Saturday, March 17, 2012

BLOG TOUR: Wide Open by Deborah Coates (Review)

Genre:Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal
Publication.Date  March 13th 2012
Pages:304
Published By:  Tom Doherty Associates (TOR)  | 
WebsiteDeborah Coates

Wide Open - Goodreads
My review copy:Finished copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review


Where to get:


When Sergeant Hallie Michaels comes back to South Dakota from Afghanistan on ten days' compassionate leave, her sister Dell's ghost is waiting at the airport to greet her.

The sheriff says that Dell's death was suicide, but Hallie doesn't believe it. Something happened or Dell's ghost wouldn't still be hanging around. Friends and family, mourning Dell's loss, think Hallie's letting her grief interfere with her judgment. 

The one person who seems willing to listen is the deputy sheriff, Boyd Davies, who shows up everywhere and helps when he doesn't have to. 

As Hallie asks more questions, she attracts new ghosts, women who disappeared without a trace.  Soon, someone's trying to beat her up, burn down her father's ranch, and stop her investigation.

Hallie's going to need Boyd, her friends, and all the ghosts she can find to defeat an enemy who has an unimaginable ancient power at his command.
(Goodreads)




She drew a deep breath. This was not happening. She was not seeing a dead soldier in the middle of Rapid City airport. She wasn't. She squared her shoulders and walked past him like he wasn't there.
Hallie didn't want to be riding in this car, didn't want to be listening to any of this. She wanted to move, to... shoot something. Because Dell hadn't kill herself. She hadn't. If no one else would say it, Hallie would.
Dell's ghost hit her from behind like an insubstantial freight train, straight through her - blood, scream, ohmygod, pain pain painpainpain, ohmygod, makeitmakeitstop!






    Wide Open is a compelling, character-driven mystery with a splash of supernatural that will have you hooked from page one with its evocative and flavorful prose, hot South Dakota atmosphere, and brilliantly complex characters. With her excellent storytelling, Deborah Coates smoothly weaves ghosts, secrets, and magic into a heart pounding tale of one woman's quest to uncover the mystery behind her sister's death. Deeply moving and bone chilling, it's a book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

      The plot line centers around Hallie Michaels, a soldier in Afghanistan, who arrives in Rapid City on a ten day compassionate leave to attend her sister's funeral. Hallie's sister, Dell, wrecked her car up on a tree. There was no one else around. The local police called it a suicide, but Hallie knows better. She's convinced that her sister would never have taken her own life. Something else must have happened, and Hallie is determined to find out what. And she only has 10 days to do that. Not only is her time extremely limited, she's also haunted by ghosts - of her sister, of a fellow soldier/friend from Afghanistan, and a local woman who disappeared without a trace. Hallie soon learns that there's something disturbing going on in the seemingly peaceful town of Rapid City, and she is the only one who can discover the truth.

      I had a wonderful time reading Wide Open. I felt entirely consumed by this book, and the feeling was simply wonderful. First of all, I really loved Deborah's expressive and powerful writing style. It was both beautiful and creepy. Abundant in details, vibrant descriptions, atmospheric scenes and settings. The author really did a fabulous job fleshing out the lead protagonist of this story. Hallie is certainly not a character that you will fall in love with instantly, but rather one that will grow on you over time. She's one tough cookie on the outside, yet sensitive and emotionally fragile girl on the inside. Short tempered, with the penchant for swear words, she never backs down from a fight. She's not a person that cries in a difficult situation. More like someone who gets crazy-pissed. For Hallie, anger is an antidote for pain. She's angry at the army for sending her to Afghanistan. At herself for dying and coming back. At the ghosts for being dead. There are layers upon layers of character building, and the result is simply phenomenal. Hallie is one of the most complex MCs I've ever met in literature. I can't say that I enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes, but it was definitely a very interesting and heart breaking experience. I felt her pain and I saw how lost, broken and confused she was. How often do you come across a book that makes you feel all that?

      Deborah Coates is a writer of rare intensity. The world she created is mesmerizing, exciting, thrilling and often very scary. I loved exploring it. It was a fascinating journey that I will never forget. The story itself isn't overly complicated, it's the way it is told that really makes you fall in love with it. There are many plot developments that I failed to predict. Many surprises and twist. And I just love a book that keeps me guessing to the end and holds my attention all the way through. Wide Open did all that and more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and can't wait to see where the author will take us in her next book.








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About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

28 comments:

Deb said...

Another interesting and well covered review, Evie. I hadn't heard of this book. I'd love to read it, now.
Deborah/TheBookishDame

Michelle Chew said...

Evie, you've done a great job with the review. I haven't heard about this book but you've got me interested to find out more! *adds to TBR list*

- Michelle

Unknown said...

Never heard of this one but it sounds really,really good!
Thanks for the wonderful review. :)
Janiera @This is From my Heart

Amy said...

This book sounds very touching and wonderful. It sounds like the character development is very good. I love the cover. Thanks for the fantastic review.

Evie said...

@Deborah Thanks hun! I really appreciate you stopping by and commenting on my review :) Make sure to stop by in a few days, I will be giving away a copy of this beauty :)

Evie said...

@ Thank you so much, Michelle! It means a lot to me to hear that you enjoyed my review! Make sure to stop by later to enter my giveaway for Wide Open! :)

Evie said...

@Janiera - thanks sweetie! it really is a great read and I'm sure you'll enjoy it a lot!

Evie said...

@Amy *hi* and thanks for stopping by today! It does have a wonderful character development, definitely worth checking out!

erica and christy said...

The cover stood out to me right away - I don't know if it tells me much about the book, but it's gorgeous. And thanks for the review, I'll have to check it out!
erica

Evie said...

@Erica and Christy :) Thanks for stopping by today :) The cover really is very nice - plus the dust jacket has a very nice feeling to it.. I love it :)

Jennifer @ A Librarians Library said...

Wow! I have just gone and added this book to my goodreads tbr list just because of this cover! Beautiful.

I am typically not drawn to ghost stories, but if there is good writing style then it doesn't matter the story content. Your review has convinced me to definitely try this. Thanks!

Jennifer @ A Librarian's Library

Lexie said...

Lovely, lovely review. I really have to pick this one up. For one, it just sounds incredibly original--I've never heard of anything like it before. But for another, I really, really love stories that can make me feel something, and this would seem to be one of them. I'm all for the small, fluffy reads, but the powerful ones, the ones that make me feel and think--those will always be my favorite. And judging by your review, this seems to be one of them. :D

Barbara E. said...

I enjoyed your review, it gave me a much better idea of whether I'll like the book or not.

Alexis @ Reflections of a Bookaholic said...

I've never heard of this one. I've added it to my list. Thanks for the introduction.

Asheley T. said...

OH YAY! I've been waiting to see what you thought about this one because the cover is so pretty. I'm so attracted by covers to begin with.

I particularly like this --> "layers upon layers of character building" - because I love a good character. I think if I can find a good character in a book, even if the rest of it is not great, I at least have a starting point, ya know? But it sounds like this one is pretty doggone good, and I am antsy to read it.

THANK YOU again Evie!! Brilliant, as always. xoxo

The Bookie Monster said...

Evie,
You're writing is beautiful. You should write a book. Just saying. Anyway. I love how you said:
"The author really did a fabulous job fleshing out the lead protagonist of this story. "
It's true though. One of the most important characteristics we bloggers look for in a novel is how much the characters resemble a real live people. Without this "realness factor," no reader will be able to connect or relate to what is going on in the book. You just said it a lot prettier than I did. Lol. Great review!

Natalia Belikov said...

Ooooh dear! never heard about this book before but it really sounds amazing! you reaview highlights so well its strong point and I'd love to read it! beautiful and creepy, totally my thing!I love when books are written in a weird way that you ended up falling in love with the particular writing style. I recently read Above and the writing style was mesmerizing! hard to get into it though but once I got used to it,it is was the writing style that made the book so awesome.

Great review my sweet! like always =D lalalalalala
take care and... HAPPY HUNGER GAMES!!!!! muah!

Molli @ Once Upon a Prologue said...

Character building! Layers! YES. This is what I'm talking about, and what I crave so much when I'm reading. I'm SO happy to hear that about Wide Open. For some reason, after I read the author's interview she did for your blog, I really really want to read this one. It just sounds like MY kind of book...and if you loved it that much, Evie, then I bet I will, too!

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a good reads. Can't wait to try it out myself.
Great review!

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...

Eep! awesome review..i want it! i want it. You mentioned key words i love..suspense, mystery, supernatural and consumed by it..plus character building in layers..woot!

Mary Preston said...

I had not heard of WIDE OPEN before reading your review. It looks amazing.

Gaby said...

The cover looks pretty cool and so does thye summay I might rea this :)

Red said...

I haven't even heard about this book but you've got me interested. Great job, Evie! :)

Maria Paola said...

I want to read this boooook. Hope it gets to Narnia (A.K.A Venezuela) soon *dreaming*.
Amazing review!

Alyn said...

The cover is what drew me to this review. I do wonder what the ancient power is.

E_V_E said...

Ghosts, secrets, magic...I love books like that! I never read a book just with ghosts, so if I will start, It will be with this book 8) It seems very good!

ErinPaperbackstash said...

The book sounds interesting, and the cover is gorgeous!

Biondy said...

great cover. this book sounds like an excellent pick.

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