Cursed

Author: Jennifer L. Arementrout
Format: eBook
Print Length: 288 pages
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Published: September 18, 2012

Dying sucks-- and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out.

However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

My Thoughts

You can probably tell by now that Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my favorite authors.  I was ubberly excited about this book.  I downloaded on release day, raced home to start reading it.  The first couple of chapters though just did not suck me in as I thought it would.  Maybe my expectations were too high, or maybe I was getting sick.  I do have a cold now.  But there was something about those first couple of chapters that is preventing me from giving it a 5 out of 5 stars.  Do not get me wrong~ it is a fabulous book, like any that Jennifer writes.  I know that it is a stand-alone book as well.  But if she wanted to she could turn this into a series.  This fan will certainty buy anything she writes.

One minute a popular cheerleader, the next a freak.  The last two years for Ember have been difficult.  She carries around the guilt of her father’s and her own death.  As she is the one who picked the restaurant on that faithful night.  Her mom acts like she is dead and she is the sole provider for her 5 year old sister. 

One day in her home town, and the next she wakes up in a different state.  With people telling her what is gonna happen verses asking her.  It’s enough to make a gal kill, and when that gal happens to kill with just a touch- well you really should not have gotten her mad.  Although she does show restraint to the nth degree in regards to those that Hayden call family.  It is this strength in character that attracts Hayden to her.

Hayden is a pretty amazingly awesome guy for someone so…. well damaged.  He does not see Ember as others do- a scarred freak but instead he views her as beautiful.  He however does not stand by her.  This of course upsets me a little.  As he has watched her for about two years from a distance, he should know that she is trust worthy. 

Jennifer is a mastermind of strong female characters, just like Ember.  Someone is after her, only one person likes her, and her family is forgetting her.  Yet, she does not give up.  She holds strong and faces life head on.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Other Characters

Olivia- Ember’s 5 year old sister, who has the power of life.  She is typical 5 year old though.
Mr. Theo- teacher at Ember’s school, he knows something is not right due to helping Ember.
Phoebe- One of the kids that stays in the house with Ember.  She is a empathy, has a twin brother.
Parker- Phoebe’s twin, homeschooled- can read minds.
Cromwell- Hayden’s daddy- seems kinda harsh but could be a complete softie, especially where Hayden is involved.