Blog Tour & Giveaway: Crossing the Line by Ellen Wolfson Valladares

Book Blurb:

Crossing the Line by Ellen Wolfson Valladares

Genre: YA Magical Realism

Release Date: March 6th 2018

WiDo Publishing

Laura, who died thirty years ago, enlists the help of a tenacious high school reporter named Rebecca, who is very much alive. Rebecca, although skeptical and conflicted by her supposed encounters with a spirit, determines to learn the truth about Laura’s tragic death. As the clues unravel and their worlds collide, Rebecca finds herself at a dangerous crossroads.

Laura, now pulled back into everything she left behind when she died – her old high school and memories of her life and death—has been in training for this exact moment. And nothing means more to her than succeeding at her assignment.

It is her one chance to make sure that what happened her does not happen to anyone else, and especially not to her new friend, Rebecca.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

My Review:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Another-World, Ghosts, Mystery, Supernatural, Teen--

Rebecca and her two good friends are trying to decide how to spend their afternoon when they stumble on an old Ouija board in a closet. When they decide to use it just for fun, they are shocked when the board tells them they are talking to a girl named Laura who was murdered in 1983 from their high school. Laura is a spirit sent on a mission to help Rebecca any way she can, even though there are very strict rules as to how she can interfere in a living person's life. When Rebecca finds out that Laura was a real person, she decides to investigate what happened to her and uncover the truths that nobody will say.

I went into this book thinking I was reading a dark paranormal murder mystery, but really it was so much more than that. This was a story full of redemption, truth, friendship and forgiveness (with such a nice, perfect ending). Sure there were some very suspenseful things that occurred in the story, as well as the fact the whole premise was built around a murder-suicide and a ghost, but I thought the story was really sweet and feel good. All the characters were given the chance to show their heart and good side, wrongs were righted and possible terrible events were prevented. Yep, not what I thought based on the synopsis but I found this to be a quick, easy, engaging read to escape into for an afternoon.

The book started out with three girls playing with a Ouija board, when someone starts talking to them and I was instantly hooked. But then I was confused as to how the story was set up when I started the second chapter because all of a sudden I was dropped into a "special school" for the dead with a new character and rules for Crossing the Line (I loved how the title to the book had so many uses and connections throughout the story!). I had zero idea what was going on for almost the entire second chapter. But once I made it to the third chapter, I was fully immersed and interested in the plot. The book is dual narrated by Rebecca in the present and ghost Laura who is in the afterlife and has flashback to her past. Each character has a distinct voice and personality that came through the pages, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out how the two connected or what the mission was that Laura had to accomplish.

There was definitely a mystery to the book, but the relationship dynamics between both girls and their friends as well as between both girls was the main focus of the story (for me at least). I enjoyed the back and forth between the characters and the way the book unfolded, giving me hints along the way. I enjoyed this book which felt like a standalone since everything was wrapped up nicely, but there is most certainly potential for more from this world. Also, the concept of ghost detectives (or whatever you want to call the ghost helpers) was really neat. This was an interesting read full of mystery and supernatural appropriate for all ages.

I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book.

Author Bio:

Ellen Wolfson Valladares is an award-winning writer/author, workshop facilitator, community volunteer, and mother. Her first book, a children’s novel entitled Jonathan's Journey to Mount Miapu, received a Mom’s Choice Gold Award and the 2009 Coalition of Visionary Resources Visionary Awards Book of the Year award. A native Floridian, she lives in Weston, Fla., with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a cat.

Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter

You can follow the Crossing The Line Tour here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour provided by YA Bound Book Tours