Tiger Lily

Holy hell, what a book!

First off the cover is absolutely gorgeous. Such a sweet and gentle vibe I got from this cover but what I found is that not only did it reflect the first impression of the heroine it also hides a hidden ferocity of the character. Absolutely perfect!

This is the first book I have read by this author but it most certainly will not be the last. This author has re-ignited my love for reading. So if you are looking for something to get you out of that book funk then this book is the one to do it.

This is one of those hidden gems that you long to come across. It has a little bit of everything in it; romance, paranormal, mystery and lots of action. There are so many twists and turns. A book that packs a punch you'll never see coming.

Absolute perfection!

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

This is a light, fun, and quirky book about a girl who dies in an accident and was brought back to life, but she did not come back alone. The book was witty as we read about Lily Madison's plunge into water only to be revived with blobby ghosts that came back with her. The author tells a fun tale, and even splurges on fun nail polish colors that go with the tale.

What did I like? This is basically just a fun read. Nothing serious and no real drama, just a story about blobby ghosts, and a girl making new friends in life after a brush with death. I was truly entertained....throw in some young love and witty friends and there you have it.

Would I buy this book? I felt that this was a Young Adult tale but it is definitely buyer friendly. If your looking for something a tween or young adult would love, this is it. A fun tale for sure and highly entertaining.

Thoughts for the author? Loved it....would beta read anytime! I hadn't read anything by this author before but I enjoyed it. Four fun stars of entertainment!

I received an advanced reader's copy of Tiger Lily by Abigail Drake from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had never read anything by Abigail Drake before this and had no expectations either way. Happily, I did enjoy her writing style and would gladly read other novels in the future.

I found the novel to be well written and the dialogue between the characters (primary characters as well as secondary) was amusing. In particular, the banter between the main character, Lily, and other characters made me laugh out loud several times. I found Lily to be likeable, but enjoyably flawed (you could watch her mature throughout the novel and learn from her mistakes, if you will) and relateable.

I liked that this novel also had a little bit of everything: romance, paranormal, some mystery, and action. All in all, it was a very quick read.

Whew! Read this whole book in a day!

I adored the story of Lily and Nick, it was just what I needed to get myself out of a book slump.
Abigail Drake does an amazing job of weaving together a light-hearted story, with some serious moments, a few tear-jerking moments, and a sweet romance. I loved it from start to finish - glad it was how I spent my day!
I only wish we could have had a little more depth with the Chinese mythology, but it was a nice surprise to have a new cultural perspective in a YA book. I liked the roundedness of the characters and all the different "stereotypes" and how we see through them. Bad boy cellist, preppy yet broken, goth and sweet, jock and caring.

I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great story that hooked me from the first page, Zoe is so funny, relatable and likeable. The story is great, so interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Witty, fast paced and fun, highly recommended read

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This was fresh and new and quite funny. I loved the book from start to finish. I also loved Nick and Lily, glad they kind of got their happily ever after.

3.5 stars satisfied stars

Overall, this was a super pleasant and fast-paced read that I went through in just 3 short hours. The writing style was evidence to the author's skill, wit and humour and I always enjoy a book that gives way to sarcasm and self-irony (mostly, because that reflects my humble self). I am of the opinion that this is crucial to a good story. Oftentimes, decent and fun writing is more important than the actual story because the plot can sound oh-so-glorious in the writer's head, but it will be messed up by bad writing. Likewise, good writing can make up for faults in a story. I noticed this on the first page already and knew I was in for a pleasant read. I do, however, really feel like that within just a few pages more, the author could have definitely given a bit more dimension to the story. I will get to that in a bit.

On a first glimpse, people might conclude Lily to be a shallow and fashion-obsessed little brat with little to no sense for anything that is outside of her pink bubble, created for her by wealthy parents. This conception might be owed to stuff like this: "I sprinkled the powder from Mrs. Chang ll around the room, paying special attention to the doors and windows, as Mr. Wan had instructed, Our cleaning lady would have field day with this tomorrow, but I had no choice" Except the obvious one to clean it up yourself?!On the day she dies and comes back to life, Lily is confronted with something that will make her show people how much more is underneath that ginger, manicured and orderly appearance of hers. The moment she wakes ob in the hospital it becomes clear to her that she now sees a part of reality that most people can't: ghosts. The fuzzy, dark-ish grey blobs follow her around with no intention of leaving her in peace. Just like hot dark Shadow Guy, your average brooding angsty teenage boy with a smirk to break hearts. Except nobody can see that flashing appearance either, except for Lily. While the other ghosts at least don't talk to her, this one has no intention to stop disrupting her life until she helped him solve the mystery that is his existence. Or semi-existence, rather? Because he ain't a ghost, or so he says. But what is he, then?

Dangerous, that's for sure. Because ghosts and Nick are not the only things that are a problem now, not if Lily is to believe her pedicurist Mr. Wan, a Chinese enthusiast for everything spooky, and his ghost-experienced friends. Joining forces with the local Goth Queen and a beach-boy-quarterback-football scholarship-everybody's darling-Ken, Lily starts to investigate Nick's past as his memories start to fade more and more just as their time is running out. Will Lily be able to let Nick go, though?

I cannot say much more to the story without spoilers, so let's get to the juicy part of the review. YA always includes a couple of not so sympathetic eye-roll moments for anyone who feels outside of that age group. I just want to use this opportunity to point out again that this is a really short book that didn't give space to a more complex plot development. Of course, there is an occasional twist to the story, without these, most stories simply wouldn't exist. Yet some parts of the story felt overly rushed and did not make use of the YA potential of young relationship/love/triangle stuff, whatever. Just wanted to put it out there because it really bugged me.

For a more graphic review, check out my goodreads: www.goodreads.com/thevoiceofthewolf

Tiger Lily
(Dark Blossoms #1)
by Abigail Drake


Kindle Edition 207 pages
Published March 13, 2019
Amazon Digital Services LLC



Goodreads synopsis:
Lily Madison’s problems began the day her life ended. After getting saved from a watery grave, she wakes up in a hospital surrounded by a herd of naughty ghosts. Most of them look like fuzzy blobs, but one is not blobby at all. He’s a very hot, very annoying dead guy named Nick.

Before she died, choosing a prom date was her biggest dilemma. Now she’s being stalked by specters and haunted by hooligans. Lily begins to doubt her own sanity, until she finds out a Goth girl named Zoe can see the blobs, too.

With the assistance of Zoe and Mr. Wan, the manicurist who almost killed her, she must get Nick and the other ghosts back where they belong or the whole world could be in terrible danger. But she’s grown to care for Nick, and if sending the ghosts back means saying goodbye to Nick forever, Lily isn’t sure she’ll be able to let him go.

Praise for Abigail Drake: 
"First Abigail Drake grabs you with her fresh writing, then she keeps you in the throes of her story with an incredible voice and a gifted talent for spinning tales that will amaze and delight. I am stunned. Tiger Lily will consume you, and before you know it you are fighting for air yet begging for more. You've been warned!"
 - NY Times Bestselling Author Darynda Jones


***

4.5 Stars

I requested this ARC strictly based on the cover. It is super cute. And the contents of the book are also super cute. So, I wasn’t disappointed by the contents of this barely 200 page book. This book is completely YA (young adult) and easy to blow through in an evening. I will call it a surprising guilty pleasure.

I could see this story playing out on television under a Disney Channel label. A young fashion conscious girl nearly runs over a gaggle of kids with her car but at the last minute swerves to avoid them and ends up plunging her vehicle into the water. Then, she dies. Before she goes completely lights out, she sees a young man who looks like he has hazy edges. When she gets revived by a totally different boy (of course, the hottest boy in school) she doesn’t see boy #1 again until later when she is in the hospital. With the ghostly appearing boy #1 also come a ton of little gray blobs of energy which follow her around.

I don’t want to get too much into the complete details of this but it is a really fun read. I enjoyed the crazy girl with her ADD tendencies where her wardrobe was color coded. I enjoyed the sulking Zoe, Goth Girl, whom Lily befriends to help figure out her whole “ghostly situation.”

If I knew a lot of teen or middle grade kids, I woulds totally recommended this to them. Pure fun and excitement. I wouldn’t mind seeing a follow up story. Check it out if you like YA. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This Young Adult novel was far more impressive than I anticipated, the characters were a breath of fresh air, the overall premise was quite enjoyable to read. I love the dynamic between the characters Nick and Lily, and thus far the funny bickering moments between the two. Despite falling under the opposites attract trope, they mesh together and you could help but hope there able to figure out the mystery of what Nick was. Is he a ghost? Or someone having an out of body experience? That's something for you to find out. Moreso as much as I loved the relationship between the fiery red and the bad boy, I will say they were quick to drop the "I love yous" but it was easy to ignore when there was the mystery of the black blobs, Nick ghostly appearance and their dealings of teenage hormones. In conclusion I will definitely consider this a 2019 standout and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different from their typical norm.

Very funny. Good for young adult and adult. I like the romance. The best part was humor and the ending.

I received a digital ARC of Tiger Lily by Abigail Drake in exchange for an impartial review. This is a lovely young adult book, perfect for the young teen and pre teen (12/13) market.

The protagonist, Lily, initially comes across as a spoiled bubblehead, but my opinion soon changed. With frequently absent parents and tragedy already in her past, Lily is involved in an accident not long into the book.

When Lily awakens in hospital she gets to meet the swoon worthy boy who rescued her, but not all is peachy keen. She seems to have acquired a cluster of unidentifiable shapes that won’t leave her alone. Worried of how her doctor and parents will react, she keeps it a secret from them. When the dark masses continue to haunt Lily after she is discharged from the hospital, she sets out on a journey to find out what they are and how to get rid of them.

Along the way Lily enlists the help of her quirky manicurist, a ghost seeing Goth girl, the cute boy who rescued her and another boy that only Lily can see and talk to. Who is this invisible guy, and how is Lily going to cope with the feelings she starts to develop for him?

This entertaining ghosty story includes the following topics: family relationships, death, friendships, stereotypes, young love/romance, and personal growth.

I thought this was generally a good read. the lead character seemed a bit vapid but I think that was more of a preference on my end than a issue with the writing.