Review: Surrender - Lee Nichols

After a devastating battle at headquarters in New York, the ghostkeeping world is in shambles. But Emma and Bennett are finally a solid team - and sneaking off to quiet corners of Bennett's museum-like mansion is just what they need to recover from battle. That is, until Bennett's parents kick him out, leaving Emma feeling more along than ever.

The only way to save her relationship - and the ghostkeeping world - is to defeat Neos forever. But the wraith master's next attack hits close to home: Thatcher Academy. If evil ghosts manage to take over the entire school, even Emma won't be strong enough to stop them. Though if she or Bennett sacrifice their power, they might be able to end Neos's reign once and for all - and break the curse that is keeping them apart. The question is: who will be the one to surrender?

Haunting Emma Series:
Deception
Betrayal
Surrender

Visit Lee Nichols' website for more information

Review:
Surrender is the third and last book in Lee Nichols' Haunting Emma trilogy and it really sends the series out with a bang. The story picks up right after the ending of Betrayal with Emma and the rest of the ghostkeepers all reeling from Neos's latest attack. They know that Neos is gaining power with every day that passes and that Emma has the best chance of defeating him but just how much will she have to give up in order to beat him?

This has been a really enjoyable series and as much as I'm a little sad to see it end I was pleased with the resolution to things. Emma has really grown as a character since the first book, she is much stronger now that she has learnt to use her abilities and I've enjoyed seeing her find out about the ghostkeepers and their history. I did expect that we would learn more about the Knell in this book and was surprised that they didn't seem to have much of a role to play in the story - particularly since Simon was sent back to headquarters to help them rebuild. It was a shame to break up the ghostkeeper team from the last book but at least Emma still had Natalie and Lukas to rely on for help.

In Betrayal I had missed the interaction between Emma and Bennett so I was pleased that he had a bigger role in this book and they got to spend a bit more time together. I wasn't happy about his continued use of drugs to keep him strong enough to fight Neos but as much as I didn't agree with his actions I could understand why he felt he had no other choice. He loved Emma and didn't want to avoid being with her but he also felt that he needed to be strong enough to protect her and he couldn't see any other option.

I enjoyed seeing more of Sara, Harry and Coby and it was great that they have resolved their issues from the last book and are back in Emma's corner again. I also loved seeing more of the ghostly jocks that have been plaguing Emma since the first book, at least this time they finally offer her some assistance. It was interesting to have the added dynamic of both Emma and Bennett's parents in the story since they have been so conspicuously absent throughout the series. I know Emma's family have tried to explain their actions but personally I haven't forgiven them and I thought it was quite amusing that they felt they had the rights to waltz back in and expect to tell Emma what to do. I thought both families reactions to Emma and Bennett's relationship were realistic but ridiculous considering they had practically abandoned the pair of them!

I was slightly disappointed with the final showdown with Neos because it seemed to be a bit too quick and easy but overall I was pleased with the story. The action towards the end sucked me in and was impossible to put down and there were a couple of twists that I hadn't expected but I would have liked to have felt a bit more risk for Emma and her friends. Overall I've really enjoyed the Haunting Emma series and would definitely recommend it to paranormal fans who like their ghost stories to include romance, action and interesting mythology. I'm looking forward to seeing what Lee Nichols comes up with next!

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Betrayal - Lee Nichols

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries - which is great for battling the wraith master, Neos, but awful for her social life.  Emma knows fellow ghostkeeper Bennett Stern is her soul mate, but when ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power.  And until Neos is defeated, Bennett and Emma can't risk it.

When the temptation of being with Emma gets to be too much, Bennett disappears.  Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school.  But when the Knell, a secret ghostkeeping society, sends two new ghostkeepers to Echo Point, Emma throws herself back into training to battle Neos.  As the team grows stronger, so do the ghosts.  And worse, one of their own will betray them.  One Emma never suspected . . .

Haunting Emma Series:
Deception
Betrayal
Surrender

Visit Lee Nichols' website for more information

Review:
With Emma trying to cope with the devastating events at the end of the first book and on a sharp learning curve when it comes to her ghostkeeping abilities she is going to need her friends more than ever.  Unfortunately Sara and Harry blame her for what happened to Coby and Bennett has done one of his vanishing acts so she finds herself more alone than ever.  Luckily she still has Natalie to rely on and she is kept busy training so that she can fight against Neos.

I loved Deception so had been really looking forward to reading Betrayal.  Unfortunately it didn't quite manage to live up to my expectations but it was still a good read and has left me looking forward to the final installment, Surrender, later this year.  I loved the fact that there was more action in Betrayal, the story has a much faster pace and kept me on the edge of my seat with some surprising twists and turns.

Now that Emma is aware that she's a ghostkeeper she is working hard to learn how to use her abilities against Neos.  She is determined to do whatever it takes to bring him down but she isn't going to be able to do it alone.  She has some surprising allies but she is also going to face some shocking betrayals, one in particular that really upset me.  I enjoyed finding out more about the Knell although I have to say that as a supposedly powerful organisation they seem rather weak when it comes to protecting themselves.  I did like getting to know Lukas and Simon though and it was interesting to see the dynamic between them, Emma and Natalie as they all learnt to trust each other and work together.

I think what I missed most were the interactions with Emma and Bennett, I really loved the two of them in Deception and wanted more of that.  Things started off really well but then Bennett disappears for most of the book which was disappointing.  When we do finally see him again I found myself annoyed with some of the decisions he has made and I'm concerned about how things will play out in the future.  I had also hoped to find out more about Emma's family in this book, I want to know more about why they have abandoned her and exactly what they are up to but it seems like I'll have to wait for the next book to get answers to all of my questions.

Although I didn't think this installment was quite as strong as the first I'm still really enjoying the Haunting Emma series and am looking forward to finding out what happens next.  The mythology Lee Nichols has created is unique and I'm enjoying finding out more about the ghostkeepers.  If you haven't picked up this series yet then it's one I would definitely recommend but you do really need to start with the first book Deception before you pick up Betrayal.

Source: I was given this book by the lovely Carly from Writing from the Tub, thanks Carly!

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Deception - Lee Nichols

When her parents leave on a mysterious business trip, Emma Vaile has the perfect excuse to rebel.  But when the police crash her party, she finds herself in the hands of a new guardian, Bennett Stern, and swiftly on a plane to his museum-like mansion in New England.

After enrolling at Thatcher Academy, Emma makes friends with the popular crowd but can't shake the strange visions that are beginning to haunt her.  She has memories of Thatcher that she can't explain, as if she's returning home to a place she's never been.  Emma doesn't trust anyone any more - except maybe Bennett.  And he's about to reveal a ghostly secret, one that will explain the visions ... and make Emma fear for her life.

Haunting Emma Series:
Deception
Betrayal
Surrender

Visit Lee Nichols' website for more information

Review:
When Emma's parents go abroad on a business trip Emma finds herself home alone and in charge of looking after the family business.  It isn't really that unusual for her parents to go away but it is strange that she hasn't heard from them in weeks and they aren't returning her calls.  After someone reports the fact that she is home alone to Child Protective Services Emma is given two choices, to go into foster care until her parents return or to go and stay with her guardian Bennett.  It isn't a difficult decision to make and she soon finds herself moving to the other side of the country to live with Bennett.  Starting at her new school Emma starts to see things that can't possibly be there, she has memories of Thatcher Academy even though she has never been there before and she is seeing people that nobody else seems to notice.  Is she losing her mind or is she really seeing ghosts?

Deception is a fantastic debut from Lee Nichols and one that had me hooked from the first page.  Emma is a great main character and one that it is easy to relate to.  You have to feel for her when she is left to fend for herself and although she copes surprisingly well on her own I really wanted to track down her parents and give them a good talking to.  Emma has the usual worries of a teenage girl, especially one who is trying to find her place in a new school but she quickly starts making friends and I loved seeing her interactions with Coby, Harry and Sara.

There are a lot of different mysteries going on in this first installment in the Haunting Emma series, not only does Emma have to come to terms with her new ability to see and communicate with ghosts but she also appears to be being targeted by some kind of evil spirit.  A lot of people have been keeping secrets from her and she is now finding it very difficult to work out who she can trust.  There are some great twists that I really didn't see coming and I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress in the next book.

Some of my favourite characters were the staff who worked in Bennett's mansion and it was good for Emma to have some kind of support at home.  Bennett annoyed me early on by spending so much time avoiding Emma, I really felt that she needed someone to help her deal with everything and thought he should have spent time explaining things to her.  As we got to know him better my feelings toward him started to change and at that point I could see why everyone finds him so swoon worthy.  I'll definitely be looking forward to seeing what happens with him and Emma in the next book.

Deception was a quick and easy read that had me gripped from beginning to end, the story has action, mystery and a little romance, the plot was fast paced and full of surprising twists and I can't wait to read the sequel Betrayal.  I'd definitely recommend this series to paranormal fans who are looking for a ghost story with unique and interesting mythology.

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
Mindful Musings
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.