Charming

Charming is such a dark, romantic YA novel that I fell in love with. Powerful opening, very intense and gives way to the life that Haley lives with her family. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was engrossed in such a phenomenal story.

Haley was a such a sweet character, but she was too much a people pleaser and push over. I didn't like how she allowed her father to continuously abuse her. It truly pissed me off. I like that she honored her mother's wish to keep Jocelyn in the dark, but at the same time I feel like she should have told her sister what was going on with her. What pissed me off was that she wanted to leave home, wanted to tell the truth, wanted to stop her dad, but never had the true courage to do so. As sweet as she was, I felt she should have been bolder. I will say, however, that she is definitely brave! Through all the heartache and heartbreak she stayed strong and didn't turn out crazy.

Jocelyn was that annoying little sister that you always try to protect from hurt, harm and danger. She was so mean to Haley and such a daddy's girl that it really was sad to see. She treated Haley like crap and never tried to understand her. I feel like Jocelyn should have tried harder to figure out what was going on with her sister, but once again I don't blame her. She was in the dark.

Mr. Tremaine was such a horrible father. He pissed me off gravely! I wish he would have died. I don't get how he could be so evil over his own self worth issues. I mean the abuse to his wife and Haley was sad. Men like him deserve to be locked away.

Chris Charming was absolutely sweet! He had the sweetest heart ever. He was kind of like Haley in being a people pleaser and not really allowing himself to be true to himself. He made my heart melt through this whole story. I couldn't deal with how awesome he was.

The Charmings were seriously awesome people towards Haley. They never treated her as if she had issues or was inferior. I loved them. Niles was a crazy ex-boyfriend in my mind. He seriously needed to get over Haley because he was on the verge of being a true stalker.

Walter Withe was a sick deranged young man who sat in his "woe is me" state for too long. Thinking that he was helping Haley seriously showed how crazy he was. I mean he too things to the extreme. Words cannot express how much I wish Charming or even Haley shot him when they had the chance.

I totally enjoyed this novel and plan to read many more novels from Krystal Wade. Charming was just an awesome mystery bordering on horror novel. Highly recommend this book if you're looking for a quick, yet intriguing read.

This was an intensely twisted psychological thriller. It was my first time reading this author, but I'll be looking for more of her books to read soon.

If this is any indication of the powers of Krystal’s other novels, I am truly a fan. This novel has everything to keep you flipping the pages and shutting off the rest of the world. I felt at times, I was reading a twisted version of Cinderella, the parts so subtle and so warped that it made me smile. The author was clever enough to not submit herself to rewriting the whole fairy tale word-for-word; I felt she allows the reader to see the correlation of the stories on their own.

Haley’s life at home was like walking on pins-and-needles. She dreaded going home after work and school but knew the promise that she made to her dying mother to protect her younger sister Jocelyn, began with their abusive father at home. Haley was a target, a human target for her father while Jocelyn defends him and is their father’s golden child. It’s crushing and frustrating to read and my heart crumbled as Haley tried to stand up against her father. She’s frustrated that her sister can’t see what a monster their father has become since the accident. Haley’s finds refuge in the cemetery and with her grandmother. Sitting next to the mother’s headstone, Haley talks to her mother like she’s there, it’s so heartbreaking but it’s a release that Haley needs. You would think their situation at home couldn’t get much worse but as dead bodies start to emerge around town, the story gets more disturbing. The suspense is terrific and it will carry you to the end of the book. You can try to figure it out, but why….just enjoy it. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for an honest opinion.

Krystal Wade has done it again! Not only has she created a wonderful spin on a classic fairytale but she has created a story that will melt the heart of everyone who reads it while freezing your body cold until you find out what is going on. Charming felt like a fresh new take on Cinderella with the twist of mystery and murder aspects added to make this a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last pages. And turns it into one crazy murderous love story.

I so felt for Haley. I know how it feels to be blamed for the death of someone in your life. Haley's drunk and abusive father blames her for the death of her and her sister's mother and wishes that she would have died instead. Its a hard life and not a very nice one. Haley starts out as a scared little girl but through the story she finds her voice with help from the strangest place and becomes someone who isn't going to let her self be beat on. She really does come into her own. Chris has his own secrets that he is afraid to come clean with. Afraid that it will ruin what he has built. I did love him and his family. I fully agree with Haley about wanting to adopt his parents who have to be the best book family I've ever seen.

I would really love to come back to this world of people maybe down the line some. Just to check in to see how they are fairing. Maybe set a few years down the road when everyone is going off to collage, getting married, or having some kids.

"All opinions are 100% honest and my own."

I requested this under recommendation of Sasha from A Book Utopia, and I reserved it for the Halloween-themed readathon and it was so fitting and I really enjoyed it. It'll give you the spooks anytime of the year and day.