult romances I have read in the past.
I was also extremely pleased that the author kept with the dialect of the Scottish people. That made the story more realistic.
I will admit that Niall's Mom bothered me for quite a bit but I always thought there was something off about her and I was right when I found out about the ring. I was glad that she was redeemed as it wasn't her fault entirely for all the things she did. I also loved Emma. I thought she was a really cool character and a friend to Ivy.
If you love ghostly romance, then I recommend you read this one. You won't be disappointed!
I loved the plotline and thought it flowed nicely. Normally ghostly romances are usually found in the more cheesy adult romance novels that used to grace my purse in high school but this one was more gothic romance with its more mystery and suspense storyline like the ones you used to find in the 90s. I do admit I liked this book more than I had other ghostly young adult romances I have read in the past.
I was also extremely pleased that the author kept with the dialect of the Scottish people. That made the story more realistic.
I will admit that Niall's Mom bothered me for quite a bit but I always thought there was something off about her and I was right when I found out about the ring. I was glad that she was redeemed as it wasn't her fault entirely for all the things she did. I also loved Emma. I thought she was a really cool character and a friend to Ivy.
If you love ghostly romance, then I recommend you read this one. You won't be disappointed!
froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
4.0
Ivy Calhoun’s mother has just married a Scottish laird and now they are moving to his castle. When she arrives she finds the castle and the countryside to be spooky and the welcome from her stepfather’s grandmother’s reception is cold and even hostile. Then Ivy starts hearing voices telling her to go away, sees things floating, and she is even pushed and choked by an unseen force. Who or what wants her to leave? When Ivy meets Logan, a ghost who hangs around the castle she doesn’t know if he is friend or foe, but as she gets to know him she starts to fall in love with him. Can Ivy discover the mystery of the castle before she gets hurt? Can she somehow change Logan’s destiny so they can be together?
This really was a fluff book but it was fun. Scotland is a wonderful, mysterious setting and was the perfect backdrop for this book. The story reminded me of the “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon but more appropriate for middle school. There was a good mystery and some spooky elements so it was ideal for a beach or summer read.
This really was a fluff book but it was fun. Scotland is a wonderful, mysterious setting and was the perfect backdrop for this book. The story reminded me of the “Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon but more appropriate for middle school. There was a good mystery and some spooky elements so it was ideal for a beach or summer read.
megansendlessreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the plot line of this story. I thought that it was unique, interesting, and entertaining. The author did a wonderful job bringing this story idea to life. The book flowed easily and I loved how the mystery and romance were mixed together. I was kept guessing to the very end. The foreshadowing was done excellently and I enjoyed getting these hints throughout the book. I really enjoyed the ending and I think many future readers will be happy with the conclusion of the book.
Ivy was a character that many other characters could learn something from. She didn’t let anything get to her and wasn’t afraid to fight for the people she loves. She was brave and didn’t let past hurts distract her from her duty. I really enjoyed reading the book from her perspective and I liked how the author brought her emotions forth and made them believable throughout the book.
Logan was an interesting character because of the fact that he is a ghost. Yet his ghostly character wasn’t overdone and cringe worthy. He was a believable character that had a profound effect on the book by adding to the drama and the plot. Without him the book wouldn’t be as interesting and unique.
Overall this book was very enjoyable and a fun easy read. I would love to read more books by this author an am keeping an eye out for them.
***** I received this eARC from NetGalley.*****
Ivy was a character that many other characters could learn something from. She didn’t let anything get to her and wasn’t afraid to fight for the people she loves. She was brave and didn’t let past hurts distract her from her duty. I really enjoyed reading the book from her perspective and I liked how the author brought her emotions forth and made them believable throughout the book.
Logan was an interesting character because of the fact that he is a ghost. Yet his ghostly character wasn’t overdone and cringe worthy. He was a believable character that had a profound effect on the book by adding to the drama and the plot. Without him the book wouldn’t be as interesting and unique.
Overall this book was very enjoyable and a fun easy read. I would love to read more books by this author an am keeping an eye out for them.
***** I received this eARC from NetGalley.*****
jaclynmaria's review against another edition
4.0
4.5!!
Wow! I was not expecting to love that so much but I did! It was mysterious, the romance was beautiful and the setting of the Highlands Scotland was stunning! The plot and setting of a castle in Scotland really gave the book a fairly tale aspect that I absolutely loved. I also really loved how they spoke like they actually do in Scotland for exactly saying "Aye" instead of yes.. It really helped bring out there accents and I could literally hear it in my head.
It was definitely a light fun paranormal romance and it's super quick and easy to get through & can we just talk about how perfect Logan was? The romance was so fun to watch develop and I loved seeing the development between Ivy and her stepdad. My only complaint is that I wished it was longer!! That's why I gave it more of a 4.5 instead of the I full 5. I felt that if it was at least 200 more pages longer, the author could have made more happen and the development grow even further. It was still good for such a short book but I would have liked to live in this magical world a little longer! All in all it was quick,magical, and such a fun story!
"If I'm anything at all, I'm determined to see Logan get another chance of life. And that officially scares me. How can it not? Logan lived long ago, and his young life ended before it barely started. He's dead. And yet he makes me feel more alive than I've ever felt."
Wow! I was not expecting to love that so much but I did! It was mysterious, the romance was beautiful and the setting of the Highlands Scotland was stunning! The plot and setting of a castle in Scotland really gave the book a fairly tale aspect that I absolutely loved. I also really loved how they spoke like they actually do in Scotland for exactly saying "Aye" instead of yes.. It really helped bring out there accents and I could literally hear it in my head.
It was definitely a light fun paranormal romance and it's super quick and easy to get through & can we just talk about how perfect Logan was? The romance was so fun to watch develop and I loved seeing the development between Ivy and her stepdad. My only complaint is that I wished it was longer!! That's why I gave it more of a 4.5 instead of the I full 5. I felt that if it was at least 200 more pages longer, the author could have made more happen and the development grow even further. It was still good for such a short book but I would have liked to live in this magical world a little longer! All in all it was quick,magical, and such a fun story!
"If I'm anything at all, I'm determined to see Logan get another chance of life. And that officially scares me. How can it not? Logan lived long ago, and his young life ended before it barely started. He's dead. And yet he makes me feel more alive than I've ever felt."
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sweet, paranormal YA romance set in a creepy castle in Scotland. I gave it a solid 3.5 stars.
Liked: *Romance was clean and I would feel comfortable having my 12 year old read it.
* Decent mystery/ghost story.
* Characters that were intelligent and likeable. Heroine was actually nice and not annoying.
* No bad language! Greatly appreciated by me as a parent.
* Great atmosphere!
* It's a stand alone novel. It doesn't end on an annoying cliffhanger.
My only criticism is that the ending seemed a little rushed. Everything was resolved a little too quickly. I expected a little more of a showdown with the evil forces. But, all in all, it was a fun enjoyable read.
Liked: *Romance was clean and I would feel comfortable having my 12 year old read it.
* Decent mystery/ghost story.
* Characters that were intelligent and likeable. Heroine was actually nice and not annoying.
* No bad language! Greatly appreciated by me as a parent.
* Great atmosphere!
* It's a stand alone novel. It doesn't end on an annoying cliffhanger.
My only criticism is that the ending seemed a little rushed. Everything was resolved a little too quickly. I expected a little more of a showdown with the evil forces. But, all in all, it was a fun enjoyable read.
acg233's review against another edition
4.0
Title: Forevermore
Author: Cindy Miles
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Point
Length: 288 pages
Original Publishing Date: June 25th, 2013
Series: Standalone
Where I got it: NetGalley
Links: Goodreads Amazon Author's Website
Synopsis from Goodreads:
"On a misty cliffside, mystery and romance await. . . .
Ivy Calhoun's life has been turned upside down. Her new stepdad has uprooted Ivy and her mom, bringing them to live in an actual castle in the misty Scottish countryside. There are stone-faced servants and shadowy corridors, and the ancient walls seem full of secrets. Ivy is at once frightened and intrigued.
Especially when she meets Logan, a gorgeous, elusive ghost who has haunted the castle grounds for decades. Ivy is immediately drawn to him . . . but Logan is not the only spirit around. Something dark and deadly is afoot, and soon Ivy finds herself in mortal danger.
Is Logan exactly what he seems? Could his mysterious past be tied to Ivy's present? And can Ivy stop herself from falling in love with him?"
Main characters: 3/5
Ivy was pretty rad. She's a violin prodigy who loves 80s punk and has pink hair. And she had a really good head on her shoulders. The cool thing about Ivy is that I found myself picturing myself in her footsteps a lot, mostly for the way she interpreted the situations she was put in. I wish there had been a little bit more background/complexity to Ivy.
Secondary characters: 3/5
In contrast to Ivy's level-headedness, Logan was good-hearted but didn't know how to interact with Ivy at first. I didn't get a lot of insight or depth about Logan other than the fact that he was a musician too (he played the flute). It would have been cool to learn more about Logan. Niall and Ivy's mom get a little bit of a backseat in this novel, which is disappointing. They're actually some cool parents and I like how we learn more about Niall and see him develop as a new stepfather. Ivy's friend Emma was spunky and fun. The speed with which Ivy made friends with her was a little quick, especially given her earlier characterization.There was actually a pretty big cast of secondary characters for a pretty quick and easy to read book. Most of them were fairly well developed but a few could have used a little bit more time (the twins, the Munro family, etc.)
Writing style: 4/5
Miles has a way with illustrating the Scottish landscape incredibly well. Her descriptions aren't too dense and are easy to read but the visual illustrations are fantastic. I could imagine everything in my head which is so important to me as a reader. The pacing was also pretty darn impeccable. Right as I started to get tired of any one given scene, we moved right along.
Plot: 3.5/5
I adored the Scottish setting and especially how Miles used the setting so centrally in the plot. The plot/conflict itself had a lot of elements that I'd never seen before. Some of the plot itself wasn't explained quite to the fullest extent however so I was left with some question marks. Other things were explained at the very end which felt like an information dump.
Ending: 2.5/5
A little bit cheesy for my tastes but I liked the place that all the characters ended in and the final scene was pretty cool too. In a dream world, there would have been a bit more complexity to the ending as well.
Best scene: Any of the beginning scenes where Logan and Ivy first interact
Positives: Ivy and her awesome hair/violin/punk, cool plot elements, Scotland, writing style
Negatives: Underdeveloped and large secondary cast of characters, some cheesy parts, the end
Cover: Not exactly my taste, but I like that we get a good look at our main characters and the castle is pretty.
Verdict: Entertaining and light, Forevermore had a notable main character, setting and some cool plot points.
Rating: 6.4/10 (4 stars)
Author: Cindy Miles
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Point
Length: 288 pages
Original Publishing Date: June 25th, 2013
Series: Standalone
Where I got it: NetGalley
Links: Goodreads Amazon Author's Website
Synopsis from Goodreads:
"On a misty cliffside, mystery and romance await. . . .
Ivy Calhoun's life has been turned upside down. Her new stepdad has uprooted Ivy and her mom, bringing them to live in an actual castle in the misty Scottish countryside. There are stone-faced servants and shadowy corridors, and the ancient walls seem full of secrets. Ivy is at once frightened and intrigued.
Especially when she meets Logan, a gorgeous, elusive ghost who has haunted the castle grounds for decades. Ivy is immediately drawn to him . . . but Logan is not the only spirit around. Something dark and deadly is afoot, and soon Ivy finds herself in mortal danger.
Is Logan exactly what he seems? Could his mysterious past be tied to Ivy's present? And can Ivy stop herself from falling in love with him?"
Main characters: 3/5
Ivy was pretty rad. She's a violin prodigy who loves 80s punk and has pink hair. And she had a really good head on her shoulders. The cool thing about Ivy is that I found myself picturing myself in her footsteps a lot, mostly for the way she interpreted the situations she was put in. I wish there had been a little bit more background/complexity to Ivy.
Secondary characters: 3/5
In contrast to Ivy's level-headedness, Logan was good-hearted but didn't know how to interact with Ivy at first. I didn't get a lot of insight or depth about Logan other than the fact that he was a musician too (he played the flute). It would have been cool to learn more about Logan. Niall and Ivy's mom get a little bit of a backseat in this novel, which is disappointing. They're actually some cool parents and I like how we learn more about Niall and see him develop as a new stepfather. Ivy's friend Emma was spunky and fun. The speed with which Ivy made friends with her was a little quick, especially given her earlier characterization.There was actually a pretty big cast of secondary characters for a pretty quick and easy to read book. Most of them were fairly well developed but a few could have used a little bit more time (the twins, the Munro family, etc.)
Writing style: 4/5
Miles has a way with illustrating the Scottish landscape incredibly well. Her descriptions aren't too dense and are easy to read but the visual illustrations are fantastic. I could imagine everything in my head which is so important to me as a reader. The pacing was also pretty darn impeccable. Right as I started to get tired of any one given scene, we moved right along.
Plot: 3.5/5
I adored the Scottish setting and especially how Miles used the setting so centrally in the plot. The plot/conflict itself had a lot of elements that I'd never seen before. Some of the plot itself wasn't explained quite to the fullest extent however so I was left with some question marks. Other things were explained at the very end which felt like an information dump.
Ending: 2.5/5
A little bit cheesy for my tastes but I liked the place that all the characters ended in and the final scene was pretty cool too. In a dream world, there would have been a bit more complexity to the ending as well.
Best scene: Any of the beginning scenes where Logan and Ivy first interact
Positives: Ivy and her awesome hair/violin/punk, cool plot elements, Scotland, writing style
Negatives: Underdeveloped and large secondary cast of characters, some cheesy parts, the end
Cover: Not exactly my taste, but I like that we get a good look at our main characters and the castle is pretty.
Verdict: Entertaining and light, Forevermore had a notable main character, setting and some cool plot points.
Rating: 6.4/10 (4 stars)
noemiegvl's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such an easy read. I couldn't put it down! I loved the story and the characters. Even though, Logan who was born in the 19th century, didn't really show that he was not from our modern days. I wish the author might have given him more of a 19th century-vibe. But, he was a sweetheart, so I don't really mind that much. Ivy was a strong character, which I liked. The story was very interesting, I've never really read a book where one of the main characters is a ghost, so it was refreshing for me. I also enjoyed the magic/curse aspect a lot.
rach_kathleen's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really fun, easy read!
Loved all of the characters and of course, the setting (Scotland :P). However, I found the book was very cheesy/cringey at times!
Loved all of the characters and of course, the setting (Scotland :P). However, I found the book was very cheesy/cringey at times!
silverwing's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars, I guess?
This was okay. It had a lot of potential and could have been really great, but ended up kinda falling flat for me. The characters just didn't have any depth and everything was explained too easily. Kinda disappointed.
Also! There were TOTAL spoilers for Cindy Miles' other book, Highland Knight, which I'd been meaning to pick up. I'm not sure that I will now. This can definitely have been described as a companion novel to that one. At least a small warning would've been nice!
This was okay. It had a lot of potential and could have been really great, but ended up kinda falling flat for me. The characters just didn't have any depth and everything was explained too easily. Kinda disappointed.
Also! There were TOTAL spoilers for Cindy Miles' other book, Highland Knight, which I'd been meaning to pick up. I'm not sure that I will now. This can definitely have been described as a companion novel to that one. At least a small warning would've been nice!