Review: Touch of Smoke

Author: Karissa Laurel
Started reading: May 24th 2019
Finished the book: June 4th 2019
Pages: 336
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Published: February 7th 2019
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads score: 4.38
My score:

Synopsis
Three years ago, Rikki Albemarle watched her best friend die at the hands of a supernatural evil. Certain she was slated to be the next victim, Rikki fled her small Smoky Mountain hometown, vowing to never come back. Plagued by nightmares and knowing she's the only one who believes Mina's death was no accident, Rikki returns with hopes of finding answers and holding the killer accountable.

Rikki is convinced the key to unlocking the secret of Mina's death lies with Owen Amir, the alluring young army vet who once claimed her heart. But the deeper Rikki digs into Owen's past, the more she's torn between the urgings of her heart and her memories of him on the night Mina died.

My thoughts

The book was good, but it didn't stirr big emotions in me. What I liked the most was the writing style, that was what you may expect from a good book. I also liked the fact that it just feels like a romance story at first, but starts to unfold in something twisted with paranormal fantasy.

Pros

• Want to know: They way Karissa is keeping the big secret from you is really well done. It feels like something very heavy upon Rikki and I love how you don't really know anything. It starts to unfold slowly and that is a great job done. It kept me reading this book!
• The age: Recently there are so many books where the main characters are like 16/18 years old but not in this book. Rikki is 20/23 and I found that very refreshing and nice to read once in a while.
• Second half: The second half of the book is the best. The writing style just got so much better and there were no little errors anymore. Compared with the first half of the book, the second half was MUCH better. I think I'd even give it 4 stars if the first half of the book didn't get me annoyed a bit...
• The plot: It's unique and great and big and everything you want from a good plot. Karissa Laurel does a great job at building up and then shoving you a great plot in the face.

Cons

• Little things: I feel like such a nitpicker right now, but the first half of the book has so many little things that annoyed me af... For example, Owen is touching Rikki's curls 334092 times. I have curles myself and it doesn't happen like that in real life. Also the lip biting is way too much every time. Then there are some little things like someone on the phone is nodding... I was like; The other person can't see you. Then something like swimming in a pond with crystal clear water and then not being able to see someone...
  I might come over as a huge nitpicker, but it did cost the book a star in my opinion and it made me feel like the first half of the book wasn't as good as the second half.
• Easiness: Rikki is gone for 3 years. The way the things unfold and how easily she gets over the things that have happened. I felt like she could've just gone away for 6 months. It didn't feel like she really needed 3 years for the things that unfolded in the present.

Overall

I like how the book feels like a romance book layered with a big mystery and then unfolds into a story packed with paranormal fantasy. I like the fact that the main character is a bit older, that was refreshing as well. I do believe this book is enjoyable, I just had some little things that annoyed me.

Other opinions on this book

"Touch of Smoke coils an intoxicating spell around your heart that won't let go until long after the very last page."

- Erica Lucke Dean, author of Splintered Souls

"I loved everything about this book, the story, the characters, the writing. The book had everything I personally like in a book, action, lots of humor and snark, the right amount of romance, great supporting characters and plot twists."

- Snoopy Doo's Book

Thanks for reading!

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