Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey, especially once she meets the man of her dreams...
My thoughts:
Maddie is a character that you can't help liking right from the start. She discovers she has the ability to read minds, but with that comes the power to overload people's minds with her own thoughts. She's dangerous to others when she's awake and when she has nightmares. But things get better when she meets Trevor. She instantly feels a connection to him, and since she can read his mind, she knows he feels the same way about her. Trevor makes her abilities calm down, and considering other Minders like Maddie have been so overwhelmed by the ability that they had to leave Ganzfield and try to abandon their powers, Maddie is grateful for the way Trevor can ground her. But Trevor does so much more for her, too. The connection they have goes so far beyond high school sweethearts, and there are some truly swoon-worthy moments.
Romance aside, Kaynak really knows how to hike up the tension. The climax of this book had me on the edge of my seat, and at one point I realized I was holding my breath. The action and the emotions were incredible.
I'd give this book more than 5 stars if I could.
Just for fun: If you found out you could read people's thoughts, whose thoughts would you want to read most?
You do a great job of promotion, makes me want to buy everything. i cannot wait till my daughter is a teen and we can read this together! I think I would want to read my clients minds. And then turn it off the rest of the day. Using it the power only when I need it.
ReplyDeleteJodi, you already make me think you can read minds. You know people so well. :)
DeleteGreat review, Kelly. I'm not really sure I'd want the power to read minds. Imagine the stress! Thoughts like, "Ah look how thin she is, or look how fat she is, or, I'd really like to strangle her. etc " LOL But if I could filter the thoughts,I'd REALLY like to read men's thoughts. I always wonder what they're thinking.. :D
ReplyDeleteLOL. Ever see the movie What Women Want? It's about a guy who gets the ability to read women's minds. Funny!
DeleteThis is tricky. On one hand, I don't want to hear what anyone is thinking. It's personal. But on the other hand, my kids are growing up and soon they won't want to tell me anything. I guess I'd have to say my kids, but only until they're 18. lol
ReplyDeleteOoh, good one!
DeleteI love stories about people who can read minds. Initially I'd want to hear what everyone was saying, but I guess that could be quite maddening, because we sometimes think the strangest things and things that we would never do, all as a process of coming to a decision. It's like doing several calculations to get to a decision, and all the things that didn't add up get scrapped...but if someone could hear your thoughts it would be very difficult for them not to judge you on what you thought, even before you do anything. So I guess I'd want to read minds that are coming to a decision about me - imagine if you were in a job interview and heard someone thinking "I think she's pretty good, but she didn't bother to mention xyz and that's a real let down", and off you go with "May I just add xyz" Also great for when people are acting super-funky because you forgot something and you don't know what you forgot..."argh! it's our thirty-third day together anniversary, isn't it?" ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL. You've really thought about this. Love it!
DeleteRight now I'd love to read my youngest daughter's mind. She isn't talking yet other than a few words. There are times when it would save many headaches and tears if I could read her mind.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's very true!
DeleteI'd like to read my father's because he is a fascinating person whose mind works differently than most!
ReplyDeleteGood choice!
DeleteWhen I was *much* younger (as in seven years old) I felt that I could tell what people were thinking... But I lost that feeling long ago. I think of it as heightened intuition.
ReplyDeleteGood review, Kelly, as always.
My daughter has heightened intuition. It's kind of freaky sometimes. LOL
DeleteInteresting plot and unusual cover. Sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I want to read anyone's mind. In my forthcoming Tween book Star reads minds. It gets complicated sometimes.
Oh, yes, it's an ability that can cause issues.
DeleteI like the concept that someone can be dangerous to others when they have a nightmare. Sounds like a good read! I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteCatherine Stine’s Idea City
It's great. I think you'll enjoy it, Catherine.
DeleteI love this reversal of the Sookie Stackhouse/Edward trope--instead of her victims overwhelming HER mind with THEIR thoughts, it's the other way around!
ReplyDeleteAnd whoever up there said you were amazing at promo is right. I am curious, though: do you simply choose not to review books you don't like?
Kiersi, you got me. I don't review books I don't like. I don't like to insult anyone, and since books are subjective, I focus on the ones I love. :)
DeleteThis book sounds fascinating! I am definitely curious about it and to see what all the tension is about. Great review. If I could read anyone's mind- it would have to be my dog's mind. I might be too afraid to read anyone else's thoughts and I would love to know what my dog thinks.
ReplyDelete~Jess
LOL. That's my favorite answer so far, Jess. I'm with you!
DeleteWhat a great review, Kelly! I'm sure interested in this book now. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks. I really loved it.
DeleteNice review! Whose mind would I read ... maybe my grandma's because she hasn't been speaking logically these few days. Or maybe Benedict Cumberbatch, the Sherlock guy.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it.
DeleteWow, that's a very high recommendation. Sounds great.
ReplyDeleteIt really is. :)
DeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whose mind I'd read. I don't think I really want to since I hate the thought of people reading mine.
LOL I wouldn't want my mind read either.
DeleteGood review!
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely sure I'd want to be able to read someone's mind. It might feel cluttered...
Maybe a cat. Being able to meet minds with a higher form of life would be nice.
LOL. I loved your cat post by the way.
DeleteSounds like a good read. Not sure I'd want to attend that place though. lol The story looks interesting.
ReplyDelete