Gone by Lisa McMann

Book Summery:

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves: She has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life — and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out. . . .-goodreads.com
Book Review:
Wow! Lisa McMann finishes off her trilogy with a bang! Her final book in the series, Gone, is nothing less than stellar, which I have come to expect from her. The mystery that Janie is uncovering this time is her past, present, and future. While on vacation, Janie explores what her future holds, for both her and Cabel. She is in the midst of making a permanent decision for the future, when she gets a phone call from her next door neighbor, telling her to come home as soon as possible because her mother's been taken to the hospital. On arrival, Janie discovers that her mother isn't hospitalized, rather it's the man that is claimed to be her father. Janie withdraws into herself, and embarks on a personal journey of discovery of her father's past; which helps her to better understand her current predicament; which ultimately helps her to decide what is best for her future. Prepare yourself for waves of emotion, mixed with love, mystery, and heartache. A sentimental ending to a whirlwind trilogy, will leave the reader wanting more. I have already ordered McMann's next book Cryer's Cross (info found here), which should HOPEFULLY be arriving soon! I highly recommend the entire Dream Catcher series to readers. They are dark, emotional, fast-paced reads that will make you think twice about what your dreams are trying to tell you.

Favorite Quote:

"Janie grins and rips it open. 'You have absolutely everything in that drawer. Snacks, steri-strips, food stain wipes, plastic ware...what else?'

'Anything and everything a person needs in order to live for several days,' Captain says.

Janie laughs. Relaxes. 'That's amazing.' Takes a bite.

'I was a boy scout.' Captain's serious face never wavers.

Janie snorts, and then wonders if Captain wasn't joking with her. One never knows with her." (p. 200)

Cover Art Commentary:
I honestly have to say, this cover is my favorite of the entire series. The black and green contrast nicely against each other. The entire trilogy looks gorgeous on my bookshelf! :)

Overall Rating:

Fade by Lisa McMann

Book Summery:

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared.... -goodreads.com

Book Review:
Author Lisa McMann takes it up a notch in her second book in the Dream Catcher trilogy, Fade. McMann really had me guessing up to the end as to what -exactly- was going on in the big mystery that Janie is investigating. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I really thought Janie made some dicey decisions, which played up the plot well. What I like most about this series are the characters. They are raw, flawed, honest human beings. Easy to relate to. On a more personal level, I LOVE that the trilogy is set in Michigan, somewhat, okay...rather loosely, close to where I live. (Although, I would LOVE to live closer to Ann Arbor!) It makes it very easy to picture the story in my head. If you are looking for a thrilling mystery, look no further. This is the story for you, though I HIGHLY recommend you read the first book, Wake, beforehand. :)

Favorite Quote:

"That's another reason why this new assignment is putting him on edge. He knows the dreams will make this harder on her than him.

Physically, anyway.

Mentally? Emotionally? It'll be harder on him.

Because this love thing is foreign to Cabel. And now that he has found Janie, he's becoming increasingly protective of her. There is no man in the universe he wants to share her with. Especially a creep.

Even if it unearths a scandal.

Of greatest proportions.

The biggest scandal Fieldridge High has ever seen." (p. 25)

Cover Art Commentary:
Very mysterious, which is a perfect backdrop to the story! It also goes along nicely with the first book! :)

Overall Rating:

Wake by Lisa McMann

Book Summery:
For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.
She can't tell anybody about what she does they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can’t control.
Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant. -goodreads.com

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
Lisa McMann takes us on a high-paced, emotional journey in her debut novel, Wake. What I liked most about this book is that it is character driven. Janie, Carrie, and Cable are real, raw, flawed charters. I love the friendship between Janie and Carrie. It definitely offers some insight into both girls' personalities and upbringings. Cable is a sweet surprise. The chemistry between him and Janie is pure, intriguing and intense. Overall, this was a quick read and left me craving more. I'm already digging into the second book in the trilogy, Fade. For more insight and information, check out the author's website here.

Favorite Quote:

"Jamie lies awake in bed. Scared.

She wonders if she will end up like her friend Miss Stubin from the nursing home, all alone.

Or dead in a car crash, because of this stupid dream curse." (p. 50)

Cover Art Commentary:
I love the ominous tone of the cover. Just enough color peering through. :)

Overall Rating: