Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser
Series: Never Forgotten #1
Published by Clean Teen Publishing
Published on: June 29 2014
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 328
Format: eBook
Source: Author
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One minute Meara Quinn is making plans for the summer before her senior year. The next she finds out that her mother's cancer has returned and they're moving away from the only home she's ever known. Every day becomes a struggle as Meara tries to cope with her mother's illness while being forced to move to another country to live with grandparents who are strangers.
Add weird visions of a father who was absent her entire life and top it all off with one whopping secret that everyone seems bent on keeping from her, and Meara has the perfect ingredients for a major melt down. The only things keeping her from coming unglued are some new friends and Evan—the son of her mother's childhood friend—who seems to know Meara almost better than she knows herself.
Together with Evan and her friends, Meara embarks on a new journey to unlock the secrets that will not only tell Meara who she is, but what she is.
Sometimes it’s difficult for readers to find something new and different to appease that need for a good paranormal read. This book pretty much checked that box for me. I’ve never been a fan of ocean creatures as paranormal beings, that is, until recently. I’ve had really good luck with a few, and this one falls into that category for me also. For those that might be wondering, it is young adult-mostly.
Meara is seventeen and getting ready to start her senior year in high school. She thinks she has it all planned out with her best friend, Kim. When her mother’s cancer comes back, all that changes. They move to Nova Scotia to live with her grandparents. After initially not wanting to go, she gets over it when she meets Evan, the son of her mother’s best friend. He’s like the perfect boyfriend, and Meara feels lucky in that respect. However, her father David, the man who left her mom shortly after her birth, shows back up in her very realistic dreams. It’s not long before she realizes that he’s not exactly human and she’s not really dreaming. And if that is true, what’s that make her? Why has he never been in her life? Why did her mom move away from Nova Scotia when she was a baby, and never come back to visit? Lots of questions to be answered here, making it a sort of mystery for Meara and Evan to solve, because her mother sure isn’t telling!
I found this book to be a very easy, even fast read, at least for me it was. The author has written likable good characters, and easily flowing dialogue. There’s some angst involved at times, you know teenagers being teenagers, but mostly I agreed with the angst because I would be feeling it too, if I was in Meara’s shoes.This is also a book of self discovery, and also is very emotional, at times.
The next paragraph might be a bit of a spoiler, so this is just a warning*****The romance aspect of the book was a very sweet romance and G rated-until it wasn’t. But really it still belongs in the young adult category, but maybe more older young adult-because it’s a bit PG. Absolutely nothing explicit here though! I don’t like spoilers, but it really needed to be mentioned, in my opinion. End of spoiler*****
I enjoyed the read enough that I am really looking forward to the sequel. A least I am hoping for a sequel, because the ending was pretty much a cliffhanger. Not usually a fan, but in this case, it was the natural place for the ending. Well written, good characters, sweet romance, a really different premise, what else would you want in a YA paranormal read? Not much I am betting!
I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
Not for me because like you, I just cant connect with Neptune’s kids LOL. I like the human angle though with the mom getting sick and moving to a strange place, must be quite the adjustment for her.
It wasn’t mermaids so that was a positive for me for sure!
I love that you liked this so much, especially since I have trouble with mermaid/siren type reads as well. I think I want to try this one now for sure.
Great review!
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Mary: The Summoning by Hillary Monahan
It was actually a freebie so you an try it without losing anything. However the author can really write so I think you will enjoy it.:) And Thank you!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser
Probably not for me but I am guessing my friend Wendy would love this! 🙂
Felicia the Geeky Blogger recently posted…Top Off Tuesday: A Seal’s Seduction by Tawny Weber
It’s actually a freebie so you can try it without losing anything. However the author really does know how to write so I think you may really enjoy it 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser
Okay that was weird the whole page flipped and this comment went on yours instead of the one above.
Here is your comment- I hope she enjoys it!
I love the cover to this one. So sad, but so beautiful at the same time.
Stephanie Faris recently posted…Q&A with Author Jen Malone, At Your Service
Yes I loved the cover too!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser
I haven’t read many ocean paranormal books, and this sounds like one I might enjoy! Lovely review, Lorna!
Kris recently posted…Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost
Thank you! I haven’t either but I did enjoy this!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser
Hm… not sure if this one is for me, but since you seemed to enjoy it, I would be willing to give it a go. I actually like mermaids, but it doesn’t always work so I’m glad that there aren’t any here.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Book Excerpt, Review and Giveaway: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost
Nope, no mermaids here 🙂 If you try it, I hope you like it!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser
I think I’d seen this one around somewhere and was interested in it. I haven’t read any paranormals with sea creatures but you’ve got me all kinds of curious, Lorna. I like that it seems to incorporate some mystery to go along with this unique premise. And great characters seal the deal. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I liked that I had no idea what the creature was before reading, but I noticed some reviewers on Amazon actually tell that. I wasn’t going to tell because I liked finding out by reading it 🙂 I also really loved the cover too!
Well I do want more from my YA so in that aspect it sounds good
blodeuedd recently posted…Daughter of Smoke and Bone – Laini Taylor
It was good! And different but well written 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser
This publisher confuses me. “Clean Teen” seems like there should be maybe a modest peck or two not G-rated until it’s not (this is the second book pubbed by them that I’ve read a review where it did this). I do like when there’s something new in the paranormal genre, especially when it’s a YA (those can be very all-the-same!).
Mary recently posted…Top Off Tuesday: Bring the guns! Bring the nips!
I know what you mean, it really made me wonder what is acceptable for teenagers to read. Nothing was explicit but the deed was done so…Of course when I was a teenager I read everything and lots of it was not exactly for teenagers so I don’t know where the line is drawn now. It should be noted that the main character was eighteen by that time.
Lorna recently posted…Review: Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser
Hmmm not my usual genre but you have me curious. It’s been a long while since I’ve read one connected with the ocean as well. Glad you enjoyed it and it brought a little freshness to your reads 🙂
anna (herding cats & burning soup) recently posted…SIGN UP: Fairy Tale Magic Blog Hop Sept 15-22nd!
At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like the creature but the writing drew me in and I really liked the characters as well, so it was fine 🙂