I received an ARC of Wicked Charm by NetGalley for my honest and unbiased review.

What seemed like a really compelling romantic thriller, ended up being an average romance, with fragments of thriller inside it.

Starting the story, following the main protagonist’s, Willow’s, POV, we get to know how her grandmother feels about Willow’s love interest, and his family.
But then, in the second chapter, the point of view changes completely, and we get to see the story through the love interest’s eyes.
It would be nice if this was happening every now and then; but we keep switching POVs chapter after chapter.

To me, the writing style was quite plain and I didn’t manage to actually feel hooked, nor to empathise with the characters.
The story was fast-paced, that is for certain, but I felt a bit misled, as I were expecting a thriller and I got a sort of cliché YA love story.

I don’t feel like there was something special or truly passionate in this novel and the only reason I give it three stars is because of the pacing and the potential it could have.
I expected more and, in the end, I felt a little disappointed.

"A heart is a heart. A few words won't change that."

This book was a YA thriller based in the swamps of Georgia. Willow moves in with her grandmother while her parents are studying birds in the area. She meets the neighbor young man, Beau, and it's an instant attraction. Although the attraction may be there, it isn't enough to guarantee smooth sailing. Beau's family is most definitely hated by Willow's Gran, and there's a lot of talk circling around Beau. Especially when girls begin showing up dead in the swamp and it seems the only connection between them is ... Beau.

This story was definitely interesting and different from what I've been reading lately. I liked the romance element mixed in with a mystery/thriller. I also enjoyed the setting for the story! The swamp, and the culture surrounding that area, is really interesting to read about. I'm not from the south, so being immersed in their culture was something I enjoyed.

There were a few awkward things for me. First, the insta-love was an issue for me. This type of romance is okay, but what got me was that it seemed to change Beau so quickly. I always feel that change is possible for characters, but it takes time and usually occurs after some motivation has pushed the character to do so. Another issue, which may not be an issue if you're truly a YA reading this book, was that the characters often seemed to express all the things they're thinking. My problem with that was that sometimes the dialogue and interactions didn't quite feel genuine, but that didn't take much away from the book.

Overall I think this is a good YA story. It was an inventive idea and well thought out. Perhaps not as exciting of a read if you're an adult who loves YA books, but definitely suitable for the YA crowd.

This book had a great premise but the beginning kind of fizzled for me.

As soon as I saw the cover for this book back in October, I knew I wanted to read it. After I read the blurb, I knew there was a good chance that I was really going to enjoy this book- because it sounded amazing.

I decided that in 2018 I was going to be tougher when it came to rating books, that if I was going to give a book 5 stars, it had better earn them. And for the first time in nearly two months, I finally have my first five star book!

In the first few chapters I felt like Wicked Charm was similar to a lot of young adult novels out there. Girl moves back to town, girl meets and begins falling for bad boy, etc. However, once I got past the first couple of chapters, I became hooked. This book is so unbelievably atmospheric. I've never read a book set mostly in a swamp before, but I loved it. The swamp takes on a personality of its own. It heightens the suspense and lends an eerie vibe to the story that almost has you feeling as if you're there with the characters.

The story is amazingly written. I never suspected who was behind the murders. Not only that, but I was intrigued by all of the characters and all aspects they played within the novel. Beau the heart breaker with the traumatic past, Charlotte they mysterious sister, Beau's jealous friends, etc. And I loved the bits about the grandparents and their pasts.

The second to last chapter was so unbelievably touching and the last had me smiling. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am really hoping to maybe get a book about Charlotte next because I feel like she has a great story to tell.

Wicked Charm is the perfect balance of dark and eerie paired with romantic and suspenseful. It's completely addictive and enthralling and one of the best young adult contemporaries I've ever read.

I wanted to really like this book, like I really tried so hard to like this. The way this book sounded, it sounded like this was going to be a magical realism kind of book, like the swamp  was some magical being and it was killing people so I was expecting that, but this book is just a thriller on it's own. I just did not find the character memorable in any way, I thought the plot was kind of thrilling when you were trying to find out who was killing people, but halfway through the book it was super noticeable and predictable. I didn't like most of the dialogue, I found it to be kind of cringy and middle school like. I will leave the Goodreads synopsis below. 

Nothing good comes from living in the Devil's swamp.

Willow Bell thinks moving to the Okefenokee area isn't half bad, but nothing prepares her for what awaits in the shadows of the bog.

Girls are showing up dead in the swamp. And she could be next.

Everyone warns Willow to stay away from Beau Cadwell—the bad boy at the top of their suspect list as the serial killer tormenting the small town.

But beneath his wicked, depthless eyes, there's something else that draws Willow to him.

When yet another girl he knew dies, though, Willow questions whether she can trust her instincts…or if they're leading to her own death.

I will say that the cover is pretty and I did like the thriller aspect until it was made super noticeable the killer was, but I just hate the whole trope that goes on when a girl falls for a bad guy she shouldn't and it turns out he's a big sweetheart and everything is perfect. I also felt like the main male character abuses women mentally so that was kinda off putting. But that also happens to be my own opinion so you can interpret it however you want when you read it. This book kind of reminded me of twilight except set in the bayou. I did like that it was set in a bayou like area because I find that a lot of books are set in the same area, so it was cool to read about characters lives that aren't set in New York, but a small swampy religious town.

I will say that it's no easy feat to have a book published and I think that it's incredible that it's the author's release day for it. I just don't think that this book was for me, I was excepting one thing but got another (which isn't mainly the book's fault) the character were just kind of meh, and I didn't like the story line that much because I found it predictable, but I did like the cover, and I did like where it was set and the small details of religious aspects that were added. So for me it's a 50/50 toss up on how I feel about it, I may bump it up to a 3 star but I won't let myself get intimidated by other reviews. Let's not forget that everyone has different opinions and that this book has several 4 or 5 stars on Goodreads so a lot of people seem to like it! Again, congratulations to the author!!

there's something creepy going on with the swamp. dead girls are being found and they're somehow connected to willow bell's wicked neighbor beau caldwell. but the more time willow spends with beau, that pull she feels when her gaze gets caught up in his, has her convinced that something else must be going on.

the way wicked charm uses its setting to build up the tension and overall aura of terror is absolute perfection. the characters are interesting and well-drawn, the twists to the murder mystery plot aren't spotted from a mile away, which is always key. i really enjoyed this story and loved spending time with these characters, creepy swamp and dead bodies and all.

**wicked charm will publish on january 30, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (entangled teen) in exchange for my honest review.

The main characters in this YA romantic suspense are Willow Bell, who has moved to live with her Grandmother in the Opefenokee Swamp and the boy-next-door, Beau Cadwell. Beau is very popular with the girls but has a reputation as a Cassanova, always breaking the hearts of the girls he dates. The story is told from their alternative points of view. . . .

Willow and Beau attend the same school and share some of the same classes. Everyone warns Willow to avoid Beau but forbidden fruit is often the most tempting! When Beau starts to meet up with Willow, his previous girlfriend is found murdered . . . and she’s only the first. He is the number one suspect for most people, his bad boy reputation and previous relationships with the victims are all evidence against him. However this just spurs both Willow and Beau to start investigating the deaths and I enjoyed how the story is shared from their alternating points of view. As their investigations continue, their relationship develops but there are so many secrets to be revealed and a killer to be unmasked making this an enthralling page-turner.

The uncomfortable, atmospheric setting is brought to life by the brilliant descriptions - I’ve never actually been there but feel that I have virtually. There are plenty of secondary characters, including Beau’s mysterious sister, who add to the mystery and suspense in this compulsive read which I have no hesitation in highly recommending and I’ll certainly look out for more from this author in future!

I requested and received a copy of this novel. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

My first Amber Hart novel and I think it was fairly good and well written and broke apart those famous YA tropes.

Wicked Charm was a-okay. I liked it for how different it was in a not so different way. It had a thriller aspect added to its usual boy-with-bad-reputation likes girl trope.

The other thing I liked was how Willow was not falling all over the guy. And how in control she was. And sure of herself she was.

Beau was typically not a bad guy, he had redeemable qualities. He was trying for once. If you know what I mean.

BUT I didn't really like the romantic aspect of this book. Lately the romantic aspects have been killing it for me. :/

I liked Wicked Charm for being different and making me intrigued. I guessed way before about the killer but was still so curious to find out if I was right. I was. Woot. I enjoyed this in the manner that I was curious.

I did get reminded of Bella and Edward in the beginning due to some scenes. I was also reminded of Beautiful Creatures for some reason. At first I thought there was some supernatural element to this although I knew this was a thriller. Anyway, I liked this okay.

Special thanks to NetGalley, InkSlinger PR, author and the Publisher for this review copy.

After reading the blurb I thought it sounded interesting and mysterious.
While it is a YA book with some romance and surrounded with mystery I did find it to be a little more on the romance side. Perhaps it was from the main characters POV. But I enjoyed reading it and it didn’t affect the story. I loved the names, Beau and Willow and the author did a great job of making me feel like I was actually in the swamps in the south surrounded with mosquitos and alligators. I would recommend reading this book if you like YA romance/mystery. It really is a good mystery and had me guessing till the very end!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Storyline: 5
Angst: 3
Tissue: 0
Value: 5
Panty Scorching: 0
Over All Rating: 4 Stars
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Robin

Willow Bell likes living near the swamp. But girls are disappearing and ending up murdered in the swamp. And her neighbor Beau Caldwell seems connected with every victim. Having a suspected serial killer next door should keep her away but Willow feels a connection with Beau and trusts in his innocence. Until she begins to wonder if maybe it will get her killed.

“From across the room, near the front of the class, my twin sister is watching. She sends a razor-sharp smile my way, knowing that I’ll probably do to Willow what I do to all the girls here, which is break her perfect little heart into so many pieces that nothing can fix it.”

What a YA suspense/thriller/light romance! Willow appears to be an independent gal that moves with her parents into her grandmother's house near the swamp in Georgia. Next door, we have mysterious Beau who everyone warns her is a "bad boy". Add in some girls turning up dead and you have some scary stuff going on in the swampland. I found it a little nuts that all of the girls and I mean ALL of the girls are obsessed with Beau and lining up to be used next by him. But since this is very light in the romance department, forget about all of that. Let's focus on who is killing these girls that happen to have dated Beau? I liked the feeling of not knowing who you can trust...even his twin sister ends up being suspicious. It's like a game of Clue running through a list of suspects from best friends to family to jilted lovers. Definitely an intriguing book which keeps you guessing until the very end.

Young adult books are always so much fun to read and add a little mystery and suspense in the mix, you have me hooked. Definitely a good teen book that I wouldn’t mind my daughter reading.

Character driven me couldn't get into this one. I kept trying to get back to it, but the two MCs started out so pretentious and snarky that I couldn't make myself do it. I know a lot of people love that sort of thing, but they just didn't click for me.

The setting did start off with a nice dash of eerie, so if that is your thing, you may indeed be "charmed."

Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.


Willow is new but not new to this small Georgia town. Her grandparents have been living in this swamp for as long as she can remember. But she has recently moved here from Florida and it has been awhile since they visited. She is immediately attracted to Beau, but her Grandmother doesn't like that family.


Beau is attracted to Willow, but she is different from his normal girls. Usually he just dates a girl for awhile and then dumps them moving on to the next one. But Willow is just going to be his friend, that is until he dumps Samantha and then she is found dead.


Willow and Beau get closer and closer, but more and more girls from his past are turning up dead. Their swamps have been invaded and someone wants everyone to think that people close to Beau turn up dead. Willow knows it not him, but can they find who the killer is before it is too late? Will she be the next girl to turn up dead?


This was a great read, interesting mystery.. I admit that I couldn't remember what this was about so it took me a bit to get into it and figure out what was going on. But I have to say that I really had no clue about the killer until literally it all clicked in place. I loved the romance between Beau and Willow although I have to admit I wondered more than once if he was behind the killings.


I know this is a standalone, but it is one that I wish had more books coming, I love the characters, and the swamps of Georgia. I feel like I need more to their story. Sigh I will just have to deal with the fact that this is all I get.

4 charming star 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a fun young adult contemporary with the unusual setting of a southern swamp..... this book is classified as a romantic suspense, however I read several reviews before reading this that said it was heavier on the romance than the suspense.... so I went into this expecting a lot of romance and not so much suspense, sometimes expectations are everything..... The romance was charming and sweet, but I found the suspense more than satisfying....

Willow is the new girl in town, who just so happens to live next-door to the hottest guy in school....Beau is the boy who has dated all the girls, but never cared about any of them, until Willow.... i’m sure you’re thinking, I’ve read this before.... but there were several things about this book that made it unique and fresh....

The setting of the Georgian swamp I found really unusual and fun.... from crazy granny feeding the alligators to the creepy woods surrounding the bog..... it was really a fabulous backdrop for the story.... I also appreciated the positive relationships between the teenagers and their parents/grandparents....

There also was a serial killer in this book.... Luring girls out to the swamp and killing them, girls who all happened to be ex girlfriends of Beau.... there were some pretty creepy parts of this book chasing killers through the swamp.... I think if there were a serial killer roaming in the swamps I would stay clear, but that’s just me.... interesting mystery, and I definitely did not see the ending to that coming....

The only thing I wish was that the characters were a little better developed, along with their relationship.... it was sweet, but I just wanted a little bit more....

If you enjoy young adult contemporary I‘d definitely recommend this, it is fun and unique.... it is also clean, so I don’t see why it would not be appropriate for younger teens as well....

*** thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book***

I would recommend this to all those looking for a romantic story that uses a mystery sub-plot and an excellent writing that would happily sail you through the swampy setting.

The two main young-adult protagonists, Beau and Willow, live in the swampy areas of a Georgia town. And no, I'm not giving away unnecessary information about the book. The entire story revolves around the swamp, directly or indirectly, and the descriptive writing doesn't let the humid setting become less evident, so this might as well be the main gist of the story. But in all seriousness: the story revolves around Willow who, despite of her grandma's warnings that 'the boy next door would steal her soul', chooses to interact with Beau and is adamant on finding the light in him that he keeps locked up. Beau, a charming playboy and the closest neighbour to Willow, is determined to crush her because that's what he has been doing for years.

Now, doesn't that story line sound way too familiar? Yeah, it's a common romantic plot BUT it isn't as common as you might deem it to be. I'm a sucker for romance and have read quite a few which is why the genre mostly leaves me with the same kind of characters who have the same kind of problems, and through this one is no different, it's the writing and scheming that made it different and fun to read! Both the MCs start with their riddle-ridden conversations, where Willow keeps wondering if Beau is lying like her grandma claims he would be, and Beau keeps throwing a truth, once in a while, among the hundred lies he would tell her. The relationship is developed gradually and while there's a hint of insta-attraction, it doesn't take over the characters and make me like them so much more.

There are other characters who play an important role—Willow's gran who keeps feeding the gators and warns her granddaughter of the Cadwell neighbours; Beau's sister, Charlotte, who's much colder than Beau could ever appear and that trait of hers made her an interesting character at all times; Willow's best-friend, Jorie, who was the first friend she made after moving to this town. The side characters are planned well enough to make them contribute to the story and I really liked all the ones I've mentioned above.

In addition to the romantic plot, there's a mystery involved too. There are murders occurring in this swamp and the townspeople are on the edge; and since a playboy is the biggest sinner of town, he might as well be the reason for these killings—that's the notion of the people, and they might be right. A serial killer is on loose and somehow the victims were once in a relation with Beau, and things might become serious for Willow who decides to stand with him regardless of the situation.

The mystery aspect of the story worked up till 70% where I guessed the killer, and if the romance wasn't taking a front seat in the story and would've completely focused on the murders, the killer could've been guessed much earlier. But while the conundrum didn't deserve this big adjective I just used, the writing (again) was good enough for the occasional thrills I could experience. In fact, I think the writer was super smart in using romance as a distracting strategy, thereby keeping the killer under hood for a stint longer.

However, since both the plot lines kept pulling the reigns at some point or the other, none of them outshine. The writing, though, was outstanding and most of the times was the only thing that held me glued to the book. Overall, this was a fun, quick read that made me feel good for a while.

This was an easy and lighthearted read! I read it in one sitting. I automatically fell in love with the main characters, Willow and Beau. I enjoyed the thrills of constantly guessing who the murderer was. I would recommend this book. I received an ARC copy from Netgalley and the publisher for my honest review. My opinion is my own. I give it a good 4.5 stars.

What a great read, I wasn't expecting to like this so much Wicked Charm By Amber Hart was a fabulous enchanting but nerve-wracking read.
Set in the swamps of Okefenokee, Willow Bell and her parents have gone to live with her grandmother Old Lady Bell.
And it isn't long before she catches the eye of local teenage playboy Beau Cadwell.
Beau with his riddles and many ex-girlfriends.
He guards his heart due to the loss of his parents.
He lives with his scarily mean twin sister Charlotte, and his grandpa on the land adjoining Willows grandmothers.
But chilling deadly events are occurring in this small town.
There's a serial killer on the loose and ex-girlfriends of Beau are turning up dead in the swamp.
Set against the vivid background of the swamp "Wicked Charm" has so much to recommend it.
In some ways, it was like entering a different world, one of shadow, light and secrets waiting to be discovered.
I Loved this aspect of the story, it was such a unique setting for a YA novel.
So, Wicked Charm does exactly what it says on the tin and I found it very refreshing to read a story that makes no apologies for its simplicity.
This was a clean YA that was heavy on the sweet romance and came accompanied by a big dash of intrigue.
It had interesting diverse characters that made this easy to get lost in.
I did kind of guess who the killer may be but this didn't really detract from my enjoyment.
I loved the ending and this was a very enjoyable read.
NetGalley provided me with an ARC of "Wicked Charm" by Amber Hart of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own

After reading and loving Pretty Dead Girls, I’ve been looking for more books in that genre. The blurb of Wicked Charm caught my attention but I wasn’t 100% thrilled with the story. The book in my opinion focused too much on the romance aspect between the main characters, Willow and Beau. There is a murderer on the loose killing teenage girls and I felt the main focus was Willow's love life. Don’t get me wrong I’m a HUGE romance reader but for this book I was expecting more mystery. I would have also liked more from the killers point of view as well. The last few chapters had more of a mystery/thriller vibe but it wasn't enough. When the killer is revealed along with the motives, I kind of wanted to roll my eyes. This was the first time I’ve read this author and even though the story didn’t work out in my favor, I do like her writing style. Amber Hart has such a great description to detail and this City girl felt like she was deep in the swamp. I’ll check out her romance novels and see if that’s a better fit for me.

Lesson learned: read reviews AS WELL AS the summary because I was tricked. And not for the better.

With a title like that, and the promise of murder, I was hoping for a spooky thriller of a novel with maybe (and I don't know why I assumed this) a dash of paranormal. Instead, I was disappointed to find that 70% of the book was a consuming, almost nauseating, Twilight-esque teen romance with a few murders scattered throughout as an afterthought. As a result, it got quite repetitive. Willow, trying to figure out the bad boy, and Beau, trying to understand why he's falling for this girl. Countless mentions of sunlight on hair and eye colour and staring. It sucked too, because I actually really enjoyed the characters on their own. Willow was a fun girl and Beau was relatable. I think if I'd gone into this knowing it was a straight romance, I'd have enjoyed it quite a bit, but as mentioned my expectations were set somewhere else. I fell in love with the swamp setting at first, but after the twentieth rendition of it being described, I got bored. Another thing that made me sad, because it was a unique environment and one that gave me ideas for my own WIP. I get it, it's hot and wet with gators and snakes and murky water.

The murders, as mentioned, are described as being a central point of the plot. However, the first few are nothing but a tiny blip in the story when surrounded by this consuming romance. There was a strange disconnect between that, without them flowing and influencing the other. It wasn't until about 75% in that it actually took central stage. As for whodunit, I figured it out pretty quick, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It wasn't some crazy thriller that kept me guessing until the very end, but it was well hidden.

I'm choked that I feel this way, and simply because the summary was very misleading. I might have felt differently had I known.

I've never been to the deep south, never seen a swamp or an alligator close up, but now I kind of want to! In an enclosed vehicle, of course. (I'm not as brave as Willow and her grandma.) 

Sometimes when I'm reviewing young adult books, it starts to seem like they are all variations of the same thing. The first thing I noticed about Wicked Charm was how different the setting was. Willow lives in the swamps of Georgia, doesn't bat an eye when she goes out among the alligators in her boat, and she wouldn't want it any other way. Willow lives with her grandmother, and immediately notices the cute neighbor boy. But everyone, especially her grandma, tells her that he is wicked. He's no good for her. 

And then girls who are connected to the boy start showing up in the swamp. Dead. (Maybe Grandma was right!)

While there are certainly themes in the story that are similar to other young adult novels, the characters and the setting are what made it interesting for me.

Beau, the boy that Willow likes, and his sister are very complex characters. They seemingly don't care about anyone, and yet Willow doesn't believe that that is all there is to them. She doesn't run from them like everyone tells her she should. 

I didn't feel like Willow or her best friend were as complex, but they added a nice balance. (We can't have everyone messing with our heads!)

The plot was very suspenseful. How could it not be? There were girls showing up dead. In a swamp. And they had dated the guy Willow liked. And for some crazy reason Willow and Beau are determined to go out into the swamp and find the killer. Alone. 

I will admit that the ending was not super surprising for me, but the book was still a fun read and I am giving it 4 out of 5 Stars.

I really liked it! It was more than what I expected. The narrative goes back and forth from Willows POV to Beau’s. I was expecting a cliché teen romance aspect. Where willow stupidly gets involved with an obvious dangerous guy and gets sucked in or pushed around but WIllow can hold her own! Willow knows who she is and isn’t going to change herself for anyone or let them make decisions for her. Rather than obsessing and letting Beau call the shots, Willow gives him a run for his money and forces him to step up and let her in, in ways he hasn’t before with anyone else. Beau turns out to be a vulnerable and honest male love interest despite trying to avoid being either of those things. The book also avoids the cliché where the female character thinks she is “better” than other girls in her school or the male characters says the dreaded “You’re different than those other girls.” At one point, Willow doesn’t talk to Beau for weeks, leaving him the one desperate to see her. I really enjoyed the romance part of this book, I thought it was realistic and enjoyable. The murder mystery I thought was more subdued and maybe a little unrealistic but It still had me guessing until the end who it actually was. The book also touches on themes of grief which isn’t my favorite in a book for personal reasons but it was well done and an important addition to teen fiction. Definitely worth giving a try!