Welcome to my stop for the Tunnel Vision blog tour! I really enjoyed this book so I hope you take the time to check it out and consider adding it to your to read pile!
Published By: St. Martin's (January 20, 2015)
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: YA Fantasy/Thriller
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Book Description:
Romance and action come crashing together when a teenage boy with incredible powers is brought to the attention of the government.
Jake Lukin just turned 18. He's decent at tennis and Halo, and waiting to hear on his app to Stanford. But he's also being followed by a creep with a gun, and there's a DARPA agent waiting in his bedroom. His secret is blown.
When Jake holds a personal object, like a pet rock or a ring, he has the ability to "tunnel" into the owner. He can sense where they are, like a human GPS, and can see, hear, and feel what they do. It's an ability the government would do anything to possess: a perfect surveillance unit who could locate fugitives, spies, or terrorists with a single touch.
Jake promised his dad he’d never tell anyone about his ability. But his dad died two years ago, and Jake slipped. If he doesn't agree to help the government, his mother and sister may be in danger. Suddenly he's juggling high school, tennis tryouts, flirting with Rachel Watkins, and work as a government asset, complete with 24-hour bodyguards.
Forced to lie to his friends and family, and then to choose whether to give up everything for their safety, Jake hopes the good he's doing—finding kidnap victims and hostages, and tracking down terrorists—is worth it. But he starts to suspect the good guys may not be so good after all. With Rachel's help, Jake has to try to escape both good guys and bad guys and find a way to live his own life instead of tunneling through others.
About the Author:
Susan Adrian is a 4th-generation Californian who somehow stumbled into living in Montana. In the past she danced in a ballet company and worked in the fields of exotic pet-sitting, clothes-schlepping, and bookstore management. She’s settled in, mostly, as a scientific editor. When she’s not with her family, she keeps busy researching spy stuff, learning Russian, traveling, and writing more books.
I admit, I had absolutely no expectations going into this other than keeping my fingers crossed that with that premises, I was going to get something totally fun and original, which I completely did but I also got an exciting story told from the point of view of a boy. Yes you heard me right, a YA book told from the male point of view.
Why do we not get more of these in the YA genre because I really enjoy them! It is refreshing to get something different and fun and yes, get a guys point of view on how it all is.
Throw in a mystery, a little paranormal woohoo, a conspiracy and you have a nonstop action packed read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is Adrian's debut novel and honestly, I wouldn't have guessed it at all. The writing was fabulous and the plot was constantly moving. I really liked Jake and loved getting to know his personality and I love that his ability was explained and we weren't left guessing where is came from or how it all started.
My only real complaint was the ending. It wasn't a bad ending I just wanted more. I wasn't quite ready for it to be over and while the ending wasn't spelled out for us, there was enough implied that we get the gist of it with still being able to use our imaginations for how it all turned out in the end.
Overall this was an enjoyable read that I am glad I took a chance on. I will definitely pick up this author's work in the future.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
Urban Fantasy has been featuring more and more male POVs as of late, but I'll admit to having had to read your opening paragraph twice. A boy MC in YA!? I want to read this book now just for that! Too bad the ending fizzled, but Jake still trumps that fact.
ReplyDeleteCarmel @ Rabid Reads
It really is a nice change every now and then to get the male POV in YA.
DeleteI hadn't heard anything about this book until I saw Danielle read it. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this one too! I'll have to make sure to check this book out because it sounds like fun. And yay for male POV!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Ali!
Thanks so much Nick!
DeleteThe premise sounds really interesting and your review makes it sound promising. So I will be debating with my inner self whether to read this book or not ;)
ReplyDeleteCucie @ Cucie reads
It really was a fun read. :)
DeleteSometimes, going in without any expectations is a good thing. You've at least enjoy it from what I can surmise from your review. :)
ReplyDeleteI did. :)
DeleteThanks Kindlemom, the premise and cover are great. Hmm you know sometimes authors feel the same way about the novel and write sequels. Fingers crossed for this one!
ReplyDelete*fingers crossed!*
DeleteI wonder the same thing about the romance genre. It's so rare to get one told from the male POV when in first person. Though they do sneak in more with NA but still. It's kind of nice to have that change of view.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to have something a little different every now and then, especially in this genre.
DeleteI am glad that you liked this one. I had to smile when you said YA from the POV of a boy. I have read several like that and I agree, there should be more. It is fun to see it from the guy's eyes.
ReplyDeleteSo true!
DeleteUgh! Isn't it horrible when that happens, especially when the rest of the book was so darn good!
ReplyDeleteI love the premise and of course a male perspective is a win. Too bad about the ending as this is a standalone. Maybe it was left that way for additional books?
ReplyDeleteI don't know but I am really hoping so!
DeleteI love male POV. I was recommended this one not long ago so it sounds like I need to make sure to read it!
ReplyDeleteI think you would really like this one for sure. :D
DeleteI agree, I want to see more ya male point of view too. I'm glad this one was so fun for you. I haven't even heard of it before.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds interesting.
Great review, and thanks for sharing a new book with me :)
Yes! More male POV books please! I prefer it actually, it's less emotional, more objective sometimes, and straightforward. Also the inner monologue is more entertaining. Idk, maybe coz I'm a girl and I'm tired of girly thoughts? LOL
ReplyDeleteThat could be. ;)
DeleteI agree, there should be more YA books from a male POV, I read not even a handful but enjoyed them!
ReplyDeleteSame here Lily. :)
DeleteSorry you weren't in love with the ending, but this sounds like an exciting read for the most part! And I LOVE books in the male point of view.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely and worth the read. :)
DeleteI wish they did more YA books from the boy's point of view also! Hearing from a mans point of view is usually more appealing to me because they don't whine like girls do ;). This book sounds fantastic. Great review Ali! I will be adding it to my ever growing TBR pile :)
ReplyDeleteExactly! You nailed it with the whining Beccca. ;)
DeleteI was invited to a blog tour of this one and wanted to join but I completely forgot about emailing the publisher about it! YIKES! But your review makes me want it so much. Male heroes?! They should be a thing and there are not enough of them in the YA category!
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato
I think we have all done that at some point in time but I agree, we need more reads like this one. ;)
DeleteHmm, ambiguous endings kinda suck, but this does sound good.
ReplyDeleteThey do but I am hoping it means another one will be on the way at some point in time.
DeleteI don't I like this type of books :) but glad you enjoyed it
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
DeleteIt's a standalone! Major plus.
ReplyDeleteThey are a bonus every now and then for sure. :)
DeleteOh the book sounds so good and a male POV? it's always interesting! But well a little too bad for the ending... thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melliane! :)
DeleteThere aren't enough YA books told by boys. This one sounds really good. I love the power of seeing the owner from an object. That's too bad that there wasn't enough to the ending. Maybe she wanted to leave it open in the hopes it could become a series.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that is the case as well Molly. :)
DeleteThis one is new to me so thanks for introducing me to it. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteGlad I could put it on your radar. :)
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