Silver and Stone by J.D. Thompson

Welcome to high school high society hell, where last season’s slingbacks can warrant a lunch table demotion, the wrong date will knock you off the it-list and behind every pair of oversized Chanel sunglasses lies a secret people are dying to keep.

As if senior year at Weatherford Preparatory School wasn’t hard enough, sixteen year old Alexis Bardolph had to add school outcast to the curriculum.

A new found notoriety following a family scandal, her lacrosse star boy-friend dumping her for a former BFF and a string of perpetually bad hair days were among the many things going wrong in her already turbulent teenage life.

But when the haunting nightmares that have plagued her since childhood begin to take an eerily tangible form and several Holler Creek residents are reported missing, Alexis can’t help but wonder if there isn’t more to her hellish dreams than meets the eye.

The unexpected arrival of a mysterious and dangerously handsome new student ultimately leads Alexis to troubling truths that not even her wildest imagination could have conjured.

A big congrats to J.D. Thompson on her debut novel! This book was most definitely a fresh new twist on the paranormal genre. Personally, I feel it is vital for books nowadays to have their own voice and plotline.  Luckily, Thompson was able to recreate the evil vs. good in such an inventive and original way, so I give her great kudos for that.

I really enjoyed the contemporary feel of this novel, while still being a paranormal read. Alexis is a teenage girl dealing with the guilt of her mother's death and the persecution and isolation of her fellow classmates. Home life isn't much better, as her father is a workaholic and avoids his fatherly responsibilities and her sister blames Alexis for their mother's death. Despite her two best friends, Logan and Amber, Alexis is very much alone. In comes Lucas however, who pulls Alexis out of this slump and gives her reason to feel alive again.

I love the relationship between Alexis and Lucas, although initially it feels very fast and instantaneous, you later learn why there is such a spark between the two. Lucas is the perfect gentleman and treats Alexis like every boy should treat their girlfriend. In my opinion, every guy should sneak into their girlfriend's window to plan a romantic date beneath the stars! Lucas also melted my heart at the end of this book by making such a huge sacrafice. It just made me fall in love with him even more! It was very refreshing to see such a healthy relationship, where the main character isn't pining after the ultimate bad boy with a jerk attitude. Alexis was also a lovable character , with a very independent and sweet personality. With so many horrible situations surrounding this poor girl you just can't help but root for her.

My favorite characters had to be Alexis's two best friends, Logan and Amber. They were absolutely hilarious and so supportive of Alexis while the rest of the world seemed to ostracize her. Amber especially cracked me up because she was the outspoke girl who was never afraid to stick up for her best friend no matter the situation. Their friendship was very heart-warming, particularly when they help Alexis get ready for the Ghost Gala at their high school. The girls go out of their way to help Alexis both mentally and physically get ready for the night and try to make it perfect for her when everything seems to be falling apart.

Without giving too much away, Silver and Stone is a fantastic paranormal read. The romance is beatiful and there are a lot of eerie elements, such as ghosts and mysterious killings, that leave you guessing until the very end. When everything comes together at the Ghost Gala, it really feels like all the puzzle pieces are together and the story just clicks. So don't get frustrated at the beginning if certain elements don't make sense or feel rushed because J.D. Thompson does a wonderful job of pulling everything together and leaving the door open for an intense series. I give this book a resounding 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to those who are looking for an atypical paranormal read!

Check my blog out later in the week for an interview with the very wonderful J.D. Thompson!